Judge’s Review: 86 Rating – Pure Cider Rosé by Kelterei Possman

Cider with Other Fruit | Year-Round | Germany

By David Sapsis

Judges Rating: 86
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 35
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 17

Pure Cider Rosé by Kelterei Possman is being judged as a specialty cider with other fruit, Style C2B, per the 2015 BJCP Cider Guidelines.
The cider pours a brilliant tawny amber with an obvious rose-colored red shift reflecting the strong coloring of the base fruit. The look is inviting and clearly telling me that there is something other than apples in there. The currant seems to blend with the apples to accentuate the acidic tartness and dry out the nose a bit, but it is still somewhat soda-pop like, with virtually no yeast/ferment character evident. Gas seems very low/petillant.
The flavor profile is much sweeter than the nose evinces, with a bright shock of fruited apple flavor bursting forth and lasting through to the medium finish; currant flavors seem to dominate, but the apple (very fresh juice-like) is there. Finish is only faintly spritzy, reflecting the very low dissolved gas level. If not for the acid and reserved fruit tartness, the cider would verge on medium-sweet in the aftertaste, which is long, clean and very fruity. 
Overall the cider reflects a current trend in making squeaky-clean fruited ciders that come across as flavored alcopops. This one has a nice sweet-tart apple note complemented by strong cassis sweetness, making for a a very fruity offering that is pleasant and direct in its simplicity.