1979 L'encantada Domaine Les Bidets 38 years old, 48.3%
Another L'encantada, another domaine. A 1979 vintage armagnac bottled at 48.3%. I don't know much about Les Bidets, other than that I believe we are looking at a small grower of Baco vineyards in Arthez-d'Armagnac who has their armagnac produced by a traveling distiller. So, 100% baco here. Unfiltered and cask-strength, of course. There has been a number of vintage casks released over recent years by L'encantada, but this does seem to be one of the older ones.
Nose: The nose immediately reveals its age. Tobacco leaves, dirt, hint of burnt wood, under all the dark oaky flavors there are some syrupy sugars and thick stewed fruits - cherries, plums.
Taste: The first thing that hits me is a deep richness. Dark honey with a medicinal kick. Cherry cough syrup. Both thick and heavy on the palate.
Finish: Warm spice, ginger stands out. Gentian and some other pleasantly astringent herbal notes. Dry oak, a touch of varnish, just bordering on woody. The finish is long with dark sugars and dry oak.
With water: The nose reveals much of the same, but on the palate it swims well! Right away there is more sweetness. The dark honey sugars aren't overtaken as quickly and the fruit has more of a presence. Less medicinal, not that I mind it. The cherries are still there, but now there are plums, and hints of citrus. Caramel and chocolate. Nuts. This is, in fact, quite a different experience.
At cask strength the denser oak notes remind me of some of those old rye whiskies - think Hirsch 22, BMH 23. Of course, it's still undeniably brandy. I imagine some will absolutely love this one at strength. With water, we see it open up and reveal a bit more sweetness. My preference is towards the latter, but this is the beauty of getting a spirit bottled at natural strength. Choose your own adventure. $215 at Astor Wines.
B+
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