Cellar Notes - Boon Framboise

Vintage: 2005
Tasted: Jan 2009 (14/20)

Colour is holding up well; a genuine mix of orange and brown. Aromas are very attractive and show a surprising rich level of strawberry fruit, almost of confectionary-like intensity. Good stuff. Palate does a complete about face and is dominated with a bitter, sour fruit. I can’t quite put my finger on the fruit flavour; probably very sour grapefruit comes closest. All in all I thought this beer was looking pretty good if you dig sour fruits. Maybe best drunk inside 5 years from vintage.

Vintage: 2003
Tasted: April 2007 (13/20)

Dirty blood red, almost dull brown in colour. Unexpected, perhaps the result of both ageing and a touch of oxidation. Thin persistent head of good depth. Fruit driven nose, a little tart, but the sweet berry fruits are very evident. The first couple of sips were marred (almost severly) but a pongy, bitter sulphuric-like kick. Like bottle stink in wine. This character did subside over time but still always lurked in the background. Otherwise the palate looked decent; aged strawberries, a hint of old wood, and fading tart fruits. I reckon this might have looked better as a 2 or 3 year old.