Three Armagnacs for Len Cantada: L'Encantada Cutxan 1995, Mamoulens 1993, XO blend for Aficionados
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2023
- Our friend Len has been busy since I last reviewed some of his (very, very woody) Armagnac offerings more than two years ago ( • 'Yak Attack: D'Aurensa... ). The bourbon crowd is slowly catching on, and pricing on the remaining stocks - particularly on the producers that most made a name for L'Encantada a few years ago, like Lous Pibous and Le Frêche - has gone up considerably. But there are other names in the portfolio, and it seemed like it might be fun to return to this particular negociant with some less familiar options. Plus a blend I got a sample bottle of, thrown in for fun. Stats:
- L'Encantada Domaine Cutxan 1995 25 Year Old Bas-Armagnac (100% Baco, distilled by Patrick M.; lot 95CUT0501, barrel no. 05 for PM Spirits, 357 bottles; 44.2% ABV), 86/100
- L'Encantada Domaine de Mamoulens 1993 27 Year Old Armagnac-Ténarèze (distilled by Phillipe; batch 93-10-Mam01. barrel no. 10 for Off-Premise, 204 bottles; 50.8%), 88-/100
- L'Encantada XO Armagnac for Aficionados Group (57.13% Belair cask no. 8L from 1993, 28.57% Cassou cask no. 125 from 1986 , and 14.28% Pouy cask no. 164 from 2008; bottled circa 2022; 51.3% ABV), 89/100
The PM Spirits Cutxan is, for me, the least of these. I don't want to say that there's too much wood on it, rather it feels like the spirit just doesn't have the character to fight back - still a very good wood-driven Armagnac, but it's not my pick among the three. The Off-Premise Mamoulens, despite the extra age, actually comes across as fresher, fruitier, and more balanced - but, trust me on this, you want to drink it neat. And so, while I hate to give the nod to friends of mine, the Afish XO is really the best thing here. Huge and oaky and yet very balanced on the palate; I can't help but suspect it's the dash of teenaged Pouy that's giving this the citrus and orchard fruit which elevates it for me.
Question of the Video: What's your tolerance for oak?
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
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Great reviews!
Thanks!! 😁
Armagnac prices are definitely creeping up there. Pellehaut 2000 is pushing $140 by me, which doesn't make sense when the 1989 was $95.
I'd say I'm fairly oak-tolerant, but what I'm more averse to is when too much oak veers into oak-sour or oak vinegar. Which means I have a love/hate thing with the Afish Lot XO, because it does that on the palate for me. I've got to be in the mood for it, but I can't deny it's a very nice pour (I hated it with water though). In my Reddit review, I also thought the Pouy was helping this blend out, especially on the nose.
I was really eyeing that Mamoulens cask at Fine Drams. So many spirits, so little money
I'll take all of your extra oak-sour bottles! 😂 Actually it's something to be aware of regarding me as a reviewer, that I _do_ like that profile... (Also, _Pellehaut_ of all houses is raising prices?? Ooof.)
Loving the indian grandma note. Nice reviews
Thanks! One day I should really hunker down and properly learn regional South Asian cuisines, but for now I guess I'm hitting the easy notes... 😅
I dunno I think old Indian grandma that overstepped the masala chai is pretty precise