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Dwelling
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| Hello, that is one in all our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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July 31, 2022
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A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are executed from the standpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an knowledgeable in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or some other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
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The twentieth Anniversary Classes,
as we speak 20 cognacs, as a quasi-verticale
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Cognac is the seminal ‘worldwide’ aged spirit. It has been Scotch whisky’s inspiration from the beginning and even the Scots (hey Richard!) let you know how Scotch whisky managed to fill the gaps left by ailing cognac, crushed by phylloxera vastatrix within the late nineteenth century.
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Certain armagnac is alleged to have been there earlier than cognac, however armagnac has all the time been smaller and I imagine the French have all the time drunk all of it, till fairly just lately. What’s extra, smaller cognac producers and growers /retailers are slowly successful the hearts of the spirit fanatics who will not be fairly fascinated by any of the key manufacturers which have all the time been just a little an excessive amount of into ‘life-style’, a pattern that some Scottish manufacturers will not be resistant to both, together with just a few well-known Distilleries that can let you know about simply something together with wooden in fact, but in addition journey, sports activities automobiles, arts or music; simply not about their distillates.
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No to likelihood!
Or when innovation and experimentation weren’t
the speak of the city in any respect (French journal advert, 1982) |
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Having stated that, it is not that we would not need to strive any of the Massive 4’s cognacs, it is simply that nobody’s ever thought it could be a good suggestion to ship any to Château WF. Thoughts you, we have tried lots of of cognacs, and solely two Hennessy for instance, whereas Hennessy actually IS cognac, with greater than 50 million bottles offered yearly and possibly round 30% of the gross sales altogether, if no more (having stated that, Johnnie Walker churn out 120-130 million bottles a 12 months). So, maybe a Hennessy to kick this off…
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Hennessy ‘V.S.O.P. Positive Champagne’ (40%, OB, +/-1990) 
Positive Champagne signifies that it is a mix of Grande and Petite Champagne. Color: amber (apparent obscuration). Nostril: properly fruity at first, with pineapples and, initially, truckloads of raisins. It would not actually go away raisin territories, having stated that, nevertheless it does that very effectively. Offered you get pleasure from raisins, naturally. Additionally just a little delicate liquorice and butterscotch. Oh effectively, that is very nice, simply ‘easy’. Mouth: loses steam on the palate, with an excessive amount of sweetness, too many raisins and a caramelly aspect. Just a little sawdust too, with a bitterish aspect. Clearly paying homage to many an entry-level blended Scotch. End: not too quick however certainly, bitterish. Feedback: the nostril gave me hope. Additionally the truth that it was an older bottle. Higher luck subsequent time?
SGP:730 – 72 factors. |
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Marancheville A45 (42.8%, L’Essentiel, Grande Champagne, 175 bottles) 
A vatting of three small casks of 60l every, made out of outdated staves, so don’t count on something bombastically oaky as they do north of Hadrian’s wall. The home often promote their fillings to some giant cognac home and solely preserve a tiny proportion for their very own fillings. Let’s have a look at if we have to thank them. Color: pure gold. Nostril: magnificent ripe fruits, first peaches, then mirabelles, quinces, oranges and guavas. Then moist pipe tobacco, just a little sandalwood, honeycomb, then solely tiny traces of liquorice and aniseed. A fair tinier trace of fish oil. Freshness and maturity listed below are each spectacular. Mouth: moderately tighter on the palate, agency, with roasted, nearly burnt notes (black tobacco, burnt almonds on some cake), then toffee and, lastly, a fruity and jammy improvement, half on citrus, half on yellow western fruits. Yellow peaches, apricots, plums, pears… End: moderately lengthy, this time with some mocha, cinnamon and tobacco. Feedback: approaching perfection already. The oakiness was effectively managed, small casks are all the time tough and also you would not need them to ‘flavour’ your spirit. Simply ask Octave (wink).
SGP:641 – 88 factors. |
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On to a home that is been pleasing us for many years already and that is been moderately seminal to us (hallo Dieter, danke schön noch ein mal!)
