Marquise De Livry Armagnac VS

Indeed, "plain" and "sad" accurately capture my experience with the VS variety of Marquise de Livry. It shows no real promise or development in either taste or scent, and it certainly lacks any positive qualities I've previously associated with the character and intensity of armagnacs. The aroma is quite spirit-forward, presenting a genuine wash-y pruno smell (offering nothing else), alongside some sweetness from honey and plum. There's also a hint of menthol, sweet cream, a faint resemblance to macarons, a light floral scent, and some powdery floral notes (like roses or centaury). On the palate, it's very watery and flat, inconsistent, with prominent harsh citrus notes (grapefruit, lemon peel), accompanied by some bitterness and, again, spirituous elements. At times, hints of hot spices emerge – cloves, nutmeg. The finish is decidedly dulling, empty, and very brief in the mouth – notes of oak, brown sugar, walnuts, velvety grasses, and a detergent-like quality (ha!). It's not "terrible," but I certainly won't be purchasing it again anytime soon (though circumstances can change). I've already had it in a blind tasting alongside other contenders (like the basic yet outstanding Comte de Lauvia Fine), and it was incredibly easy to identify, making me question the purpose of a blind tasting.