Herout Micro Cuvée No 3 Cider

Herout Micro Cuvée No 3 Cider

The Micro-Cuvée n°3 is a unique cider distinguished by its internal complexity and notes of fresh pears. 100% organic.
This cuvée ferments for 6 months in oak barrels that previously aged chardonnay and pinot noir wines.  The barrel-fermented ciders are blended and then bottled. After the natural bubbles form, the bottles are aged 20 months on lattes before being disgorged.  
This lovely organic cider is a pale golden robe and totally clear.  A fine nose with lightly wooded notes and aromas of pears. On the palate, this cider has very fine bubbles with a balanced freshness, reinforced by tannins imparted from the wine barrels during the aging process and a bit of acidity on the finish. A dry cider with an impressive structure.  Fit for the finest of restaurants. 5.5% alc/vol.
Maison Hérout follows the cider-making tradition of their ancestors – their ciders are all organic, and fermented naturally with indigenous yeast.  The bubbles are the result of a natural effervescence and occur in the bottle.  Maison Hérout ciders are not pasteurized or carbonated.  Gluten – Free and vegan.
The Orchards
Maison Herout has 25 acres of apple orchards. The average age of the apple trees varies according to the parcels (10 to 65 years old). More than 25 varieties of apples are grown including Rouge de Cantepie, one of the original apples grown in the orchards.  The soil is maintained by being completely covered with grass.
The Terroir
The orchards are situated on the Armorican Massive which is composed of schist and sandstone sediment as well as granite from the primary eras.  With a silty coating, the soils are slightly sandy and pebbly sandy and drain very quickly.
The Production
After grating the apples to obtain the “marc de pommes”, the grated apples are then crushed into a pulp, then pressed.  The resulting pressed juice rests for 3 to 5 days to become naturally clear. This clear juice is then fermented in large cuvées for 4 to 7 months.  After bottling, the cider then continues fermenting for at least another 2 months so that the natural bubbles can form – leading to a rich, thick robe of foamy bubbles that are the hallmark of Maison Hérout. Their ciders are clarified through a traditional method where bottles are capped and tipped on their side so that the yeasts can fall to the tip of the bottle where they are removed through disgorgement.  The resulting cider is completely clear, refined, and stable.