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Vallein Tercinier ‘Lot n°82’ (44.2%, OB, for Whizita / Flickenschild, Grande Champagne, 2022) 
Seems like Sebastian from Wu Dram Clan has been instrumental right here. The identify Lot n°82 might recommend that Kim Wilde was on when this was distilled. All proper, and Madonna, as you want. Color: deep gold. Nostril: treacherous drop, too fragrant, too enticing, with manner too many mangos and ripe peaches inside. You are nearly nosing a Bellini made with Salon 1990 and essentially the most olympic peaches. It’s precisely ex-tra-or-di-na-ry on the nostril, too stunning, too near an amazing Yquem or some other top-five Sauternes or Barsac. Not making this up. Mouth: it is extraordinary certainly that Vallein Tercinier would handle to maintain this very singular type, bottling after bottling, filled with tropical fruits and fragrant herbs, blood oranges, lavender and clover honeys, sémillon (that Yquem factor), tangerine liqueur, citron liqueur… What’s additionally extraordinary is that regardless of all these candy fruitinesses, it could by no means come near turning into even remotely cloying. End: medium, terribly fruity, jammy and recent. Good fudge and liquorice within the aftertaste. Feedback: recreation, what number of occasions have I used the phrase ‘extraordinary’? Now, nearly all the time the identical flaw with these bottles, they’re liable to ‘undesirable evaporation’ in the event you’re not cautious sufficient. I do know you see what I imply.
SGP:751 – 91 factors. |
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Petite Champagne Lot 84 (56.6%, J. Grosperrin for Malternative Belgium & Asta Morris, Les Bons-Vivants, 263 bottles, 2022)
Some Belgian collaboration between two nice little firms. Should not we ask that they ship their new expressions to us twice? Color: amber. Nostril: much less luscious than the Vallein, however which may be the upper power. Additionally it is moderately extra floral, extra aromatic than fruity, with some vetiver and ylang-ylang, jasmine, then simply buckets of tangerine and blood orange juices. With water: honeysuckle and orange blossom, plus oriental pastries, Turkish delights, baklavas… Mouth (neat): most likely the very best ages, round 35 to 40 years. Some peppery and mentholy spices beginning to seem right here, however we’re nonetheless extraordinarily removed from ‘oakiness’. Stewed fruits, tobacco, espresso, marmalade… With water: a barely grassier cognac, maybe a notch extra on fruit peel. End: a tad extra basic than the Vallein – that’s to say with moderately extra raisins. Feedback: as William Cower as soon as stated, ‘selection is the very spice of life, that provides all of it its flavour’. Beautiful outdated cognac, with an outstanding, albeit tiny rustic aspect.
SGP:651 – 90 factors. |
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Fins Bois 28 yo ‘Héritage N.90 + N.92’ (57.7%, Grosperrin for Cognac Sponge, 210 bottles, 2022)
The big homes will not be fairly into these outdated ‘bois’ as a result of after they’re in a mix, you lose the magic appellation ‘champagne’. Foolish. Color: redder amber. Nostril: somebody’s stolen a lorryload of quinces, distilled the whole thing, and let it mature in good high quality oak for a very long time. What actually strikes me right here is that we might be fairly near malt whisky. Some cedar wooden and artisan cider are topping all that. With water: Maggi and miso! Definitely some savoury notes, mushrooms, pack of English cigarettes… Mouth (neat): I do not like to make use of the phrase ‘rustic’ too usually however this absolutely is rustic, we’re fairly removed from the champagnes and extra on stalk, leaves and stems than on ripping tropical fruits and honeys. Almonds, kirsch, plum spirit… With water: extra of all that. Stays fairly grassy. End: similar. Some liquorice wooden. Feedback: it would not shock me one bit that some genuine Scottish boy would have chosen, and even vatted this. Nice drier variation that the French, most likely, would not have dared doing. The French!
