Calvados Dupont 1988 Vintage, Pays D’Auge 42% 70cl

Description

Calvados Dupont 1988 Vintage is a single vintage Calvados from the this fantastic, small family-owned producer. 

Calvados Dupont is situated in the heart of the Pays d’Auge Calvados in the commune of Victot-Pontfol. The Pays d’Auge region has become known for the extra finesse and delicacy of the Calvados partly because it only permits the use of apples and insists on double pot distillation.

Etienne Dupont, who took over from his father in 1980, has worked hard to improve both the old orchards and the distillation methods. The 30 hectare estate comprised orchards which combine small standard trees as well as older taller trees. Apple varieties such as Saint Martin, Doux Normandie and Noël des Champs are specially cultivated to provide the maximum aromatic qualities from their small fruits. Domaine Dupont use three types of apples in a set formula: 30% sweet, 30% bitter and 40% are apples with high acidity, this gives the correct balance of flavour. All the apples are cropped manually and stored in open wooden crates to allow them to rest and mature for up to a month before fermentation.

To perfect his distilling techniques, Etienne went to Cognac and studied their methods. This, combined with the knowledge he inherited, produce a spirit that represents the flavour and ripeness of the apple alongside the mellowness and warmth of a well-aged spirit. He also experiments with ageing in different size casks and oak types to ensure that the flavour extracted through distillation is further enhanced during maceration. Etienne Dupont was responsible for the creation of the appellation contrôlée A.O.C. Pays d’Auge. Dupont is one of the very best producers of the region.

Calvados Dupont 1988 Vintage is made from a blend of 80% bittersweet and 20% acid apples, this gives the correct balance of flavour. All the apples are cropped manually and stored in open wooden crates to allow them to rest and mature for up to a month before fermentation. Calvados Dupont 1988 Vintage was distilled in 1988 – a double distillation is carried out 6 months after the fermentation of the apples into cider has taken place. The first distillation gives the “petite eau” at 30% by volume and it is the second distillation, that of the “petite eau” which gives the Calvados. The spirit is aged in a combination of oak vats and toasted 400 litre barrels. Bottle without filtration or chill-filtering to preserve maximum concentration and complexity.