Elder Tree is curated from a blend of dark skinned, late-harvest apple varieties grown locally in Sonoma County and includes Arkansas Black, Kingston Black and Black Twig. The overall bouquet is rich with aromas of mature apple skin and brandy. On the palate it is full-bodied, with a heightened tannin profile providing a hearty mouthfeel. The barrel aging, elevated alcohol content and structured dryness balance the size of the body to provide a long, velvety finish. Elder Tree is a celebration of late-season apples; those that are harvested in late October and beyond. Generally we find that the later in the season that an apple ripens, the more complexity the apple with harness. Complexity, in our case involves elevated tannin content, which contributes to mouthfeel and fullness of a cider. Apples characteristically do not have high tannin levels, save for certain varieties that are prized for cidermaking. Our favorite apple for making complex, rich ciders is the Arkansas Black. Named for its extremely dark skin, the Arkansas Black is a dense, hard apple, that does best when it is stored for a period of time (to soften and “sweat”) prior to being eaten or used for cidermaking. Biting into such an apple, you will find that some elements you expect to find in a cider, such as notes of vanilla and honey, are already present in the apple, so it is easily imagined that those flavors will contribute to an incredible complexity in the final cider. Apple: Dark-Skinned Varieties Orchard: Sonoma County Orchards Finish: Barrel Finish, Neutral French Oak, 12 months Harvest Season: Fall Yeast type: White Wine Yeast Temp of fermentation: Slow and Cold Fermentation: Fermented Dry Fining: None Filtration: No AVAILABLE IN: 16oz 4-Packs |
The apple orchards
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MEYER FARMING
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