Polgoon Aval, Vintage 2006, 7%
I was going to do notes for a couple of (really great) Caperdonichs this evening, but I was more in the mood for cider, so cider it is. This is another bottle we picked up in London and this is what the producers have to say:
“Made from selected English apples, the fruit is pressed and fermented to produce a light dry cider. Then we use the ‘Methode Traditionelle’ of secondary bottle fermentation, which the French have used for years to produce some of their finest sparkling wines! The end result is a refined sparkling cider, to be enjoyed with lunch, light foods, shellfish, lazy Cornish days, friends and family.”
Well, I’ve had a lazy day, though not nearly as Cornish as one could have wished, but I’m foodless and companionless, as the husband has the late shift. Still, I’m pretty sure cider ought to work in any case.
Nose: Immediately upon having been poured it is way TOO sparkling. The effect of sticking your nose in the glass is reminicent of drawing too deep a breath out of a washback in full fermentation, it stings! However, it settles down and becomes pleasantly sparkling with a light, quite dry nose with clear, clean apple notes.
Palate: Uhm. Ok, my first impression is of slighly rotting apples. This is not a good thing. The second sip is much better, but without much character, really. It’s dry and light and apply, but a little boring. The rotten sidenote comes and goes, but it’s not going away.
Conclusion: Well, I’m halfway into the glass, and really, the verdict is No, just No. I’ll cork the bottle up and let the husband have a taste to see it it’s just me. I’m hoping the rotten note is a sign that there’s something wrong with this particular bottle, but who knows?
Luckily I have a chilled bottle of Boulard’s Cidre De Normandie in the fridge, so I’m going to get my dose of cider (it’s not the bees knees, but it’s very drinkable, and reasonably available since they have it in Sweden).
Too sparkling ! however pleasently sparkling with a quite dry nose !!!
slightly rotten apples ! really its dry and light and apply.!!!
Boring !!! You have no idea how good a hand made product using only the finest ingredients is to make. Perhaps you should bore yourself and try it sometime, while you are friendless out of Cornwall,and your poor old husband still prefers to work late ,again !!!
I think this is a wonderfully crafted apple champagne that is light dry and very drinkable,if you are capable of taking it for not being a traditional cider but a new style product with an air of sophistication to be drunk in a flute and enjoyed,a great compliment to cheese,shellfish and a stand alone aperitif.
Wow. Way to go on convincing me never to spend money on any of your products again.
Let me count them:
- Reading the worst into what I said (too sparkly AT FIRST, then settles down, giving the product the benefit of the doubt on the rotten note, since it’s quite possibly a faulty bottle).
- Taking it personally.
- Going for the personal attack. How utterly professional of you.
- Failing to construct proper sentences.
- !!!Eleventy!!11!
- Basically repeating the producers’ note which I’ve already quoted. I already KNOW what you think about it, isn’t it even a little bit interesting to you to know what the people who might buy the product think?
Did I forget anything?
But, you know, thanks for giving me a good laugh.
[...] 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2003 Recent Comments admin on Polgoon Aval, Vintage 2006, 7%John Coulson on Polgoon Aval, Vintage 2006, 7%Jen Yu on The Daring Cooks: Chinese [...]
Hey.
I am glad I made you laugh , if I was too personal I apologise .
I am very protective and serious about our products here at Polgoon,they are made for people to enjoy and we are hopefully producing hand crafted unique drinks that will be accepted and respected.I did find it difficult that you had taken the effort to criticise our Aval.It was unexpected and taken to heart and again I apologise for my response.We have since then brought out a raspberry version of the Aval which has recently won 2 awards for,please contact me through our website which gives my e mail and I will send you a bottle to try ,free of charge.Hopefully you may appreciate it.
Kind regards
John Coulson