Review #86: Château du Tariquet VS Bas-Armagnac, 40% abv

second 40%-er in a row

Must be a summer thing. This is the bottom of the line for Tariquet. They also bottle un-distilled wines, which seems weird to me. I believe they used to be called A. Grassa et fils, or something like that. But maybe dad died, or the marketing people just said that "château" sounds better.

Nose: a very rich, almost foxy grapeyness. bicycle tire and new car mixed with lots of sweet, but slightly charred wood. some nice minerals, and just a little honeysuckle.

Palate feels a little watery, and the bicycle tire + char flavor becomes a little prickly -- a little too much sulfur there, I would guess. Overall still sweet and fruity, though, with estery cherry/berry flavors adding to the grape.

Finish is not powerful, but long. The grape flavors really last.


This isn't what I expect from young Armagnac -- the flavors are (mostly) bright and sweet rather than raisined and drying. But it's tasty, even if a little prickly and underproof. I'll have to get a bottle of one of the older, cask-strength versions.

score: 82