Over the past 10 years or so, the traditional New Years festivities for my wife and I have been to crack open a bottle of Champagne just after dinner to start the celebration. She’ll enjoy her half and glass while I go on to eventually finish the bottle myself — usually forgoing the glass flute toward the end of the bottle’s life, and subsequently hating myself the next morning.
It happens every year. Until now.
Not being a big fan of the bubbly stuff, my wife can pretty much only tolerate it in Mimosa-form. I’m pretty indifferent to it. This year, however, I received a nice package from SBS Imports on Christmas Day that included a bottle of Aspall’s Cuvee Chevallier, an English Cider double fermented using a recently rediscovered technique. I thought this was just about the perfect substitute for the occasion and, having her fair share, my wife agreed.
Appearance
The new product from Aspall pours a pale, straw-like yellow with a head reminiscent of Champagne that bubbled up and faded quickly.
Aroma
This one smells crisp and dry with a light, delicate wisp of apple.
Taste
It’s hard not to compare this one to Champagne as they are nearly identical in nature. Dryness. Check. Sparkling carbonation. Check. The only real difference that I could pick up (and that I think sold my wife on the beverage) is the slight sweetness the cider leaves on the lips as well as the light apple flavors. The more I drank of this the less I thought of it as a cider.
Overall
Needless to say (again), this went over very well with my wife and I. We had a nice relaxing evening ringing in the the New Year with this bottle and I will surely purchase it in the future if I ever have the need to ceremoniously celebrate an event.
Rating: 3.5/5
