Christian Drouin Vintage 1980/2020 Calvados Pays d'Auge

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Forty years of cask maturation define this vintage from Christian Drouin. The Calvados was distilled in 1980, matured in oak casks and bottled in 2020. Its maturation bears the designation Simple Maturation – Fût de Chêne, placing oak-cask ageing at the heart of this edition.

This long-aged Calvados combines a full, rounded palate with fruit and restrained woody notes. The character of the 1980 vintage also includes a soft aroma of rice powder and wild berries, alongside a powerful palate. The bottle contains 0.7 litres at 42% alcohol and comes in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals intense apple and pear aromas, accompanied by delicate spice.
• Palate: The Calvados feels full and rounded on the palate. Fruity flavours combine with subtle woody notes.
• Finish: The finish is long-lasting, fading gently with a warming sensation.

Distillery/Bottler:

The family house's story began in 1960 at the Fiefs Sainte-Anne farm near Gonneville-sur-Honfleur. With the help of distiller Pierre Pivet, Christian Drouin senior produced Calvados there, initially building up stocks of maturing spirits. His son Christian joined the business in 1969 and further developed its specialisation in old vintages. In 1991 and 1992, production moved to a 17th-century farm in Coudray-Rabut near Pont-l'Évêque. Agricultural engineer and oenologist Guillaume Drouin brought the third generation into the business in 2004.

For its Pays d'Auge Calvados, the house distils cider twice in a copper pot still. The separation of heads, heart and tails is adapted to each cider. Maturation follows no uniform pattern either: the family chooses an individual ageing programme for every vintage. Annual cask tastings help determine how the spirits should continue to develop. Previously used casks and larger storage vessels allow the influence of wood to be controlled throughout the long maturation.

Facts: