Boon Framboise Mariage Parfait

Although this has been retired, big bottles of this stuff keep popping up in Japanese stores. I bought this one at the SOGO department store in Yokohama. Classy bottle...classy brew. Popped open the cork on this 2004 Lambic and savored the sight of the misty mouth signaling a nice treat. Noticed the colour to be a shimmering bright pink while pouring but once it settled into the glass it transformed into something darker and resembled a deep rouge. The head was amazing...not so much for it’s size, but for it’s colour...a lilac tinted beauty that also reminded me of Sakura blossoms. The smell was of Sakura, too...wildflower, honeysuckle, lemon peel, cherry, also detected some sort of soft cotton candy notes. Taste was mellow and slightly sweet, slightly tart, very low in acidity (probably due to it’s age) and walked the balance between cherry lemonade and a fine champagne.

Bottle. 2004 vintage. Hazy deep ruby colored with a lively off white head. The aroma is of raspberries(a little artificial), a little musty, vinegar and wood. Flavour of unripe berries, sugar, mild acidity, wood and vinegar.

750mL bottle, 2004 from cgarvieuk--thank you Craig! Clear pinkish red with a one finger slightly pink--though more white--head, fair retention. Lemon acidity with light vinegar notes, and both crushed raspberries and raspberry jam in the background. There is a little bit of hay as well. The flavor has slightly bitter raspberry skins, and doesn’t come off too sweet, even by the aroma’s standard (which wasn’t that sweet to begin with). Not too funky at all--dry finish with acidity peaking around a 3 or so. Very nice balance between the sweet and sour characteristics. Light carbonation with a light body. A very approachable lambic.

75cl, exclusive brew anno 2004, from De Hopduvel Gent, very complex fruit brew, balanced, hazy, good head, good brew, the best of the Boon-range

750mL 2004 vintage bottle from Regional. Pours hazy deep red, with a fizzy off white head. Fruit, fruit and more fruit on the nose. Obviously it is mainly raspberries, smells like a punnet freshly picked. Also a definite sour note reminiscent of Rodenbach. I was expecting a sweet flavour from this, but instead my tongue received a beautifully balanced fruitiness and sourness. Surprisingly fruit isn’t the first thing you taste, but sourness. This is quickly backed up with subtly sweet raspberries. The flavour is bold, exciting and challenging. And I love it. The finish is somewhat sour and dry, would prefer more berries which are only barely detectable in the finish. As one of my first lambic beers rated, it has set a very high bar for others to follow.

Pours a cloudy pinkish brown with red hues and a white head. Smells strongly of raspberries, slightly sour. The flavour is also very sour, but not necessarily in a bad way. It is a very carbonated beer and raspberries dominate, as expected, but there is a touch of malt and an odd metallic taste near the finish - this could be the alcohol flavour mixing with the fruit. Although I am a fan of sour flavours when it comes to lambics, this could benefit from a touch of sweetness, perhaps just to mellow the intensity of flavour. On saying that hwever, the palate is left with a lingering berry sweetness that begs for another sip.

[Sampled with the trio: Svoger, Svogergylp and Adenila Foged at EBF, 2008.] Although it is long time I’ve tasted this I remember some good dry notes, fine acidity, good fruity noseand it must be one of the best fresh real lambics for a hot summerday. Perfect balance and indeed one to hide and forget in the cellar!

EBF 2008, thanks Jacob! Cloudy amber with a small white head. Strong raspberry aroma with some funk. Sweetish and funky berry flavour