Vallein Tercinier Fins Bois Rue 91 WDC 45,3%

V.T FINS BOIS RUE 91 WDC BRUT DE FÛT 45,3%

Fresh and Fruity

It’s always a nice experience to taste a cask strength cognac. It is a common thing for Vallein Tercinier and this one – a limited edition selected by the Wu Dram Clan – is no exception with its “high” ABV (45,3%). So here is the Fins Bois Rue 91 WDC!

Colour: Old gold, amber lights. Irregular heavy tears

Nose: A huge fruity rancio to welcome you onboard. Tinned peaches. Orange jam. Young bananas. There is a great freshness too. Fresh licorice. Pinesap. Acacia honey. Roasted notes, especially on roasted pepper and sesame seeds. A tad of leather and coffee beans smells. A nice creaminess that underlines an evident buttery rancio. Passion fruits yogurt? Young melons and pine tree scents in the background. A very talkative nose. 

Palate: Very rich texture. Quite buttery. Prunes cake. Plums jam. Raisins cake. Slight almond paste aromas. Minty aftertaste. Cardamom, Sichuan pepper. Juniper berry. Fresh licorice. Pears juice. A stunning freshness that is nicely counterbalanced by an opulent fruitiness. It ends on apricots jam. Bang!

Last Notes: Still a great freshness with more air that reminds me a lot of the Vallein Tercinier VT46. Red berries scents melted to some fresh leather smells. Orange zest caramel. Earl grey tea. Tangerine jam. A pleasant sugariness on cherry sweets. Still very fresh, especially on sandalwood. And the palate? It’s still very leathery and fruity. Young plums. Raisins. Almond pears. A nice pepperiness too. It ends on peaches and candied citruses aromas.

A delicious and very well-balanced 30yo Fins Bois. A nice wood influence with its freshness (more pleasant than with the Bons Bois l’Essentiel) and rich fruitiness. The ABV (45,3%) seems to be at the perfect height. A great mouth length too. Maybe a little lack of complexity to reach the 90 points mark. However, this Rue 91 WDC is fully Hors d’Age approved! 

My very subjective note: 89+/100

Wu Dram Clan website