Judge’s Review: 92 Rating – Apple Pie-Secco by Nine Pin Ciderworks

Cider with Herbs/Spices | Seasonal | USA

By David Sapsis

Judges Rating: 92
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 18

Apple Pie-Secco by Nine Pin Ciderworks is being judged as a specialty cider, style C2B, per the 2015 BJCP cider guidelines. It contains cinnamon, vanilla and sugar, in addition to its core apple base. It is offered as being both dry on the sweetness scale, and sparking on the carbonation scale.
The cider is served in a narrow, tapered glass, casting a deep straw, champagne-like color with brilliant clarity. Only a modest trace of  gas bubbles climb though the pale bright liquid. It is sparkling clear and very attractive.
The aroma starts with a light but direct green/Pippen-esque apple character with some sweetness and and tartness, then blending over into a rich cinnamon-infused and layered apple/fruit bouquet, rounded out by what might be the vanilla influence, but is not obviously vanilla. The effect is more subtle and complex, adding some depth and dimension to what could only be described as a rich but dry and tart apple pie nose. It really smells as advertised, and that smell beckons a deeper dive.
The flavor of tart green apples underlays a richly spicy palate well balanced by low-level sweetness, lovely clean cinnamon notes and a more fully realized influence of vanilla in the palate. The finish is medium-dry, the body is medium-light, and the alcohol appears somewhat reserved, but not thin. I would rate the conditioning as closer to petillant than sparkling, but that is a minor quibble. 
Overall, the flavor is remarkably like a terrific apple pie made with nice, tart baking apples and low sugar content. It is rich and filling but also clean, and it leaves the palate veiled in a light spicy fruit aftertaste that invites another taste. Put this cider into your cart if you like apple pie, medium-dry ciders and want to visit an autumn state of mind.