Missùs 2018

Wine Description for Missùs 2018 by Lesuffleur

Colour & Appearance

Intense, amber-coloured golden yellow with lively, fine perlage. The maturity of the cider reveals itself in the depth of colour – a visual promise of complexity.

Nose

Benoît Lesuffleur calls this the quintessence of his work, and the nose proves him right. The exclusively acid-forward apple varieties create a taut, mineral precision: apple quince meets woodruff, lemon zest meets fir honey. Interspersed with surprising notes of hops and stone, almost like a dry Champagne with a rustic soul. A hint of Gueuze points to the long maturation.

Palate

Here the Missùs reveals its true greatness: taut acidity arc with impressive pressure, underpinned by a fine phenolic structure. The elegant mousseux carries aromas of fresh and overripe apples, citrus fruits in all their shades and again that characteristic hop note. The tannins are present, but never dominant – a cider with the complexity of a great white wine.

Finish

Long, fresh and sustained. The acidity remains precise to the end, accompanied by yeasty notes and a hint of apple skin.

Terroir & Origin

From the oldest plantations in the Calvados region, particularly the Friardel, where tall trees – some over a hundred years old – stand at only 100-150 specimens per hectare. This loose planting density and the age of the trees concentrate character and minerality.

Variety & Vinification

Nine acid-forward apple varieties, including Rambeau, René Martin, Locard Vert and the rare Grisse de Lisieux. Spontaneous fermentation following hand-harvest, Méthode traditionnelle with bottle fermentation. Filled March 2019, disgorged December 2021 – almost three years on the lees.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Scallops with cider and apple, halibut with cider-shallot sauce or pork belly with apple sauce. The acidity cuts through fat, the complexity holds its own with demanding preparations.

Special Features

A Grand Cru of Calvados – as the producer himself describes it. At only 5% alcohol, a masterpiece of balance between power and drinkability.