SGP:561 – 90 factors. |
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Bache Gabrielsen ‘American Oak’ (64.1%, OB, cognac, 2021) 
Oh, no! American oak from Tennessee in our cognac! Probably one other sacrilege, let’s have a look at (our weapons are on the tasting desk)… Color: gentle gold. Nostril: excuse me? Vanilla, sawdust, banana pores and skin, cinnamon rolls. Seems like a current Glen Scotia, carved in oak, to let you know the reality. The jury’s nonetheless out, vacationing within the excessive mountains… With water: sawdust and vanilla, plus ginger and cinnamon cookies. I imagine we may dwell with out this. Mouth (neat): hi-rye bourbon, actually. With water: how lets name this, maltgnac? Cognsky? Cognacsky? Nah, the latter sounds too Putinian. End: lengthy. Feedback: to be completely trustworthy, it is a moderately nice effort and anybody not into brandy might moderately get pleasure from this contemporary oaky variant. However unsure the nice of us in Jarnac, Cognac or Saintes would approve, some could also be spinning of their graves…
SGP:461 – 78 factors. |
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Pierre Vallet 1978 (48%, OB, Grande Champagne, cask #820, +/-2022) 
From Jarnac certainly. By no means tried any ‘Pierre Vallet’ however that does not imply a factor. The home makes use of English wordings on their labels, which can imply that they are primarily for export (non chill filtered, cask, restricted version, cellar grasp, malted barley… no wait, not malted barley). We’re curious… Color: amber. Nostril: very basic, with some chocolate, cappuccino, tiny metallic touches (copper cash), pinecones, peonies and pansies, tamarind jam, black turon, then increasingly bitter chocolate… Mouth: very basic cognac certainly, beginning with some moderately huge oak ‘à l’ancienne’ (might I converse French?), pinewood, occurring with some propolis, black tea, espresso, bitter wooden… I am positive some would say we’re moderately in armagnac nation. End: lengthy, bitter, mentholy, piney. Marmalade and menthol within the aftertaste, plus just a little bacon. Feedback: transferring, if just a little out of vogue. One of many conventional types, I’d say. I keep in mind my outdated uncles used to quaff these as digestifs, whereas smoking Dutch cigars.
SGP:471 – 85 factors. |
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Come on, we had stated this session was to have a good time WF’s twentieth (malternative) Anniversary! Fast, the possible antithesis…
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Vallein Tercinier ‘Lot 68’ (46.3%, OB for Kirsch Import, Fins Bois, +/-2022)
We have not discovered any footage for this one, so we needed to choose one ourselves. Come on, 1968! Color: full gold. Nostril: not humorous. Quince jelly, custard, mirabelle jam, croissants au beurre, pack of Dunhill’s and acacia honey. This combo must be streng forbidden, it is too straightforward, too good, too unquestionable. Mouth: it might be beginning to come out of the ‘pure age vary’ on the palate, displaying faint indicators of (oaky) age right here and there; alternatively the mirabelles, peaches and raisins are nonetheless having sufficient stamina to battle again. End: that is the place the battle is fought, between the spirit and the woods. The bitterish and peppery piney notes within the aftertaste are asserting that the struggle will quickly be over. In a manner, it is a transferring second. Feedback: caught simply in time. Very great nostril, palate wonderful however ‘in transit’, let’s assume.
SGP:461 – 88 factors. |
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Older cognacs aren’t all the time straightforward. It is typically excruciating to strive some very outdated drops which have misplaced it to wooden, whereas they need to have been transferred them to demijohns way back. Keep in mind, growing older is a gaussian curve, not a stairway to heaven (yea proper, bravo, S.!)
