Oade: 37yr Marquestau - "The Mountain" BourbonBoot & Luxe Liquor single barrel
Distilled in 1987
MSRP: $259.99
Mash: 100% Baco grapes
Proof: 85.8
Age: 37 year
Nose: deep rich wine grapes, it just smells thick, it's joined by aged leather, plum, dark maple syrup, a hint of nutmeg and some aged oak. All the while dominated by that thick grape (not every grape brandy is)
Palate: the palate reminds me of an expensive Cabernet, it has a slightly drying mouthfeel with aged leather, dried tobacco leaves, plum, blackberry, some very light campfire smoke with pepper, rounded out with a creamy raspberry marshmallow like note on the back of the palate
Finish: long finish where the leather and blackberry linger on the back of your palate for days
Rating: I won't rate my own pick (Out of Hoard, Buy, Try, Pass)
Thoughts: the longer you sip on this, the more it continues to evolve. The viscous mouthfeel and dark earthy notes mingled with deep fruit only lends to this drinking like a Cabernet. It's one of the more wine like Armagnacs I've had, and it works so well. When you layer that profile with the well aged oak, it just adds complexity that you wouldn't be able to accomplish in the non-distilled cousin. I really don't know what else I could ask for from an Armagnac, this is a beautiful pour. Do what you can to give this a try, because you're going to want a bottle once you experience this.
What's the Deal?: Domaine de Marquestau is an interesting distillery in that they are one of the most modern distilleries in the French Armagnac region. The majority of Armagnac distillers are vineries first and foremost, and then use a travelling still for their distillations season after harvest. Domaine de Marquestau is one of the few distilleries that has their own copper still at the distillery. They also use solely one varietal of grape, Baco, and also use new oak barrels and release their bottlings at cask strength. Generally speaking, Armagnac distillers use a blend or mix of the four Armagnac region grape varietals. They also typically use a used oak barrel and release their products at 80 proof. So everything that Marquestau does is just a little bit different. Oade was only able to get a few barrels from Domaine de Marquestau, and from what I hear, they are all just as special as this monster of a barrel. Learn more about Domaine de Marquestau via their website
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