Domaine du Landais Hors d’Age 40%

DOMAINE DU LANDAIS HORS D’AGE BORDERIES 40%

Chez Gautier recipe

That’s not the first Heritage Rene Riviere reviewed here. While some single casks rank among the finest Borderies I’ve ever tasted, the blends sometimes show less consistency. This one is a 40yo blend bottled at 40%, and given the estate’s history, it likely includes pre-1981 things, so probably cognacs produced around WWII. Let’s go!

Colour: Dark amber with orange lights. Medium, irregular tears.

Nose: Bright and expressive, opening on heathery tones. Immediate rancio on leather and goat milk: unmistakably Borderies, unmistakably HRR. Heady violet blossom, opulent rancio and a solid oak backbone. Freshness in the background, with light notes of cardamom and menthol.

Palate: Oily texture. Very fruity attack, full of plum liqueur (umeshu, cheers Mat). Nice roasted shades of ristretto and coffee beans, with a touch of licorice. The signature HRR wild rancio reappears: wet cellars, old leather, complex and lingering mouth length.

Last Notes: Slightly acidulous, with juicy/malted tones reminiscent of a NEIPA beer. It feels mature yet retains the floral freshness so characteristic of Borderies. Heathery and candied citrus notes return, alongside delicate nutty undertones. The structure is elegant, though a bit more depth and strength would elevate it further.

A scholar old Borderies, refined and delicate, with a beautiful tension between freshness and rancio, enhanced by HRR cheat code terroir. Still, one wonders how it would shine at natural strength (Nose: 90+/Palate: 87).

My very subjective note: 88/100

More info about this Domaine du Landais Hors d’Age

Main picture credits: cognac-expert.com