Grape of the Art #1 Le Frêche 2007 13yo 57%

Let’s begin with GotA’s first bottling, a young Bas-Armagnac from l’Encantada cellars, and more precisely Le Freche estate. It’s a 13yo brandy bottled at 57%, so not the usual gentle ABV. Quite promising… 

Colour: Amber, gold lights. Heavy irregular tears.

Nose: Vivid fruitiness on plums liquor at first. Very oaky nose. A tad of saltiness on green olives. Dusty notes of sawdust. Hints of fruitiness on young apricot/tangerine underlined by a strong acidity (something like verjus).

Mouth: Generous fruity notes on young bananas and apple stew. Nice chocolate shades underlined by spiced ginger aromas. A tad flowery on jasmine and violet blossom. Vine peaches notes in the aftertaste.

Last Notes: Quite heady on orange blossom and juniper now. Spiced notes on coriander and cardamom. A little varnished wood in the background, but the strong oaky notes have vanished with air, even if it remains rustic on sanded plank scents. Strong roasted notes back on the palate on burnt wood and roasted hazelnuts. A dash of cinnamon. Oakier than the nose. It ends on bitter chocolate and coconut powder.

Nice young armagnac. Aside from a lack of precision, it gives you a generous tasting, full of roasted and fruity notes