Calvados Berneroy is a premium French apple brandy produced in the prestigious Pays d’Auge AOC region of Normandy, France, a historic area known for its traditional orchards and centuries-old heritage of artisanal Calvados production, dating back to at least the medieval period.
This estate-bottled calvados is celebrated for its authenticity, quality, and adherence to traditional distillation methods, capturing the essence of Normandy’s renowned apple terroir through expert French craftsmanship.
Overview and Production
Ageing: The spirit is aged in seasoned French oak barrels, typically 300L to 400L for the Fine expression, and used barrels for the VSOP, for a minimum of 4 years as required by law. The XO expression undergoes extended oak barrel ageing for at least 6 years. This careful ageing process imparts complex flavours like vanilla, warming spice, and rich oak notes, creating a smooth finish characteristic of premium aged apple spirits, perfect as an after-dinner digestif.
Region: Berneroy is crafted in the heart of the Pays d’Auge, a prestigious sub-region of Normandy known for producing high-quality apple eau-de-vie under strict AOC regulations.
Ingredients: Made from a careful selection of cider apples (bittersweet to tart varieties) grown in Normandy’s traditional orchards, sometimes including pears, which is allowed under the Calvados appellation. The apples are harvested, pressed, and fermented into dry cider using wild yeasts present on the apple skins, a process that takes about four weeks.
Distillation: The cider undergoes single distillation using an antique copper-column still, a time-honoured traditional method that preserves the apple’s natural flavours and creates this distinctive Norman apple spirit.
Berneroy Fine Calvados has been aged in premium Limousin oak casks for an average of 5 years, making it a carefully crafted entry-level expression from this artisanal distillery. The Fine displays a medium golden colour and represents the youngest vintage calvados in the Berneroy range. This single estate Calvados is therefore much more characterised by the vibrant flavours and aromas of fresh Norman apples and pears compared to older aged apple spirits.
There are bright, fresh apple notes with a subtle touch of French oak and warming spice on the nose. The palate is full-bodied and smooth with slightly sweetish apple brandy flavours, gentle spice, hints of vanilla from the oak barrel ageing, and a pleasant warming bite at the end.
This premium calvados delivers a complex, lingering, yet refreshingly crisp finish that showcases the pure essence of Normandy’s traditional apple eau-de-vie craftsmanship, making it an excellent sipping brandy or sophisticated digestif.
Also available as Half-Bottles of Fine Calvados.
Wine Enthusiast gave the Fine 90/100, describing it as “crisp and light-bodied” with “waves of juicy apple, honey, and vanilla” and a “spark of ginger” on the finish.
Berneroy Calvados VSOP has been aged in premium Limousin oak casks for an average of 8 years, representing exceptional French craftsmanship from this renowned Normandy distillery.
This aged apple brandy displays a beautiful, clear, golden amber colour characteristic of extended oak barrel ageing. There are rich, mature apple characteristics on the nose with luxurious vanilla notes derived from the seasoned French oak. The palate reveals the complexity of this artisanal calvados with layered flavours of orchard apples and warming spice, but the transformation from fresh green apple to rich baked apple is underway – there are also subtle notes of toffee, butter and caramel developing from the extended aging process.
This premium apple eau-de-vie is best enjoyed neat as a sophisticated digestif or served on the rocks as an after-dinner drink.
For food pairing, this smooth finish Calvados complements a carefully curated cheeseboard beautifully, and makes an excellent accompaniment to chocolate desserts or traditional apple-based desserts.
Berneroy Calvados XO has been aged in premium Limousin oak casks for an average of 10 years, making it the flagship expression from this esteemed Normandy estate. This vintage Calvados is the oldest apple brandy in the Berneroy range and truly showcases the developed baked and stewed apple characteristics associated with extended aging of superior French apple eau-de-vie.
The XO displays a rich, dark mahogany colour that reflects its extended oak barrel aging process. The nose is redolent with complex aromas of baked Norman apples, warming spice notes, luxurious butterscotch and distinctive nutty characteristics derived from traditional pot still distillation and careful maturation. The palate is exceptionally rich, full-bodied, expansive, soft and remarkably smooth, demonstrating the masterful French craftsmanship of this artisanal distillery. There are additional layers of vanilla from the seasoned oak, creamy butter notes, concentrated apple essence, warming spice, and bright orange citrus accents on the palate. This premium calvados offers a touch of natural sweetness and impressive length with a sophisticated finish.
Serve this luxury brandy after a meal as an elegant digestif, neat in a large brandy balloon to fully appreciate its complex aromatics. This collector-worthy apple spirit will also pair exceptionally well with a fine cigar, making it perfect for special occasions.
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