Bald eagles are regular winter visitors to Clarksville, Missouri, some 70 miles north of St. Louis, where a working lock for river traffic keeps the water open and the birds well-fed. The area may seem unlikely as an epicenter of organic food and wine, but a handful of locals are pushing the envelope to make that transformation.
Made by H. Weston and Sons, a cidery established in Hereforshire since 1880, still owned by the Weston family, this lovely sparkling dry cider was aged in oak vats, which probably explains its smooth, full-bodied character. Pleasantly and moderately effervescent, it shows aromas of fresh, well-ripened apples, reminiscent of "cooking" apples like Cortland or Braeburn. Acidity seems lower than in, say, a Blackthorn or a Strongbow, giving the Stowford Press a smoother overall feel, and a rounder profile, overall. A mellow and pleasant winter sipper, although a crisper style may be more pleasant on a hot summer day.
You can read more tasting notes by Rémy Charest on The Wine Case.
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