Galipette Brut by Galipette Cidre was judged as a French Cider, BJCP Style C1C. The cider presents a brilliant deep-gold color with light outgassing indicating a modest level of conditioning. The nose is lush with sweet fruit and hints of green apple/skin astringency. Overall, the aroma is light and pleasant with a dominant apple sweetness and no noticeable angular pepper or phenolics, just pure sweet fruit and a faint drying character that is quite appealing. The flavor is surprisingly sweeter than the nose indicated, with a pronounced sweet apple flavor up front, low acid and medium level of sweetness in the mid-palate. The late palate and finish sees an emergence of some clear mineral and astringent/bitter notes that provide counterpoints to the residual sugar, rendering the cider off-dry at the end. The apple character is very tasty -- make that strikingly tasty -- yet fairly simple and straightforward as there is no appreciable funk as can be found in some traditional French ciders. Gas level is relatively low, but a notch higher than petillant. The body is a contrast in fullness and low acid/refreshingly light fruitiness. The alcohol levels appear low. 

I am uncertain if this represents a keeved ferment, but the cider clearly has a body and finish reflecting unfermented residual sugar and complex yet clean apple flavors. The finish does have a very apparent apple skin character, with notes of spiciness and astringent-drying character that both offsets and complements the bright and sweet apple in the finish. Overall, this is a simple and simply delicious cider, with proper clarity and a sweetness that’s rich (but not cloying) all in a refreshingly light, and apparently low-alcohol package with a nice crisp character. While it lacks some of the stronger ferment character often resulting from malolactic ferment cycles, it still represents the French cider tradition well, and is worth seeking out.