Le Chai Laurichesse – #4
Background
Let’s wrap up this series with the latest from Laurichesse: fût 212. This is being sold at a similar price point to fût 300, which is around €260. It was bottled without reduction or additives at 47.6%.
Tasting
The nose is mild and pleasant. I get caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, mixed peppercorns, dried flower petals, and an almost grassy quality. We’re not talking agricole blanc levels of grass, but there’s something green in there.
The palate takes a bit of a turn, though not for the worse. It’s like a cup of vanilla yogurt topped with sweet and tart fruits: pineapple, tangerine, apple, and mango. The proofs on these casks seem to correspond with their respective intensities; the 301 is pretty mild, the 300 is pretty intense, and the other two are somewhere in the middle.
Verdict
Excellent. I love me a bright, fruity cognac, and this hits those notes without seeming immature or imbalanced. Do I love it 60% more than the first two releases? Probably not. It’s a great cognac, but I’m not sure I would call it a killer value. (8/10)
Final Ranking
212 > 301 > 104 > 300
The 212 is my favorite of the bunch, but it’s a bit too expensive to recommend wholeheartedly. 301 and 104 are both delicious and relatively inexpensive for very old, cask strength cognacs. For me, 300 is a step down in quality and a step up in price. Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the cognacs in this series, and I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next bottling from Guy’s cellar.
Click here to view all posts in my “Le Chai Laurichesse” series.