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Grande Champagne Héritage N.72 (50.2%, Cognac Sponge, 180 bottles, 2022)
Color: deep gold. Nostril: not extraordinarily expressive however quietly elegant, with some brioche (Marie-Antoinette’s) and as soon as once more, some quince jelly and eau-de-vie (and liqueur, and jam, and syrup…) With water: extra brioche, biscuits, outdated champagnes (the glowing wine), raisins and dried jujubes, sunflower oil, recent croissants… Mouth (neat): earth, leaves, compost, cigars, umami… Briefly, some tighter cognac, not for the golf equipment or the cercles (that are the French model of the English golf equipment, and the place they drink much less and speak extra). With water: yeah, we unearthed the elegant fruitiness, neither pears not pineapples, moderately small dried berries and fruits. End: medium, elegant, not in contrast to an outdated Glenmorangie that is not been dumped (learn murdered) into new or virgin oak. Feedback: I preferred the Sponge’s multivintage Fins Bois just a little higher, however that is nonetheless high-echelon, albeit just a little rural spongey cognac.
SGP:461 – 88 factors. |
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All the way down to the rock and roll years…
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Maison Prunier ‘Lot 61’ (53%, OB for Wine4You, chosen by The Purist, Fins Bois)
Color: very deep amber. Nostril: thick Corinthian raisins and molasses at first, additionally chestnut honey, additionally English brown sauce, additionally Tennessee BBQ sauce, additionally Bulldog and simply ‘common smoky gravy’. I’d suppose you bought the image. With water: more energizing and moderately all on chestnuts in all their guises. Roasted, puréed, liqueured (is {that a} phrase, S.?) and in a beautiful chutney that Cooks would serve with some correct Alsatian goose foie gras. One of many final occasions we’re utilizing foie gras as a descriptor, because it’ll quickly be banned in hygienist Europe. Europe is aware of nothing about birds. Mouth (neat): distinctive varnishy and salty teas, tannic cigars (some pleonasm, actually) and thick, nearly desiccated honey. With water: unbelievable that such and outdated cognac would really get sweeter when lowered, as a substitute of a tannin bomb. End: medium, with beautiful teas, menthols and piney issues. Essences, liqueurs, oils, vegetal earths… Feedback: any outdated spirit are about this very fragile stability. They’re sports activities and the taster should be attentive, truthful and humble.
SGP:561 – 90 factors. |
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Hermitage 1948 (44.4%, OB, Grande Champagne)
Pure ugni blanc, bottled round or earlier than 2018 (clearly, because it was awarded a Gold Excellent Award on the Worldwide Wine & Spirit Competitors 2018. That is proper.) A model associated to Michel Forgeron’s, in response to our residence sleuths – they preserve saying good seed makes a superb crop. Color: pink amber. Nostril: a hotter type, on compotes and jams, particularly strawberry and tamarind jams. Some stewed apples, cinnamon and damson tarte, outdated pink Bourgogne (we may identify many). Between a 1976 and a 1978 classic, let’s assume. Good black chocolate too. Mouth: not fairly Carl Lewis in Los Angeles 1984, nevertheless it’s nonetheless filled with jammy charms, compotes, ganaches and delicate fruitcakes. End: medium, on teas, rosehip, hawthorn and all that. Whispering aftertaste, with some resins and walnuts. Feedback: it is saying goodbye. Goodbye, Hermitage 1948!
SGP:451 – 87 factors. |
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Prunier ‘Lot 56’ (52.8%, OB, Petite Champagne, Wine4You, The Purist, Alter Ego, 320 bottles, 2021)
1956, that is the 12 months of The New Miles Davis Quintet. Presto, 10 extra factors, together with 5 for Coltrane. Color: very deep gold. Nostril: who’s distilled a bag of panettones and kougelhopfs? And who’s added hectolitres of nice Alsatian gewurztraminer, filled with rose petals and litchis? With water: and scones and muffins? I man, blueberry muffins? Mouth (neat): marc de gewurztraminer, and among the best! (which might be those we distil ourselves, naturally). Beautiful floral fruitiness, plus flowers and spices. One thing composed by nice noses, corresponding to those they used to have at Whyte and… Chanel. With water: outdated type perfumes and wholegrain breads, Austrian-style, which would come with spicier poppy seeds and caraway. End: medium, very advanced, with many older flavours. Europa in your glass. Spicy and drier aftertaste, however we have determined, fairly undemocratically, that we would not care. Feedback: I hope that is the sort of drop that neither Trump nor Putin would get pleasure from. Not one case to avoid wasting the opposite.
