2005 Domaine du Cardinat 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

Domaine du Cardinat has been in the Lalanne family for over a century. Farmer and grandfather of the current proprietor, Patricia Singh, built the family home at the domaine 100 years ago and cultivated the land long before that. In 1935, Joseph Lalanne's sudden death thrust Patricia's father, Camille into the fields forcing him to leave school and commit his life to the family domaine. Just four years later, Camille planted the first vines at the domaine and his life was devoted to this patient passion. There he worked tirelessly to produce great brandy, but his marketing was almost entirely word of mouth, relying on tourists stumbling upon the domaine and friends and family to return each year to place their orders. Camille's daughter, a certified viticulture and oenology specialist, left the domaine to pursue a career in marketing. She returned to work alongside her father a year before his death in 2010. Patricia made the bold decision to continue Camille's legacy accompanied by her husband Mr. Singh. We're lucky she did because their stocks are exceptional. Cardinat is in the tiny village Sarragachies in the western edge of the Gers directly in between the great Armagnac villages of Lannemaignan and Castex. The house style is big bold and driven by dense new wood. Even their powerful young brandies have great depth and texture. This youthful brandy, brimming with life and tons of spice, balanced by a considerable amount of sweet fruit. An incredible value by any measure.