Volans 3 Year Extra Añejo

Rating: 18/23 Extra Añejo is consistently an intriguing category. At times it exhibits remarkable refinement and depth with abundant pleasing character, yet other times it falls flat or is overpowered by the barrel. This appears to be a delicate brand, so I'm not at all certain how it will turn out. Nose: Strangely, I detect a subtle meatiness. However, there's also some very gentle barrel influence and a hint of something vegetal and herbal? Frankly, there's surprisingly little going on here. The faintest trace of mint is present somewhere. After waiting several minutes, I also begin to detect olive brine. Palate: A pleasing mature woody richness gives way to citrus (orange, lemon, tangerine, lime). Then, the gentle caramel sweetness of the agave emerges. There's a touch of umami that vaguely brings roasted chicken breast to mind, but there's truly not much there. A bit of paper and olive brine appear alongside a slight increase in that agave caramel sweetness. Perhaps a whisper of white and black pepper. Maybe a faint hint of peanut from the wood. Additionally, there is a very light note of something floral – possibly very floral vanilla? Finish: Some lingering pepper prickle. Very gentle woody character combines with subdued sweet caramel agave. Hints of mint and lime. Significantly less brine than anticipated, though a touch is present. Faint spices, with white pepper being the most noticeable, yet still not very prominent. - Conclusion - This is quite enjoyable. It's not mind-blowing, but there's a certain subtlety here that surpasses the Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength (17/23). Oddly, the Fortaleza has more caramel agave, making this seem a bit light. Nevertheless, this skillfully balances the flavors of Volans Blanco with those of Volans Reposado, resulting in something quite complex and very easy to drink. In contrast, Lismore The Legend (19/21) is both richer and more complex than this. While that slight sulfur note in the Lismore is certainly present, it still strikes me as definitively superior to this. Fuenteseca Reserva Edad 7 Años 2010 (18/23) is richer than this expression, but less nuanced. I find the two to be fairly comparable in overall quality. A final taste of Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength confirms for me that this is slightly better. I'm leaning towards an 18 for this one. It remains quite light, however, so I could see assigning it a lower score. Thank you for providing this sample for me to complete my Volans tasting experience, a friend!

Citrus and lime, lime peel, a touch of bitterness, a sweet coating on the palate, and a fairly long finish. A very drinkable and pleasant extra añejo, highly recommended.