Drogone Lambic
Brasserie Cantillon

2019 bottle consumed 08/2021. This has a unique pine (christmas tree) flavor. Cranberries with some orange herbal notes, red grapes, tannins, wine notes, and almonds. Very unique and enjoyable.

2023-09-14
750ml bottle shared amongst a few globes at Ammutson in Vienna. Bottled on 23 April 2020.

Pours a clear purplish rose, little to no head, looks still. Smell is somewhere between grapes and berries, some oak and mustiness, interesting and mysterious.

Taste is tart and dry, leans far into grapes, is somewhat juicy. Oak and funk are there but not prevalent.

Mouthfeel is dry velvet, soft and pleasant. Overall, gorgeous beer.

Slightly lighter in color than the previous two red grape lambics we shared with Jesse at the Cantillon bar, this one is more of a slightly darker ruby with a pinkish off-white head of dense fuzziness that retains thickly well.

Cinnamon-tinged cedar, pipe tobacco and black tea pairs with a red grape that has a moderate level of dry tannin bitterness while also maintaining a fruity touch, leading to a mild bleu funk that emerges with time.

Just a master class in executing amazing depth.

 

 

 

 

Bottle pour into a taster glass.
Pale red color with white head that quickly retreats to the edges. Nose and taste is wine, fruit, and funk. Mouthfeel is moderate body and lively.

 

 

 

 

2022 bottle opened at the source! Pours a reddish pink with white head. The nose is red wine, funk, lemon tart, raspberry, and a nice sweet candy. The taste is incredible. Very fruit forward. Jolly ranchers, red wine, lemon, a bit of leather, tart, low acidity, and fairly low sourness. It is almost more of a fruit juice feel, but much better of course! Vinous. Somewhat dry. The 7% ABV is not detectable. Overall, an amazing lambic.

 

Drogone is my favorite wine from Cantina Girardino, lots of dry grippy tannin, black cherry, and tobacco. The Cantillon version is a nice showcase of the grapes but is much less intense than the wine itself. It strikes a nice balance, and showcases subtlety and nuance more than others. Acidity is low to moderate, some cranberry and black cherry skin, as well as some leathery funk. Smooth and easy drinking, one to seek out.

 

 

Pours a clear, deep ruby red coloration with a small, frothy, pink head that vanishes almost instantly. Smells of light doughy malt and fresh, tart red grapes, with some musty funk and oak, as well as subtle tannins also coming through. Taste is an excellent balance of light doughy malt, quite fresh and vibrant, tart and and sweet red grape must, some red berries, with hints of currants and blueberry, just a touch of estery spice, with hints of clove and black pepper, as well as some musty, cheesy funk, earthy oak and subtle tannins also coming through. Finishes rather dry, with a light/medium tartness and some red grape, funk and oak lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth, effervescent mouthfeel with a medium body and medium/strong carbonation.

While I expected this to be a lot more funky and complex, it's clearly more balanced towards subtlety and nuance than a deep richness, just like Racine is, even though this is a blend of much older Lambic. It reminds me a little bit of St. Lamvinus but is even more light and subtle, with a very vibrant fruitiness that surprised me at 2 years old and delicate tart, funky, woody and tannic notes. Quite dry, with a vinous feel to it, this seems to exemplify Jean Van Roy's love of the wine world and desire to merge it with the world of beer. Overall, this makes for a very delicate, subtle and nuanced Lambic that makes up for certain lack of complexity with a vibrant fruitiness and vinous character, which I'm sure is exactly the flavor profile they were going for here in collaboration with Italian winery Cantina Giardino. I was also quite surprised by the complete lack of sediment on final pour here.

I’ve had this a few times now, with wine pairing from Cantina Giordano. Light on the palate, delicate. Always a fun treat. Bonus points for the amazing label :)