| |
Dwelling
Hundreds of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2025
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
January 26, 2025
|
|
  |
|
|
|
A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are carried out from the viewpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an knowledgeable in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
|
Extra grand armagnacs
We had some really fantastic ones final Sunday, and we’ll most likely proceed in the identical vein right now, with a relatively particular choice. In any case, life’s too brief…
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
“Consistently oscillating between the torments of want and the tedium of its fulfilment” (quoted very freely).
|
 |
|
|
Hontambère 2013/2024 (49.8%, OB, Uncommon Armagnac Assortment, Ténarèze, cask #A24) 
This cask-strength Folle Blanche was matured in French oak and saved in a dry cellar. We already loved a superb 2011 Baco from Hontambère final Sunday. Color: gold. Nostril: pretty pressure on citrus, beginning barely kirsch-like at first, with a contact of parsley, then shifting into praline and nougat whereas remaining fairly vibrant and fruity. It evolves in the direction of orgeat syrup, orange marmalade, and damson tart. Very compact and stylish, although a little bit camphor emerges later, including additional depth. Mouth: splendid energy, with a sure tannic grip and purple fruit notes paying homage to a really younger Bordeaux. That doesn’t final lengthy, nevertheless, because it shifts in the direction of liquorice and praline, with a faint salinity and a slight natural high quality that hints at its youth. End: lengthy, extra exact, with fruity natural teas, then pepper and touches of paraffin. Feedback: superb, relatively vigorous, although let’s not neglect that even at “solely” 49.8%, it’s cask energy!
SGP:561 – 88 factors. |
|
|
Château de Laubade 2006/2022 (52.9%, OB, Bas-armagnac, cask #F1994-071, chai #1, tirage #1)
We’re within the Gers with this famend home, which right here presents us a mix of Baco, Ugni Blanc, and Plant de Graisse—a uncommon and historic selection from the Gouais household that almost vanished from the area with the arrival of phylloxera. Color: deep gold. Nostril: extra traditional, barely rounder, but extremely fragrant, with violet scents alongside orange cake and honeysuckle. Lovely. With water: as usually with these spirits, water reveals an earthy contact, together with black nougat, a touch of dried Caesar mushroom powder (loopy stuff), and even a hint of gunpowder. Splendid – however peace! Mouth (neat): a barely creamy and luscious begin, rapidly underpinned by stunning black pepper, then creating into oranges, candied quince, and the identical violets as on the nostril. With water: very good spiced orange marmalade, enhanced by a contact of vanilla and liquorice. End: very lengthy, now extra natural and rustic, with inexperienced tea and liquorice wooden. Feedback: a real delight. I do know some Armagnac producers supply pure Plant de Graisse, and we’ll actually attempt to discover one.
SGP:561 – 88 factors. |
|
|
Charron 2004/2024 (51.3%, Grape of the Artwork, cask #95, 256 bottles) This time it’s Baco matured in a moist cellar relatively than a dry one. We’ve at all times loved the official bottlings from Domaine de Charron—you already know, the well-known labels adorned with the everyday Gascon zebras (proper, certainly, S., after just a few glasses, maybe…). Color: full gold. Nostril: it opens on glue and polish, very similar to a very good bourbon, then strikes in the direction of kirsch, cherry stones, and even a spirited younger Pinot Noir (which, in fact, has nothing to do with including Pinot Noir to your spirit, because the Scots generally sort of do). It stays very compact for now, which we relatively like. With water: little change, nonetheless tightly knit on the nostril. Mouth (neat): fairly explosive, once more with varnish but in addition sweetcorn, adopted by what seems like a mountain of ripe peaches of assorted varieties. Black cherries make a powerful return as effectively. With water: unbelievable—barely any change, virtually like an all-terrain Armagnac. End: lengthy, leaning extra in the direction of chocolate rum-raisin, however with out extreme sweetness. The cherries return to bid farewell within the aftertaste. Feedback: remarkably compact, with a extremely unorthodox profile.
SGP:661 – 89 factors. |
|
|
Uby 18 yo ‘XL’ (43%, OB for Wine4you, Bas-armagnac, 2013) 
I imagine Domaine Uby are extra famend for his or her wines (Côtes-de-Gascogne), although I’ve not tried any but. Their Armagnacs are identified for his or her very, let’s assume, ‘transgressive’ packaging. Color: gold. Nostril: a really spherical, seductive fashion, filled with dried and stewed fruits, even banana past figs and raisins. It then evolves in the direction of liquorice allsorts with amusing and surprising touches of cumin and charcoal. Freshly baked truffles straight from the oven. Mouth: an ultra-aromatic and fruity profile, virtually unique and even oriental. Piles of dried figs, sultanas, honeyed pastries, orange blossom, a touch of caraway, and at all times these liquorice allsorts. End: barely candy, relatively lengthy given the energy, nonetheless on dried and stewed fruits. A mentholated, liquorice-like, and muscaty be aware lingers within the aftertaste. Feedback: hazard alert—at 43%, you would possibly end up tempted to sip greater than is affordable. Shamefully wonderful.
