Review #: 376
Description: 1978 The Rare Armagnac Collection “Domaine de Pouchegu” K&L Exclusive
Spirit: Armagnac
Background: The final of the 4 bottlings from K&L and now we tip over the 4 decade mark. 42 years per the bottled (44 per K&L), the price jumps up to $300 for this bottle. So let’s see if this is worth it (or for that matter, worth the 1990 and 1984 combined).
Distillery – Domaine de Pouchegu
Bottler – The Rare Armagnac Collection
Brand – The Rare Armagnac Collection
Selection – K&L Wines
ABV – 49.9%
Age – 42 Years
Nose – Cherry cordial, Campari, lightly toasted oak, cherry cough drop, fruit rollup, baking chocolate, unsalted almonds, espresso
Taste – Cherry cough drop, coffee liqueur, raisins, vanilla
Finish – More roasted coffee, fairly drying but not overly, bitter chocolate and dry grape lingers. There’s an odd “watery void” where it doesn’t taste diluted but almost like it’s missing something.
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? No
Thoughts: This is still great brandy, but it falls short of where the other bottles are. I’ve been impressed with all of them balancing the oak well and not being overly tannic. This one just felt like it was missing some richness and body to it. Always fun to try something with so much age, and while it’s not a disappointment, it also isn’t at a layer of depth I would want from a bottle with those stats and cost.