1974 Darroze de la Poste 48%

This is an armagnac bottled by Darroze, produced at Domaine de La Poste and comprised entirely of Ugni Blanc.  Taken from the Darroze website, de La Poste is located in the Tenaraze region, and most of the distillation that occurred at this site took place in the ‘70s. Thus, here we have a 1974. Another armagnac house that created their oak casks for aging from their local forests. I don’t know why I find that so cool, but I just do. It was bottled in 2017, making this a 43 year old armagnac. Bottled at 48% abv. Thanks to Joe L. for the sample!

1974 Darroze de la poste
48%

N: Raisins, apples, buttery. Some deeper spices and polished oak that only comes with age. It’s a very enticing nose.
T: There is immediate oak, although it’s not overbearing and is balanced by some lighter berries and orchid fruits. Then cinnamon and pepper.  Moves to darker flavors of leather, molasses, oak, and varnish.
F: Drying oak is what lingers with not too much sweetness carrying through.
O: This one shows its age, but does so pretty well for the most part. Generally speaking these are flavors that I very much enjoy, but I do think it’s just a bit tired, a bit past its prime.  The oak plays its cards a bit too heavily. I would have enjoyed to taste it with some less time in the cask.  But, a lovely old armagnac, all the same. For the oak lovers.

B+