Background
Domaine du Cardinat has been producing eaux de vie in the Bas-Armagnac region for over a century. Camille Lalanne oversaw the domaine until his passing in 2010, and his daughter, Patricia Singh, has carried on the family tradition since. This expression from the 1998 vintage was twenty-three years old when bottled, and it has an ABV of 49%.
Tasting
On the nose, I get fresh wood shavings and dusty oak furniture, black pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate covered cherries, fruit leather, fresh mushrooms, pine needles, and a tiny hint of rubber. It’s very Christmassy.
The palate is oaky but not intensely dry. There’s cherry cordial, dark chocolate, orange essence, cola, baking spices, heavily steeped black tea, and some background earthy qualities like mushroom and mulch.
Verdict
Really nice! The combination of fruit, chocolate, and spice notes give this a lovely “Christmas in a glass” vibe. My barrier to entry for some armagnacs has been the intensity of the oak, which in this case is assertive but not overwhelming. It isn’t astonishingly complex, but it is very tasty and a terrific value at just $75. (7/10)