Domaine D’Esperance 5 Year Bas Armagnac 750ml

Established in 1990, Domaine D’esperance is located in the Bas-Armagnac area. This bottling is produced from the baco 22A grape, though the estate grows other varietals. It is aged initially in new Gascon oak for one year and then transferred to used Gascon oak for the remainder of the aging process. The youngest spirit in this bottling is 5 years. This is made with no additives– no sugar, no boisé, and no caramel.

Mostly Ugni, with some Folle Blanche. Aromas of the peach galette, some floral notes, and a hit of light barrel tone. The aromas all come through on the palate bringing along some barrel spice on the finish. D&M Tasting Notes

Domaine D’esperance located on a hillside of the Bas-Armagnac area (or Lower Armagnac) of Gascony renowned for the subtlety of the Eaux-de-vie it produces, but its vineyards are on its most sought-after part, the “Sables Fauves”, a sand-based soil mixed with clay and a large content of iron, giving the soil its orangish color (hence the word “Fauve”, the French term used to describe the color of a lion’s fur). Of the 30 hectares of vines grown by Claire, about 8 are dedicated to making Armagnac by growing Baco 22 A and Folle Blanche.

The aroma is delightfully pungent with spicy scents of black peppercorn and caraway seed. The palate entry is semisweet with tastes of palm oil, beeswax, and light toffee; the midpalate finds astringent and bittersweet flavors of coffee bean, tobacco leaf, pine, and new oak. Finishes clean and assertive. An example of how compelling young Armagnacs can be.

NOSE:

Spice, peppercorns, caraway seed.

PALATE: 

Oily, initial sweetness, beeswax, toffee, tobacco, pine, oak.

FINISH: 

Short, clean, spice, the touch of oak.