Snowdrift Cider - Breakwell Seedling Pommeau (375 mL)
Snowdrift Cider - Breakwell Seedling Pommeau (375 mL)
Snowdrift Cider's Breakwell Seedling Pommeau is a single-varietal expression of the traditional cider based aperitif from Normandy. Fresh-pressed juice is allowed to briefly ferment before being blended with apple brandy and then stowed away to age in oak barrels. This juice used in this pommeau is 100% Breakwell's Seedling, a bittersharp apple variety originally from Wales and a popular UK cider apple. Breakwell Seedling strikes a dynamic balance of bright fresh apple juiciness over black-tea-like tannin. Extended barrel maturation contributes notes of mild spice, vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, and leather.
Snowdrift's pommeau process is unique in two ways: 1) they allow the fresh juice to briefly ferment, which reduces some of the sweetness relative to a lot of pommeau products, and 2) they use a neutral apple eau de vi (freshly distilled apple spirit), whereas most pommeau is made with an apple brandy (which is the eau de vi after it's aged in barrels for considerable amount of time). The end result is a pommeau that is slightly less sweet and less barrel-forward relative to most other pommeaus, and that provides more of a calvados-like expression of the apples featured - in this case the Breakwell Seedling.
About Pommeau: Pommeau is a fortified cider enjoyed as a dessert or an apéritif. Pommeau is made by blending unfermented apple juice with apple brandy. The mixture is then aged in oak barrels, typically for at least 2 years (and often longer). The high percentage of alcohol from the apple brandy prevents the fresh juice from fermenting, and thus the beverage retains a considerable level of sweetness. The prolonged aging results in a rich melding of complex flavors from the cider juice blend, warmth from the brandy, and complexities from the barrel. Pommeau typically has an alcohol by volume in the 16-18% range, and is best enjoyed an ounce or two at a time at cellar temperatures. Stored at cellar temperatures or refrigerated, even an open bottle of Pommeau will age well and can be enjoyed slowly over time. Originally made in the Normandy and Brittany regions of France, where appellation controls are in place for pommeau products. Many American cider makers will label their pommeau style products as an Apple Mistelle, Fortified Apple Wine, or Apple Dessert Wine. For more on Pommeau, check out our blog post, What is Pommeau?
- Dry-to-Sweet Scale: Semi-Sweet
- Tannins:
- Acidity:
- 🍎🍐 Varieties: Breakwells Seedling
- Features: Single-Varietal Cider and Barrel Aged
- ABV: 19.0%
- Format: 375 mL Bottle
- Shipping available across U.S.
- In stock, ready to ship
- Inventory on the way
