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Lous Pibous 2004 Cask#196 56% for L´Encantada

Nose: Oh wow this has a real rummy funk, with gobs of red raspberry jam, crazy oily meatiness, and vanilla bean yogurt. What in the world is this going to taste like?!

Palate: Hits so sweet and simply explodes on the palate with thick caramel, black cherries, and toasted almonds. Spicy with candied ginger and black pepper. The savory notes of coriander seed, congealed duck blood, and Texas hickory smoke. I’ve never tasted anything like this. Finish is sweet caramel, oak, camphor, and more of those black cherries.

Rating: 10 / 10 – This is one of many 2004 LPs out there, so that vintage must’ve been a bumper Folle Blanche crop for some reason. But this one was special, being picked quite early, after just 13 years in oak, and has developed a legendary status. Straight sweet, rich deliciousness. Is it too sweet? Too rich? Too easy to enjoy? I don’t care. This may be my all-time favorite cask from my all-time favorite producer, and it will haunt me forever, especially knowing I’ll likely never taste it again.