Metal House Chichinette Bottle Conditioned Extra Brut Cider 2020

Hudson River Valley, New York

The story of Metal House begins long before Kimberly Kae and Matt DiFrancesco landed in Esopus, NY in 2009, and before their son Bruno was big enough to pick apples and help around the cidery. Kim and Matt landed in Esopus eager to get back to the land. Matt was born and raised in an FLX grape-growing family (one of the very few organic growers in the region). Kimberly grew up enjoying the summer wheat harvests in her native Walla Walla, Washington. So, when presented with the opportunity to work with centenarian apple trees right in their new backyard in the Hudson River Valley, the couple jumped at the chance.

The thrilling ciders from Metal House are made from heirloom apples – with some sourced from trees that are 80 years and older. The Metal House team employs bio-intensive and biodynamic practices in the orchard, and the selection process is highly intensive. Primary fermentation is generally wild and takes place in stainless vessels, and all ciders – whether full champagne method or undisgorged – rest on the lees in bottle at least 9 months before first release.

Metal House Chichinette is a translator, a shape-shifter resting high on a wall in plain sight, with bright acidity and a long finish. Sitting just above the Hudson River, this is a block of Northern Spy that revealed itself only after 4 years of pruning. Balanced by some Catskill wild crab and their Esopus blend, Chichinette is a great dinner cider with a long finish and solid acidity. Named after a French spy due to the high percentage of Northern Spy! Bottle conditioned and undisgorged. A Hudson Valley take on col fondo. Lovely.