Sundström Cider

Hudson Valley

Leif Sundström runs one of the country’s most forward-thinking cideries, focused on varietal typicity, terroir, promotion of improved variety selection in the orchard, progressive orchard practices, and minimalist cellar work. Working with sustainably grown, heirloom apple varieties from historical cider-producing regions around New York State, he makes small quantities of dry, vinous ciders. They are complex, textural, acid-driven, and meant to age and evolve in bottle. Leif’s work is animated by his search for “the impacts of terroir and agriculture on cider’s ultimate potential.”

Sundström Cider 2017 Liminal

Liminal is a cuvée focused on the terroir of the Hudson Valley in New York and the heirloom varieties that have historical importance there. 2017 Liminal fruit was all grown by Samascott Orchard, in Columbia County, on sandy loam soils. The breakdown for this bottling is as follows: 34% Ashmead’s Kernel, 17% Golden Russet, 17% Roxbury Russet, 16% Newtown Pippin, 16% Northern Spy. These apples were sweat for approximately 4 weeks before being macerated between 12 and 48 hours prior to pressing, depending on variety. Primary fermentations occurred by native yeast over 6 weeks’ time. Fermentations were then aged on the gross lees for 2-4 weeks, before being racked to fine lees in neutral oak until bottling in late June of 2018. Bottled by traditional method without disgorgement. No fining or filtration. Sulfured only once at racking, in accordance with pH, at ~30ppm. Liminal 2017 leads with both aromas and flavors reminiscent of quartz grown Riesling, from the dominant presence of Ashmead’s Kernel. This is married with the texture, weight and spice of Golden Russet and Roxbury Russet. These are all balanced with Northern Spy for its ability to harmonize the other apples and provide mineralic structure, as well as Newtown Pippin to highlight the high-toned elegance within the blend. The result is a beautifully aromatic cider that is floral and spicy, albeit saline and earthy on the nose, with substantive soft texture that still retains grip and extreme length. Flavors are at once tropical with pit fruit and then crystalline and ginger-lemon blossom. This will continue to improve with age for several more years but is drinking great now.

  • 2017
  • Ashmead's Kernel, Golden Russet, Newtown Pippin, Northern Spy, Roxbury Russet
  • United States
  • Hudson Valley New York
  • Columbia County
  • Practicing Organic
  • Samascott Orchard
  • Loam
  • Neutral barrique
  • Stainless steel
  • 0.0
  • 750 ml

822 Salisbury Turnpike - Milan, New York - 12571 | 845-266-0376 | https://schatziwines.com | info@schatziwines.com