Community Tasting Note
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numen Likes this wine: 91 points
January 6, 2014 - Nose: We're in the same realm as the aptly named Lot no. 69 'l'Erotique'. Leading on vanilla, white peaches, and apricots. It's in good company for cognac. Alcohol is rather fiesty here; nasal hairs, prepare to be singed. The dry and dusty notes from the '69' are here more on chocolate, cocoa, and sweetened tobacco wrappers rather than caster sugar. A few grains of sea salt as well, drawing out the luscious fruit. Papaya and soft tropical fruit. Waxy honey and some melon for good measure. Walnuts and a drop of almond oil. (with water) Softens the alcohol, and highlights the dry sugar and crystallized fruit nibs.
Palate: Honeyed, somewhat grapey, and intensely on golden raisins. Considering the age, this is extremely youthful. Fairly rich and unctuous, and a good grip, akin to a fine armagnac. Cocoa, graphite, and moderate rancio. The more tropical fruits are obscured a bit. Sweet, candied ginger, sandalwood, pepper, and a light layer of that dry caster sugar. Obvious vanilla, too, extracted, but not saccharine. Dry, sweet shredded tobacco wrapper soaked in a young (12-18 year) cognac [ed: "d'uh"]. (with water) Flattens out everything. Some of the grip is gone, while it does bring out more of the rancio.
Finish: More of the same with the intensely raisiny quality. Honey and less of the darker notes, but still excellent, and very well balanced. Clearly of the house style, and very reminiscent of the other bottles from the estate of the same approximate age, just a slight kiss more of rancio. I liked it a hair more than the 69, and it's nice to have a big cognac, especially at this age and proof. I was just slightly underwhelmed by the depth of flavors and, perhaps, the lack of secondary (non-fruit) aromas and flavors for something of this age. It really seemed more like something half its age, though excellent all the same. An 'A-' for me, around 91-92.3,020 views