SGP:562 – 91 factors. |
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Brandy 50 anos (40.4%, Perez Barquero and Corman-Collins, Montilla, 1008 bottles)
So an outdated un-solera-ed brandy from Montilla (so PX, not palomino), and a vatting of two of the 4 remaining casks they had been having at Perez Barquero’s. We have to thank our pal Hubert Corman right here, whereas remembering that we hate the Belgians as a result of they’re all the time smarter and quicker than ourselves the French with something associated to, let’s put it merely, ‘drinks’. Color: mahogany. Nostril: butterscotch and butter caramel, you’d imagine that is amontillado, not brandy. Easy, millimetric, evident and philosophically dry and.. buttery certainly. Mouth: one other dimension, it’s brandy identical to these outdated cognacs, however they have strictly nothing to do collectively. Extra butter cream, butter cake, pecan cream, peanut butter, black turon, doughs, bitter cherries, bitter cream, correct mozzarella (I do know)… and pine liqueur, and the driest dry chocolatey drink, and a few oak extracts… What’s undoubtedly positive is that that is as dry and bitter as potential. End: lengthy, amontillado-y, bitter, with walnuts and rancid butter. Feedback: okay, that is outdated amontillado, it is simply that it could have gone to eleven. Mental and difficult, not a straightforward drink. Foucault would have liked this. Vive la Belgique et l’Espagne.
SGP:362 – 90 factors. |
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Prunier ‘Lot 40’ (55%, OB, Wine4You, Grande Champagne, 168 bottles, 2021)
1940 in France was a bit like 2022 in Ukraine. Color: pink amber. Nostril: it is received the varnishy aspect of many an outdated bourbon, then plums, damsons, zwetchkes and quetsches. All issues that can save the world. Let’s not neglect sloe and different schnaps and schnapsli. My god, 55% vol. at 80 years of age! With water: love this rural type. Plums, hay, Gauloises and outdated woods. Mouth (neat): chic, for a lot of causes. Certain it is received its justifiable share of teaish and embrocatory (what?) tannins and teas, nevertheless it’s nonetheless vigorous and even fruity. Marmalade, morello cherries, plums in chocolate, marzipan, Mozartkugeln, prunes… Luggage and baggage of prunes, actually. With water: in 1940, Cognac was nonetheless inside the so-called ‘free zone’. A spirit filled with goals and expectations. Think about the individuals who had been distilling this, most likely within the open, with a cell nonetheless set, whereas the information was getting scarier by the minute. End: beautiful. Feedback: is there, or are there working distilleries in Ukraine? Might we speak?
SGP:561 – 91 factors. |
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Mauxion ‘Lot 31’ (43.5%, OB, Borderies, +/-2022)
That is, you might have guessed it, likely a 1931. It is spent all his time in wooden and stems from the tiny area of the Borderies (so the borders). What’s positive is that that is certainly older than the oldest Scotch whisky ever bottled. Color: full yellow gold. Nostril: the freshness is wonderful, and I would not have anticipated to seek out guavas and papayas first in such an outdated glory. Then honeycomb, honeysuckle, mullein syrup, elderflower syrup, just a few raisins, a moderately chic menthol, some nougat… I am discovering this nostril actually distinctive. Ninety years in wooden! Additionally a drop of parfait amour, or violet liqueur. Mouth: some voodoo at play, for positive. A luxurious tarte tatin, solely with a number of fruits beneath as a substitute of simply apples. As soon as once more some flowers, violets, mullein… as syrups. Crumbs of ginger cookie, sultanas, a touch of ripe banana, bits of scone and muffin, and a splendidly liquoricy signature. I am so glad that the outdated oak saved its distance, I’d guess it was first stuffed in Napoléon’s time. End: and the freshness stays, and so do the flowers and raisins. Terrific end. Feedback: miraculous. I am positive what I will add will likely be silly, however you’d nearly imagine this was stuffed and saved at and by Gordon & MacPhail’s. I had warned you, one thing silly. *** shopping for sign *** (no we do not try this, however on this case, we could not not do it).
