I fail to see why so many people add concentrate to their cider. Upping the apple flavor transforms cider to alcol pop. Read the introduction to ciders in the guidelines, cider should taste no more like apples than wine taste like grapes. This is why Boones Farm Apple Wine is a classic representation. If you like the big apple flavor, make it that way, just don't call it cider. I admit I'm a purist BUT I'm seeing comments on my scoresheets about not having enough "apple flavor".
OK, off my soapbox.
I agree somewhat, but think that the statement that upping the apple flavor transforms the cider to alco pop is an exaggeration. Sometimes there is little to no apple character and wanting a little more isn't necessarily going to push it out of style.
The section you reference says "Ciders and perries do not necessarily present overtly fruity aromas or flavors" - doesn't
need a certain character doesn't necessarily mean it can't have it...
individually:
27A: "Sweet or low-alcohol ciders may have apple aroma and flavor."
27B: "No overt apple character"
27C: "Fruity character/aroma. This may come from slow or arrested fermentation (in the French technique of défécation) or approximated by back sweetening with juice. "
27D & E: "There is a pear character, but not obviously fruity."
28A: "A dry flavorful cider with robust apple character"
28B: "It is a fault if the adjuncts completely dominate" - this is an issue some judges have with my mango/peach cider.
28C: "Comparable to a Common Cider. "
looks like plenty of variation between substyles on apple character.
On a side note, I recently added some apple juice concentrate for the first time. Motts plus some fancy-pants tart apple juice, plus the concentrate for a bit higher gravity, and pitched WY3726 Farmhouse on it just to test an unfamiliar yeast. Two weeks later, very tasty, nice tart notes from juice/yeast, acidity/slight tannin seemed great, brilliantly clear, decided to rush into competition. Deciding between Common and French, but didn't have time to carbonate, so back-sweetened just slightly, entered it as 27A, still, semi-sweet. Gold medal, 3 weeks after pitching. *shrug* It's not a tool I'll use often, but I might try it again sometime.
cheers--
--Michael