TN: Apfel Cuvee Schaumwein Trocken, Reisetbauer

The Apfel Cuvee Schaumwein Trocken is from Obstbau Reisetbauer - Axberg, Oberosterreich (Austria). It is sparkling, and contains 5.9% alcohol. In English speaking countries this would be called a cider.

You can find much cheaper cider from many countries, but this is something special. It has plenty of sparkle with fairly small bubbles that last. The color is light yellow, and it is as clear as a well- made Champagne. Although trocken(dry) the intense, apple fruit makes it seem less dry than it is. The taste is quite clean and intense with enough acidity and without the bite of harsh acids of green apples. It is as gentle with your digestive system as is a well made wine, which can not be said for some ciders. This is be far the best cider I have had, but I have only tasted a few others from France and the US NE.

The quality of this cider comes as no surprise to me, since it comes from Hans Reisetbauer who is perhaps the best maker of eau-de-vie in Austria. His secret seems to be selection of plenty of the best fruit for his eau-de-vie. Depending on the laws of various countries, some add sugar to the fruit to increase alcohol during fermentation and/or add some grape brandy to increase alcohol just before distillation. This may be necessary for some berries that produce very little alcohol during fermentation, but it should be done to the least extent possible as a last resort. One of Reisetbauer's best examples of eau- de-vie is his "Vogel Beer" (Rowanberry). This has been sold in the US for about US$100 per half bottle, which is about twice the price of many well-known French eau-de-vie. However the great intensity of bouquet and taste show that this has not skimped on the fruit.

Reply to
cwdjrxyz
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He's definitely one of the best eau-de-vie makers on this planet. (Could one say "distillers"? That's what we would call him in German: "Destillateur").

M.

Reply to
Michael Pronay

He started his destiller career the stadard way: making eaux-de-vie from different kind of fruit (apples, pears, berries etc.). Later he (and others) experimented with stranger products, e.g. carrots.

Btw., "Destillateur" in German sounds somehow bureaucratic, the standard colloquial expression would be "Brenner", literally "burner", somebody who "burns" (destills).

M.

Reply to
Michael Pronay

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