CHÂTEAU DE LAUBADE BAS-ARMAGNAC 2000

Marked 13 out of 23. This drink kicks off my countdown to my 2000th reviewed spirit. Starting at 1991, I feel this vintage dram serves as a fitting end piece when paired with the drink that will be my 2000th. Nose: It's fruity and spicy, presenting delectable dried cherries and raisins. This actually smells more like a cognac than an armagnac, which is neither a good nor bad thing. Some barrel character gradually emerges before revealing surprising black licorice alongside some other herbal notes. Overall, the nose isn't the most complex, but it's quite intricate, consistently balanced, and decadently pleasing. It's a success. Palate: It's less sweet than anticipated, yet still offers pleasant cherry and raisin notes. Surprisingly, the most prominent flavor is a menthol-like medicinal barrel taste. It's also not as full-bodied as I expected, though this might be due to my palate being recalibrated by its lower proof compared to most whiskies. Upon another taste, spices begin to surface from the barrel, accompanied by bitter herbs (akin to bitters) and a hint of black licorice. Faint traces of salt and minerality are also present. This is a more edgy, less balanced dram than anticipated. There's even a bit of savory meatiness emerging from bitter smoke. It doesn't possess a youthful alcoholic meatiness, but it does come with some alcohol. Finish: Spice, bitter botanicals, a core of wood, menthol, and hints of salt and brine remain, with occasional floral cherry notes. It's a bit light and unusual, but an interesting experience. - Conclusion - This is an odd one. It's not bad, but it is quite challenging. It gives me the impression of a young scotch finished in a sherry cask. However, there are some truly delightful flavors present. Compared to Dudognon Reserve (10/23), which is less engaging with more alcohol, but has a decadent apricot flavor that prevents this from being significantly better. Compared to Rémy Martin 1738 (16/23), which exhibits slightly more alcohol and menthol but is less peculiar and challenging overall. Positioned between the Dudognon and the Rémy, I find this to be in the middle. If I had to lean, I'd round it up slightly, making it a 13 or 14. I'm leaning towards a 13. It's just too peculiar. I'm even contemplating a 12.

Nose - fermented grape, floral scents, plum, cinnamon, nutmeg, toffee, apple, vanilla, orange peel, lemon, milk chocolate, and a slight ethanol sting. Taste - tart grape, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange, lemon, salted caramel, plum, vanilla, floral notes, ginger, chili, chocolate, sour apple, a touch of oak, a mild to moderate alcohol burn, finishing medium short with tart grape, caramel, sour citrus, and bitter oak flavors. I'm concluding my Armagnac reviews with a collection of five Chateau de Laubade vintages, starting with the youngest from 2000 and moving back to the oldest from 1979. I believe these were all bottled in 2019, but I'm not entirely certain. If that's accurate, this one is approximately 19 years old. The aroma is fresh and citrusy, featuring grape, apple, toffee, and a generous amount of nutmeg and milk chocolate. The palate is light, sour, and a little bitter. While there are some good flavors present, they unfortunately aren't fully expressed. Overall, it's better than average, but it seems rather young and significantly underproofed. The texture is thin, and the finish is shorter than most Armagnacs I've sampled. I anticipate the experience will improve with subsequent reviews as their ages increase. The low 40% ABV might prevent them all from achieving greatness, but we'll find out soon. Many thanks to a friend for generously providing these samples!