Saint James 2006 VSGB 15yo 47%

Colour: Dark amber, orange lights. Heavy irregular tears.

Nose: Precious wood, nutty notes, and elegant oak structure. Quince, tinned peach. Fresh rancio on cardamom and walnut kernel. Kind of 15yo pineau shades with this fruitiness/rancio in-between.

Palate: Oily texture. Subtle dryness, immediately followed by delicious raisin notes. Precious wood notes again. Licorice stick. Extreme finesse on cooked herbal shades, mainly on tarragon and thyme. It owns a rustic/refined profile that you can find with very old Fins Bois/Bons Bois, even if it’s unmistakably sugarcane-based.

Last Notes: Old Maury wine character, smooth fruity sweetness. A touch of pineapple and mango with air. Back on the palate: almond paste, pain aux raisins, and a hint of saltiness.

Even more precise than the 2008 vintage. Perfect oak integration. Dangerous drinkability. Delicate earthiness. Depth. Almost designed for a cognac lover’s palate.