Eric Bordelet

Winemaker Profile | Normandy, France

Once head sommelier of Alain Passard’s three-Michelin-star Arpège, Éric Bordelet returned to his place of birth in 1992 with a vision. Bordelet believed that humble cider lacked the respect and attention that truly it deserved. With great strength of character and a keen intuition, Bordelet managed to bring new life to this overlooked Normand tradition. On his 23-hectare estate, Bordelet cultivates over twenty varieties of apples and around fifteen varieties of pears, following biodynamic agriculture. This wealth of varieties, combined with Eric’s obsessive care for detail and quality, meant that for the first time, Ciders were being produced in the image of fine wine. Although Eric remains exceptionally involved, the pioneer's children have since taken control of the Estate, continuing in their fathers footsteps.

Bordelet’s orchards are home to some of the oldest fruit trees in the region, with some approaching their 350th birthday. These majestic guardians of ancient varieties, bare apples and pears that carry the aromatic profile of another time. Their preservation has lead to the creation of ciders and poirés of uncommon depth, comparable in every way to great wine. Delicate hand harvesting captures the subtleties of each variety and once picked, purpose-built presses are used to gently extract the fruit’s full breadth of flavour. Spontaneous Fermentation follows in stainless-steel vats under the action of indigenous yeasts with each vintage carrying its distinct signature. The cider is then bottled for natural secondary fermentation, in the traditional method, imparting a delicate effervescence that is refined over a minimum of six months of aging on the lees.

As a testament to his monumental efforts, Éric Bordelet is the only non winemaker to hold a place in the Union des Gens de Metier (UGM) alongside legendary names such as Anselme Selosse and Jean-Marc Roulot.