Reinette Clochard apple

Four years after I first had this elegant hobo of an apple, I have the opportunity to take a second bite.

I might learn something new, or at least have a very nice (two-star) snack.

Outside

These green apples are compact and oblate apples with just a little ribbing, medium sized. The stems are quite short and the peachy-orange blush is partial and translucent. 

Lenticel dots would be hard to see but for specks of russet therein. A few of these pores in the small blush are inflected with specks of saturated crimson.

The apples are rock hard.

Inside

Biting in yields breaking-crisp fine-grained flesh that is off-white and bears the same delicate flavors I found in 2017: sugar, table grapes, lychee, and a hints of vanilla caramel and tangerine.

This time there is also something a bit like potato. Just a small bit.

Is that weird? Not, it is not, it works well with the other tastes. But it is unusual.

The Clochard has a good breaking crunch and its density makes it a little chewy too. The flavors are distinctive, if subtle, and harmonious. All in all a very satisfying apple.

I saved my second sample until today (November 8) to see how well it would age. The older apple is merely OK, with softer texture and melded flavors. 

It might fare better in high-tech storage, but Clochard is not a keeper.

See my original review for more on history, name, etc.