Roger Groult 11 Years Old Calvados Pays d’Auge Sherry Cask Finish (46%, OB, 936 Bottles, 2017)

• Category: Calvados Pays d’Auge
• Origin: Roger Groult – Clos de la Hurvanière
• Bottling: Official
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: ?

What they say

Calvados-Groult.com/Cask Finish Calvados

This cuvee is a 11 year old Calvados Pays d’Auge, 46% vol., with more than one year in Sherry cask finish.

Specifications :

AOC : Calvados Pays d’Auge

Aged : 11 years

Cider apples from Pays d’Auge area. Double distillation over wood fire. Aged and blended in old french oak casks. Finished for 1 year minimum in Sherry cask. Bottled at the domain. Limited release, numbered bottles

Tasting notes:

• “Once the wood notes have faded we find fine notes of honey and citrus.” – M. Hervé Lalau (Wine & spirits journalist)

What I say

Part of a trio of cask-finished Calvados Pays d’Auge produced by Roger Groult. The third has been aged for 11 years with a traditional Calvados maturation followed by a minimum 1 year finish in ex-Sherry casks.

Thanks to Calvados Roger Groult for providing samples.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Dark copper/bronze with ruby highlights (13/20). Slow fine tears and long, fine legs.
• Nose: Fruity, plum duff pudding, chocolate cake with raisins, apple, raspberry, leathery tannins and oak wood.
• Taste: That classic combination of apple and blackcurrant, some raspberry also, slightly syrupy and jam-like berry fruits, leathery tannins, red fruits, plums, raisins, honey, nuts, spiced cloves, chocolate or cocoa powder, cinnamon, fruit/Christmas cake, a little bitter.
• Finish: Long, drying, powdered baking spices, chocolate and walnut loaf.

Overall

Fruity apple, blackcurrant and raspberry followed rapidly by lots of classic sherry; fruitcake, Christmas spices, leather and chocolate influences. My favourite of the three Cask Finish expressions.

Score 88/100

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