Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L'Ancienne - Cuvée Marie-Catherine
Gueuzerie Tilquin

Cellared 4 years. Clear golden body, white cap. aromas of barnyard and barrel funk, bright rustic oak, flowers, spent grain, big grapefruit, lemon, green apple, and a hint of sandalwood. Taste is fruitier adding some white grape, nectarine, and orange, but still get grapefruit the most, barnyard funk alone, pithy tones finish the fruits as they intersect with the subtle grains, meadow flowers and the bright oak. Feel is decently sour then funky, lastly bright and wild. Get that kiss of acidity but is reigned in pleasantly. Great for spring or even early summe

Copenhagen 13/9 2024. 75 cl bottle with a cork stopper from Beershoppen web-shop. Light turquoise label in Tilquin's usual design with some elegant drawings of vegetation.

Pours unclear golden amber with a mid-sized white head. A bit bubbly. Settles as thin patches of foam floating about. No lacing.

Aroma is fairly intense with a sweet fruity odor soon overpowered by a tart and acerbic scent. Whiff of funk. Sweet currants. Green apples, tart gooseberries and a solid touch of vinegar. Sour cheese.

Light carbonation. Thin, oily, soft, yet lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is rather intense with a light sweetness followed by strong tart sourness. Aftertaste is sour and a bit unforgiving. A bit searing. Lingers for a bit. Finish is bone-dry.

Dry and fierce.

 

2021/2022 vintage
Pours a small fizzy head, low retention, clear golden honey color with rosy amber hue

Nose the usual funk that I would expect, acetic and lactic acid with souring bacteria funk, barnyard is a bit more than average gueuze, a little bready and honey notes, little buttery oak

Taste starts fairly sour as expected, more lactic and acetic acid bite and sourness, some tart lemon and grapefruit like citrus on the back end, usual barnyard funk and souring bacteria funk, a hint of honey suckle and floral notes, juicy tartness, finishes a little flemmy but not too much,

Mouth is med bod, lower carb than expected but OK, souring acidity and a bit flemmy

Overall a little different than usual but still great

750 ml corked & caged dark green bottle, vintage 2021-2022, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.0%. Hazy golden to orange colour, minimal white head. Distinct aroma of brettanomyces, farmhouse, funk, rural kitchen, oxidized apples, lemons and oak. Very moderate carbonation. Sour flavour of brettanomyces, lemons, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and oak.

Bright sunshine golden orange, visible carb, a finger of foam initially. Clarity is sharp, color is saturated. Served in 35cl Tilquin stemware.

Wet oak, herbed bread dough, faint lemon citrus aromas.

Bright acidity, juicy apricot and peach, soft minerality, wet oak traces in the dry tannic finish. Puckering, lip smacking, and delicious.

As the glass sits for an hour, the spritz melts away, giving a vague impression of a natural orange wine. Microscopic bubbles continue to rise, and the vinous quality was merely a deft illusion.

When I met Pierre at Gueuzerie Tilquin in 2019, he hinted at the plan for this series, and it’s fantastic to see it finally come to fruition in the bottle.

Gueuze #114

 

 

A 750ml corked and caged bottle, with a neck label of 2021-2022, and a best before date of 15th February 2032. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.

Appearance: A hazy golden orange colour, with a half finger white head that had good retention and eventually settled to a ring around the glass, while leaving nice lacing.

Aroma: Funky, dry hay, wet wood, green apple, citrus zest, and leather notes.

Taste: Tart, fruity, plum, green apple, grapefruit zest, wood, and funk.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Balanced and enjoyable aroma and flavours. The first of the Tilquin Family Tree Project for me, and can’t wait to try the others.