Cantillon Vigneronne

750 mL bottle (capped & corked, bottled 2001; sampled April 2005): crystal clear golden straw with a very thick and generous bleached white foam that dies into a extraordinarily thin ring. My Duvel glass generates a constant stream of bubbles that ends up swirling on the top of the liquid in a strange, mesmerizing film…the characteristic sour yeast, barnyard, leathery, cold limestone aroma quickly puts me in a trance only Julia and Lambic are capable of. Lightly bitter toasted grains are released as the liquid swirls in the glass. Simply outrageous, tart iron flavour consumes the tongue, with a light sweetness from the grapes coming along just in time to moisten the palate and carry a tangy, pepperiness to the back of the mouth. Mouth watering lemons linger, while their tart acidity makes the eyes begin to water. Though I would suggest this may have been a tad young (for the faint of heart), it has each of the aspects that make gueuze/lambic almost addictive for me: enticing and entrancing aroma, tart, astringent, irony palate of flavours, a delicate carbonation and mouth feel, and that wonderful, lingering aftertaste that leave my mouth watering, creating that little spittle of drool that hangs out the side of my mouth…please raise your glass to yet another one of my reasons for drinking beer!

Clear/cloudy ornage depending where in the line your pour was. Quite an odd upleasant yeasty nose.Acidic and tart, puckery mouthfeel, cloying yeast presence spoils it for me.

NB flute glassware: Lightly hazy orange and golden hue with minimal head or lace. The aroma has the standard Cantillon funk of barnyard and musty esters with a background of sublime malt and a hint of muscat grape. The taste is sour for sure but I dig the touch of sweetness found upon the finish. Undertone of oak and wildflowers as well. The feel is sort of dead, just sits on the palate offering little. It is not as dry as most of their Lambics. Overall I like it but a full bottle would be too much and I would come to palate fatigue.

2003 bottle. golden color, no head. clear. musty aged grape aroma. yeasty too. very sour flavor, slightly tangy. tart too.

I’m not crazy for Lambics too tart and fruity for me. Tart, sour, and fruity flavors. Finishes sticky, chewy, and crisp.

Bottle 2003 Thanks Mullman. Golden color, clear. Aroma is sour with a touch of vinegar. low on carbonation. Good sourness. Great Stuff.

Bottle thanks to Mullman. Cloudy golden color with no head. Very little carbonation. Funky, musty, somewhat vinous aroma that was very enjoyable. Flavor was sweet/tart with all the great funky characteristics of Cantillon lambics, but mellowed somewhat by the addition of the muscat grapes. I love Cantillon!

Bottle. Nice, refreshing, acidic/citric, earthy aroma. Unclear golden/orange colour, no head. Quite acidic flavour, going on aggressive. A little sweet. Some earth. Slight yeast aftertaste. Good.