Changes

The first documented bottling of Bruocsella Grand Cru for the purposes of [lambic.info lambic.info] is a 1996 vintage with a 1999 cork, though there are surely earlier bottlings. Labels with a 1984 vintage are presented in the label log, making the Bruoscella Grand Cru a very old in the Cantillon lineup. The early label states that Bruocsella Grand Cru should be tasted and served in the same manner as a fine white wine. The labeling has changed slightly over time, and there are three main versions presented here. Between at least 1984-1990 a black label was used for the lambic. This version is no longer used and Bruocsella is labeled differently depending on if it is being exported to the United States or being sent to the rest of the world. The Label used in Europe is the Grand Place label, crated by Raymond Goffin for the 1998 vintage. The U.S. imported version features the painting ''The Peasant Wedding'' by Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel. European-labeled Bruocsella Grand Cru is generally stated with a vintage date that is three years earlier than the cork date; however, many U.S versions do not contain a vintage date. To that end, one can assume that if they have a U.S. bottle with a 2004 cork date, then it is more than likely to be a circa 2001 brew date. The three year rule is only a general time-frame, as bottles of Bruocsella can show as few as two years or as many as four years between vintage date and cork date.

It should be pointed out that there is no difference between the U.S and European versions. The labeling differences stem from different requirements by the United States versus the European Union in calling something organic. Cantillon currently does not meet U.S standards, but notes on their website that they have used 100% organically grown grain for their lambics since 1999.