Hontambere Pouchegu 1995 54,8%

Cask B4 from Hontambere RAC collection. Domaine de Pouchegu is a closed Tenareze distillery, and Hontambere bought old stocks to preserve as much as possible of this unique style. 1995 vintage, bottled in 2025.

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

Nose: Ample fruitiness right from the start, with delicate floral hints. Strong Ténarèze DNA, mixing floral brightness and chalky impressions. Candied citrus follows, alongside round chocolate notes. A rather heady profile overall, the alcohol could be slightly better integrated at this stage.

Palate: Very oily texture. Floral tones confirm the nose, delivering a bold but finely drawn Armagnac. Earthy bitterness emerges, on yuzu and orange peel. Tannins are present and opulent, yet remain reasonably controlled. Good balance between power and finesse.

Last notes: With air, subtle tea-ish notes appear, along with light cigar aromas. Vivid tangerine juice and appealing cocoa notes. On the finish, a welcome kick of acidity brings freshness and zest. A drop of water helps open the profile and improves precision.

A very interesting Tenareze, bold and vivid at the same time. I slightly miss depth and definition to push the score higher.

My very subjective note: 88/100