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Marcillac Hors Age Armagnac 42%

Nose: I had a love-hate relationship with the trees in my front yard as a teen. Cleanup was my responsibility and I think the prior owners were sadists. The prettiest was the pink pepper tree, common to southern california, and ridiculously drought resistant, but its sweeping bent branches and berries wer e messy. Laid down a perma-carpet. The leaves and berries combined to create a slightly sweet but spicy herbal scent. Of course it had nothing on the Eucalyptus which is an asshole of a tree but thankfully, that is off topic for this nose. As the glass rested a basenote dense with leather tannins and pear / apple skin. And an oddly pounding sweetness, approaching watermelon and pomegranate.

Palate: Hey that is good. Ripe coffee cherries. If you have never tried any, there isn’t much fruit to eat, but they taste a lot like a watermelon mixed with an apricot. I stand by my pink peppercorn. A lovely tannic and coffee undertone; although on second though.. closer to carob. On the finish there is the ghost of something distinctly herbal, geranium or catnip? Can’t quite land the last note. Need a buddy. =)

Rating: 6 / 10 – Sitting here on the bean bag, watching my son fall asleep, it is a very nice sip. Both elegant and flavorful, an excellent blend. I’d gladly share a bottle of this with friends, although it’s not quite neurotic enough to get a place in my cabinet. Since moving to the new house, Sojourn needs a sleep copilot. So I now work, or think, and often sip as he awaits the spell of Somnus to take him down below the plane of consciousness.