SGP:751 – 87 factors. |
|
|
Sourdois 1986/2024 (51%, Poh! Spirits, Bas-armagnac)
A 38-year-old Baco from the Sourdois Lacourt distillery in Toujouse (no typo), Gers. That is the primary Armagnac from Sourdois that we’ve the pleasure of tasting. Color: mahogany. Nostril: decidedly old-school, closely on prunes and occasional liqueur, with strawberry and mirabelle jam, adopted by a refined and stylish meaty be aware (recreation, beef jerky, sushi sauce, lovage). With water: soy sauce and recent ink take the lead, adopted by a sack of charcoal. Mouth (neat): wealthy, creamy, and really woody, but fully in step with a extremely conventional Armagnac fashion. A Sunday Armagnac, we would say. Menthol, pine resin, bitter chocolate, espresso, and prunes. With water: a lot the identical, with added roasted pine nuts and a mentholated edge. End: lengthy, pleasantly bitter, that includes Corsican myrtle liqueur and liquorice wooden. The wooden lingers fantastically within the aftertaste. Feedback: this fashion is a bit like an previous black-and-white movie—extra attraction than leisure in comparison with, say the most recent South Korean Netflix sequence, however undeniably pleasant in its personal method.
SGP:461 – 88 factors. |
|
|
Lasalle Baqué 1982/2024 (48.6%, Poh! Spirits, Ténarèze) 
A pure Ugni Blanc (therefore all of the fruit) from Montréal. Montréal-du-Gers, in fact. We’ve already loved wonderful Lassalle Baqué earlier than. Color: full gold. Nostril: sheer indulgence, with intense but refined fruitiness—heavy winery peaches, well-behaved sultanas, blooming wisteria, and maybe a tiny piece of recent pineapple. Beneficiant portions of wildflower honey coat the whole lot fantastically, a lot to our delight. The polar reverse of the Sourdois, in a method. Mouth: very good, with a thunderous fruitiness mingling with smooth spices and pleasant liquorice. The oak makes itself identified once more however right here it solely punctuates waves of fruits—ripe, candied, dried, or jammy in flip. Prunes and apricots take centre stage. End: lengthy, with bursts of tobacco and darkish chocolate. As usually, it’s some barely mentholated liquorice that lingers within the aftertaste. Feedback: the perfect of each worlds—the austerity of the wooden and the exuberance of the fruit, completely synchronised.
SGP:661 – 90 factors. |
|
|
Domaine de Baraillon 1976-1979/2024 (42%, OB, Bas-armagnac for Ardour for Whisky)
A twin classic right here, although the years are very shut—1976 being legendary as a result of excessive heatwave that struck France that yr. Naturally, the French state took the chance to boost further taxes. Let me remind you that in Armagnac, the classic refers back to the harvest yr, not the distillation yr, not like in Scotland. Color: amber. Nostril: it’s insufferable—these Baraillons are at all times magical, it’s virtually boring. Stuff for Schopenhauerians, as with these infants, one oscillates between the struggling of want while you don’t have them, and the boredom of whole satisfaction while you do. Alright, sufficient nonsense, the nostril is elegant, with a barely acidic edge that elevates the whole lot, precisely as in all really nice wines. Very spectacular. Mouth: completely splendid, like a very nice black tea now—severely, a very nice black tea. Virtually transcendental (don’t ask me how that ties into Schopenhauer). End: not immense, however nonetheless all about that outstanding black tea, now joined by a saline and chocolatey contact. Feedback: whole oneness—not simply damaged down into parts, however solely the best spirits can supply such an expertise.
SGP:652 – 92 factors. |
|
|
Domaine Bellair 1974/2024 (44.9%, L’Encantada for LMDW, Foundations, Bas-armagnac)
100% Baco right here, theoretically with extra texture than Ugni Blancs, that are regarded as fruitier. Color: full gold. Nostril: unbelievable. I learn within the LMDW catalogue that this Armagnac reminded them of Calvados, they usually have been completely proper—it’s like a superb previous Calvados, solely a bit rounder. Wonderful! Mild earthiness, apples galore, honeydew, farm cider, then a handful of herbs—chervil, tarragon, watercress… Actually spectacular, already displaying vital tertiary improvement, and easily stunning. By the best way, 2024-1974=50. Mouth: essentially the most astonishing factor is how seamlessly it continues on the palate. You may virtually copy and paste what we scribbled in regards to the nostril. What sort of sorcery is that this? Solely after a very good 5 minutes does the grape begin peeking via, with the acquainted notes of winery peaches and raisins. End: not immense, however fairly magnificent. And naturally, we couldn’t finish with out mentioning tarte tatin. Feedback: immensely spectacular. This pleasant previous Armagnac reminds us that, with age, mature spirits are inclined to converge. Wouldn’t it’s fantastic if the identical have been true of politicians?
SGP:661 – 91 factors. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
