Herefordshire Russet *

Herefordshire, on the Welsh border, is a name to conjure with in apple and cider circles. ¶ 

This apple wears a thin golden brown russet over yellow-green fruit  that has a small rosy pink blush. ¶ 

It is medium sized and tapered. Are those dots lenticels or specs of russet (or both)?

The flesh is willing

The Herefordshire Russet's white flesh is crisp and fine grained, bearing the pear and citrus notes that are characteristic of russets generally. There is also a bit of gingery spice.

Compared to some russets I would say this is mild and easy to eat. It has nice clear flavors. Were I to pick a russet apple to introduce to a neophyte, it might be this one.

That's not to suggest that Herefordshire is not also a genuine pleasure to eat for jaded apple aficionados like me.

A modern russet

I am surprised to learn that this apple is a modern variety, dating, according to the National Fruit Collection (of the UK) to 1975. 

DNA testing, according to several reports, has upended the conventional wisdom about pedigree: Herefordshire is Cox x Golden Delicious, not Cox x Ida Red as had been assumed.