Castarede 1986 GOTA 53,4%

Castarede 1986 Grape of the Art 53,4%

Unsual Tenareze?

Quite a well-known name in the armagnac game, but that’s a first review for a Castarede on Hors d’Age. Last GOTA’s review here was a nice 100% Folle Blanche Tenareze, and we’ll follow that Tenareze trend today. 36yo, Ugni Blanc & Colombard, 53,4%. 

Colour: Amber, orange lights. Medium irregular tears. 

Nose: Full of coconut powder scents at first. Hints of pastry notes with buttery shades and bourbon vanilla smells. Ample nose. Wet undergrowth and wormwood scents in the background. Hints of balsamic notes too.

Palate: Oily texture with a dry aftertaste. Obvious honeyed tones at first. Nice green tea shades melted with various herbal aromas. Refined palate, even if you get a little of wood astringence in the aftertaste. Warm spiced notes on paprika and ras el-hanout.

Last Notes: Various nutty notes with air, mainly dry walnut scents. Nice bitter chocolate shades in the background. Great coconut powder scents again and precious wood notes too. Dry heathery smells. It reminds me that sometimes Tenareze armagnacs own a bit of Bourbon profile. Back on the palate, you get an unprecedented freshness on verjus and young pears.

Nice Tenareze, well-balanced and with a relevant amount of oak influence. I miss a bit of funkiness and depth to go further than 88.

My very subjective note: 87+/100

More info about this Castarede 1986 by GOTA