A couple of local friends and I get together regularly to work during the evening. We gather in a home after dinner and just slowly get quiet with laptops, notebooks, or craft projects. Dogs mill around the floor; tea is steeped and sipped; the host chooses some background music. It may not sound like something amazing to write alongside other people who are writing, but it's wonderful.
Since the long ago days of Dissertation Fridays, I’ve enjoyed taking my writing time alongside friends who also need to be keyboard tappers. This is a good way to get things done. When we’ve all reached a natural resting spot in our work, a bottle of cider, or some other tempting libation makes the rounds. That’s exactly how today’s cider got tasting notes.
I opened a bottle of Eden Cider’s Benjamin, and I’m so happy to share what we thought.
First, here are my earlier reviews of Eden ciders.
Deep Cut: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/08/cider-review-eden-specialty-ciders-deep.html
Peak Bloom: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/09/cider-review-eden-ciders-peak-bloom-and.html
Ezekiel: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/01/cider-review-eden-specialty-ciders.html
Extra Sec: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/03/cider-review-angry-orchard-super.html
Eden Heritage Cider: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/06/cider-cans-crush-it-eden-heritage-and.html
Siren Song: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/cider-review-eden-ciders-siren-song-and.html
Brut Nature: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/02/cider-con-2018-pt-1-eden-specialty.html
Imperial 11 Degree Rose: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-january-2017-cidrbox-and-edens.html
Sparkling Dry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/06/cider-review-eden-sparkling-dry-cider.html
And in 2016 I made the Sparkling Dry part of my Thanksgiving and Birthday celebrations:
http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/11/pick-cider-for-thanksgiving-and-my.html
http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/11/happy-to-pickcider-for-thanksgiving.html
Visit Eden Cider's website to learn about all of the ciders: https://www.edenciders.com/
Here’s all the info online that Eden provides for Benjamin.
NEW 100% Estate grown petillant naturel method sparkling cider from the 2020 harvest.
PROFILE: Brightly fruity, lightly sparkling
APPLE VARIETIES: Northern Spy, Golden Russet, Grimes Golden, Esopus Spitzenberg, Michelin, Ashmead’s Kernel, Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, Egremont Russet, Stembridge Cluster, Blue Pearmain, Binet Rouge, Orleans Reinette, Calville Blanc, Rubinette
HARVEST YEAR: 2020
GROWN BY: Eden Orchards
METHOD: Spontaneous fermentation, bottled in process before finishing. Not disgorged, contains residual lees.
TASTING NOTES: tangerine, white roses and granite
PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: oysters, charcuterie, farro bowl
8% ABV | 0g residual sugar
750 ml | 12/case | 35 cases produced
Appearance: variable opacity, intense color, bronzed ginger
Pouring any Petillant Natural is fun because each glass looks just a bit different. Benjamin begins with intense color and near total clarity, but by the last glass we have substantial cloudiness. The color sings out even before the cider is poured; it strikes me as some shade between ginger and bronze, full of warmth and promise. The bubbles race up to make a crisp white head.
Aromas: overripe apples, hay, strawberries, tea, spices
The Benjamin smells awesomely like overripe apples and sweet mellow hay. That’s absolutely the primary impression. Secondarily I get notes of tea, spices, and strawberries.
Sweetness/dryness: Dry
This is a solidly dry cider, and that’s exactly what it needs to be.
Flavors and drinking experience: Tannic, high acid, leather, limes, aged parmesan and more
I love a dry, bubbly cider with enough tannins and acidity to keep me excited. This cider offers exactly what I want. The Benjamin is very tart and tannic. I love its notes of leather, limes, hay, aged Parmesan, resin and apricot. There’s just so much going on here. It’s so good!
This complex cider rolls across my palate with great big flavors, but somehow it still leaves room for gentler suggestions. These more delicate notes whisper of lemon, buttery toast crumbs, and some warm roasty element. The flavors include both the restrained and the wild. In terms of mouthfeel, it's crisp and so so bubbly!
Eden Ciders is amazingly consistent; this cidery grows wonderful fruit and crafts beautiful ciders season after season. I’m so grateful.
I want to send out a reminder that next week on Monday evening, I’ll be interviewing Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo about their new book: American Cider. Join us!
Find out more about the event here!