SGP:651 – 93 factors. |
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It is all going nice with our twentieth Anniversary, is it not!
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Grosperrin A29 (47.8%, L’Essentiel, Fins Bois, 152 bottles, +/-2022)
A single cask from Matha Le Goulet. I had first thought this may very well be a 1929 however on second thought, after having seen the value (164€) I imagine it is secure to say that it is youthful and should not fairly belong right here. Perhaps a ’92? However ‘as soon as poured’… Color: deep gold. Nostril: pleasures throughout, with recent fruits, a fruit salad actually, and some crushed mint leaves ‘like in a mojito’. Add some honey and a drop of maple syrup, and also you’re up for a unbelievable breakfast (they’re going to shut this web site for good someday, however we’ll battle to the loss of life!) Mouth: tops, moderately grassier, with an uncommon earthiness, then moderately walnut skins, liquorice wooden, mints, then stewed fruits plus jams. We’re speaking oranges, peaches and apricots, which aren’t unusual in good cognac. End: medium, recent, with some liquid liquorice over the identical stewed oranges, peaches and apricots. Feedback: great, with some actual presence and but it could go down effortlessly.
SGP:651 – 89 factors. |
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Let’s get again to the older ones… In any case we had been speculated to be in 1929…
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Hermitage 1923 (43%, OB, Grande Champagne, +/-2020)
Our pricey buddies the Scots would absolutely promote an analogous classic for precisely 100 occasions the value of this cognac (£1,200). Color: darkish gold. Nostril: it is gone into one other dimension, all made out of valuable leathers, tobaccos, hardwoods and balms. Add pinecones and roasted pecans and Brazil nuts, even perhaps peanuts, however no recent and even preserved fruits in anyway this time. Not an issue in any respect on the nostril, however let’s test the palate with warning… Mouth: it could be just a little fragile and just a little on cinnamon sticks and melba toasts at first. Undecided the power is ‘pure’ or if it had been introduced down, however just a little extra wattage would have been welcome for positive. Having stated that, in the event you give it time (and who would not give a while to a 1923 cognac?) you will discover wee mentholated bits of peaches and a small glass of outdated Sauternes. End: fairly medium, grassier, not drying. A tiny little bit of plasticine within the aftertaste. Feedback: an enthralling fragility.
SGP:541 – 89 factors. |
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Mauxion ‘Lot 14’ (41.2%, OB, Wine4You, Borderies, +/-2022)
A 1914, straight from the wooden, so multiple hundred years outdated. You learn that proper. Most likely made by girls or simply outdated guys, as most males had been despatched to struggle already (the struggle began on July 28). Very transferring drop… We simply hope the blokes who managed to outlive the struggle may have a wee sip of this one when again residence, from the cask, when it was nonetheless very younger. Let’s clink our glasses, brothers, in any case we have solely received 106 years and some months mendacity between us. Color: gold. The utter wonders of correct refill wooden. Usually, new wooden is an aberration. Nostril: you should imagine in miracles. Williams pears (pears!) and peaches, some quince and barley syrups, some lovable whiffs of dried rose petals, patchouli whereas we’re at it, old-style fragrance (we used to cite Pleasure de Patou), and a few girl’s evening cream. I swear I am not quoting these as a result of we had stated this may occasionally have been made by girls. Actually. Mouth: pears once more, and even apples, you’d imagine this was a really outdated calvados Domfrontais. And an amazing one at that. Implausible peaches, outdated white wine (outdated viognier, Château-Grillet…) with even a muscaty aspect and actually some unbelievable raisins of all types and origins. Forgot to say peach syrup. Implausible. End: not too lengthy, however lovable, completely not oaky, moderately on outdated meads, honeys, apple brandy certainly… Feedback: many aged cognacs have been transferred to demijohns, so say a 1922 is normally probably not 100 years outdated, as solely time in oak casks counts. However that is totally different, because it’s spent all its life in wooden. I am not even positive I’ve ever tried one other ‘100’. In all probability, however I am actually unsure…
