Le Frêche 2007 - Grape of the Art - 57% - L`Encantada - Armagnac
Picture taken at Roche Bobois Stuttgart
What happens when an Agricole Expert, a Bourbon Expert, a spirits lover, the founder of RumX and a lousy spirits blogger start a project? Of course, they found an independent bottling company for (high-end) Brandy. Why? Because Armagnac and Cognac are the newest fashion and the prices still fair compared to the tremendous quality. Le Frêche is a barrel stock bought by L'Encantada Armagnac and named by the village where the producing familly is located. Since they completely stopped operations, this is unfortunately a lost style.
Nose
Call the DEA! Or the Kriminalpolizei or whatever Drug Enforcement..now! It's one of the most uitvlugt-ish, wheated bourbon-y, glue-y Armagnac noses we've ever sniffed in our young lifes. Those scents of Pattex and UHU (liquid) ecstatically play the bongo drums in your head. But we have more irons in the fire: Thick plumes of dried raisins and plums, beguiling incense, wet cedar wood and fried coconut oil for instance. After a while it becomes more floral with violets and lavender blossoms. Lovers of the Demerara French Savalle Style (like us) could kill for this bouquet.
Palate
Call it the Attack of the delicate Mafia! (remember these 70's Exploitation Movie titles?) Sweet, oily and very heavily the liquid blazes its trail down the throat. Coating everything with sticky forest honey, dark chocolate, cold espresso, raisins and mango. Due to the great balance, one would never guess that it's cask strength. This is so much Le Frêche DNA, but without experiencing a cask takeover. Well, what more can we say, except that it's dangerously drinkable (that's why we called the agencies at first).
Finish
The glues came to stay like a virus. There is even a Bellevue-ish earthy coca cola note remaining at the back of the palate.
Rating
Since Rob is part of the GotA team and we might be (a little) biased, we refrain from scoring for this reason. The only thing we can say: Do NOT buy this bottle on the 7th of January on www.Armagnac.de! (So there's more for us to drink)
