Dartigalongue Réserve (2025 bottling) 42%

The latest Dartigalongue update for their core range is very relevant, imho, and this Reserve cuvée (6yo minimum) is a good example. 

Colour: Dark amber, gold lights. Irregular heavy tears.

Nose: Light fruitiness on vine peach and apricot at first. Dry nutty notes, mainly walnut kernel and dry hazelnut. Easy-going, very smooth, with hints of freshness in the background.

Palate: Round and precise palate. Dartigalongue reshaped its core range, and that’s for the best imho. This young Bas-Armagnac is nicely balanced between sweetness and fruitiness, in line with its age. Not a stunner, but proper blending work for sure. Nice mix of caramel sweets and sultanas.

Last Notes: Cider apple notes, with a touch of rusticity. Hazelnut cream, crushed almond. Creamy texture without being overly sweet. It ends on fresh pear and white chocolate.

Easy Bas-Armagnac. Not the funniest, not the most complex, but a great example of what a good young blend can be.

My very subjective note: 84+/100