SGP:541 – 91 factors. |
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Distinctive, that 1914! Actually glad I may strive it to have a good time WF’s twentieth. However this isn’t over, since you’re solely 20 as soon as, are you not…
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La Roseraie ‘Lot 11’ (40.2%, Malternative Belgium, Borderies, 44 bottles, 2021)
This from the Héritage de René Rivière, in Saint-Sulpice. We had tried a shocking ‘Circa 1913’ again in 2020 (WF 91) whereas a ‘Earlier than 1925’ had been much more to our liking (WF 92). This 1911 was transferred to a demijohn in 1983, which signifies that it is technically a 71 or a 72 years outdated. Oh and keep in mind that it is in 1911 that Roald Amundsen has been the primary human being to ever attain the South Pole (until somebody tells us that was really the Vikings too, ha-ha). Color: deep gold. Nostril: all softness, all on apricot cake, Danishes (the Vikings once more!), preserved mirabelles and pears, acacia honey, tinned peaches, delicate syrups, almond milk… Mouth: just a little extra fragile after the miraculous 1914, maybe a tad extra teaish, comparatively extra on peach skins than on flesh, however let’s not begin to cut up hairs, it remained extremely recent and even refreshing. Superior notes of high-end apple juice and even cider. End: not even quick or shortish, it is nonetheless received watts and would preserve in your glass for no less than one hour. Preserved peaches within the aftertaste. Feedback: what’s extremely placing is that ‘cognac’ hasn’t modified a lot over a century, whereas Scotch malt whisky actually has. Was it for the higher? This isn’t the time to debate these points over again… what’s extra, it is a cognac session.
SGP:551 – 90 factors. |
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You might have, or haven’t, seen that many bottlings that we have tried as we speak had been imported to Belgium. I imagine the Belgians are the #1 French brandy specialists on this planet, manner above the French themselves (the French want Cardhu and Monkey Shoulder, do not ask).. Good, I imagine we now have room for a really final one… So let’s make it to the nineteenth century!
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Marquis de Montdidier 1897/1977 (40%, OB, Positive de Bourgogne, 150cl) 
An outdated nice and never a marc, so distilled wine identical to cognac, made in Nuits-St-Georges in Burgundy. Let’s not count on something as well-polished and civilised because the outdated cognacs we simply had, however you simply by no means know. I imagine this was a big outturn, most in magnums however magnums had been hardly ample to the very motivated French drinkers of the mid-Seventies. Having stated that, you might have seen that supplied it was nonetheless in wooden when this was bottled, it’s a +/-80 years outdated nice. Color: gold. Nostril: certainly, not precisely cognac, this has extra ‘fiddlings’ inside, aniseed, fennel, liquorice, verbena, grapey notes, even pastis and, as soon as once more, calvados. It is a sort of melting pot, barely liqueury on the nostril, not disagreeable in any respect, however it could moderately remind me of, say Armenian brandies than of correct cognac. Very curious concerning the palate… Mouth: charming, however with some caramel, wee molasses, some notes of grittier marc certainly, a faint feeling of sugar syrup, maybe small berries (elder, sorb, holly…)… Charming certainly, however barely flabby. Not all spirits may deal with these 40% vol. with grace and responsiveness. End: quick, candy, with a grapiness that is not disagreeable. Feedback: don’t get me incorrect, there may be some enjoyable available with this very outdated spirit that was distilled whereas the primary horseless cab/taxi firms had been being based in London or Paris. Do you know they had been all utilizing electrical automobiles?
SGP:451 – 83 factors. |
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See you, pleased Sunday, keep tuned for extra celebratory classes…
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