This Bas-Armagnac produced by Domaine du Tariquet is aged for 8 years.
Tasting notes from Thomas
The nose is slightly woody (varnish) but overall seems quite fatty. A mix of plum tart, orange zest and vanilla bring a sweetness. In a very short time, a nice freshness (menthol) is delivered. A slightly dusty impression then takes hold with a few spices (cumin, India wood) and a little chocolate ganache.
Aeration brings back a little caramel sauce to the chocolate base. However, the wood gradually reveals itself in its rawest form.
Dilution makes the whole more homogeneous, with spruce and sandalwood standing out alongside the spices. Then the sweet counterpart comes to the fore: fruitcake, mandarin orange and cocoa powder.
The palate is fairly dense, with restrained amplitude. Yet there are hints of encaustic, plum tarts, orange and vanilla liqueur. The second half of the palate tends towards minerality, with a hint of chocolate ganache. The woodiness (varnished, dry) then takes off, carrying spices such as cumin, India wood and gray pepper.
Dilution brings in sandalwood and freshness (coriander, menthol), while preserving the flavors already present.
The finish is long, well supported by spices and wood (still both varnished and dry). Orange (liqueur, zest) and chocolate remain. Then cooked plums, licorice and cumin settle on the tongue.
" An armagnac that conveys both fruitiness and woodiness without lapsing into cliché... "
