1995 Château de Briat 20 Year Old Vintage Armagnac (750ml)

Notes

Château de Briat is operated by the Baron de Pichon-Longueville's great, great-grandson, Stêphane de Luze, who represents the fifth generation of the family to make Armagnac at the former hunting lodge of Henry IV. Distilled from Baco, the house style is a rich and full-bodied brandy that seemingly pays homage to the former king's spirited namesake: Bourbon. It only takes one small whiff of this luscious twenty-year-old Armagnac to get your taste buds salivating. The nose is brimming with caramel, toasted oak, sweet fruit, and a bit of earth. The sweetness is what first lights up the palate, as this 1995 is not nearly as dry or tannic as some of the most rustic editions we've carried over the years. Much like a bourbon, the oak provides ample vanilla and richness right off the bat, followed by more nuanced notes of brandied fruit and wood. What stands out on the finish is how long that pronounced sweetness continues to persist. Whereas many of our best Armagnacs dry out towards the back, the 1995 Briat somehow prolongs that intense richness into a lasting presence of baking spices, oak, and soft caramel. For $100, we'd be touting this as a great deal. But for $69.99, it's a no-brainer. Buy two of these if you can.