Christian Drouin Vintage 1964/2007 Calvados AOC

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Extended maturation in oak casks defines this vintage Calvados from Christian Drouin. Distilled in 1964, the spirit matured for 43 years before being bottled in 2007. It comes from Normandy and carries the Calvados Contrôlée appellation.

Its character combines ripe apple fruit with restrained wood influence. Floral notes, vanilla and oak spice complement the fruit, while roasted nuts and caramelised fruit emerge in the finish. This official bottling contains 0.7 litres at 40% and is supplied in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, ripe apples meet fresh flowers and a subtle woody note.
• Palate: On the palate, apple fruit and understated vanilla combine with gentle oak spice.
• Finish: The finish is long and velvety, with lingering roasted nuts and caramelised fruit.

Distillery/Bottler:

The family house’s history began in 1960 with the purchase of the Fiefs Sainte-Anne farm near Gonneville-sur-Honfleur. With the help of experienced distiller Pierre Pivet, Christian Drouin père had cider distilled into Calvados there, initially building up stocks of mature spirits. His son joined the business in 1969, but sales did not begin until 1979. These cask stocks, accumulated over many years, became the foundation of the house’s specialisation in old Calvados and vintage bottlings. In 1991/92, production moved to a 17th-century farm in Coudray-Rabut near Pont-l’Évêque.

For maturation, Christian Drouin mainly uses small casks, many of which have already been used. Larger wooden vessels are used, among other purposes, to store old Calvados that have already absorbed sufficient tannins. Each vintage follows its own maturation programme tailored to its character. Guillaume Drouin, an agricultural engineer and oenologist, joined the family business in 2004 and took over its management in 2013. Together with his father, he tastes the entire cask inventory each year to decide how the spirits should continue to develop.

Facts: