Charles Oates Pommeau

Appearance: Transparent dark russet. Aroma: Apple Danish, caramel sauce, mild baking spices. Flavor: Apple jelly, cider, mead, mild tannins. Fresh and crisp with a very good balance between sweet orchard fruit, acids and drying tannins. Pommeau is a mistelle, which is a combination of fruit eau-de-vie or brandy with fresh must from the same fruit, the two ingredients being blended and then aged. It has been made in the apple-growing areas of northern France for generations, but this is the first Australian version of which I’m aware. This is made by Charles Oates Distilling which is part of Willie Smiths Apple Shed cidery in Tasmania. The distillery uses a Charentais alembic still, the same type that is used in Normandy to produce Calvados Pays d'Auge. This is one of their three core-range products, along with apple eau-de-vie and an apple brandy (which is aged in ex-fortified wine barrels for 18 months). A very pleasant aperitif, it goes well with melon, blue cheese, or biscotti and is enjoyable chilled or at room temperature. In comparison to genuine Pay d'Auge pommeau this stands up pretty well. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)