L'Encantada is a fairly new Armagnac bottler that is bottling Armagnacs from six estates in the Bas Armagnac Region. Like Darroze, L'Encantada mostly bottles single casks and includes the name of the producer on the label. They are unfiltered and bottled at cask strength. This one comes from Domaine Lous Pibous. It is made from Folle Blanche grapes and aged in new oak.
Domaine Lous Pibous 1994, L'Encantada, 53.7%
The nose has caramel, coffee and lots of earthy notes. The palate opens with notes of an old bourbon, like one of those huge, oaky 17 or 18 year old Bernheim wheaters that Willett put out a few years ago. After that initial bourbon blast, there are some more traditional spicy notes and earthy notes that careen into a spicy finish.
This is a fantastic, monster of a brandy. Whereas most Armagnacs are more rye-like in their spiciness, this one tastes like a big, oaky bourbon, the kind you don't really get anymore.
Sadly, these aren't available in the U.S., but you can get a bottle in France for around 90€ (500 ml bottle).
Thanks to Paul Schurman for helping me acquire this bottle.
Fantastic brandy indeed! It's not readily recognizable as Armagnac. Big blast of sandalwood and lacquer box, the comparison with a Willett bourbon is very appropriate. It is balanced by a fruity element - it also reminds me of a Japanese whisky like Nikka From the Barrel. One can stay with the oak and read it as a bourbon. The fruits are in the second layer, the classic Armagnac signature: marmalade, apricots, quince, orange peel. The taste is as advertised by the nose, with a bit of a woody bitterness - but not too much. The Armagnac shows up again in the long, spicy finish. Beautiful! Thank you for the sample.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! These are big and bourbony. I just received two different bottles of 20 yo and love 'em!
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