Sabine Dulhoste 1984

Description

Sabine Dulhoste joined the family farm in 1974. She continued the distillation of Baco started by her grandfather in 1927 as well as the aging in barrels made from their own oaks. When her father died, she inherited the stock of Armagnac and started the first domaine bottlings, as we have here with this 1984.

What’s with the oak branch on the front label? Sabine is very particular about the oak casks in which she ages her Armagnacs. This 1984 bas-armagnac aged exclusively in a barrel made from oak trees at the property. It is not an unheard of practice, but still it is rather rare and here this barrel really did great work maturing this distillate, producing an armagnac with a high drinkability but also with a complexity that only spirits of this age can reach.

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For the fourth edition, the amateur jury consisted of Chris Bobby, Pavel Spacek and Djurre Van Kouwen.

This 1984 Armagnac from Sabine Dulhoste was unanimously agreed upon to be a great Armagnac for Christmas time, with its evolving profile that unfolds perfectly with time in the glass. Chris noted the nutty aroma of cashews cooking in a buttered pan, and the deep, fruity sweetness of cherry syrup, balanced by a hint of rancio and spices like clove and ginger. Pavel highlighted a sherry-forward profile with leathery undertones, while also detecting apricots, dates, and a touch of varnish that dissipates to reveal a great complexity. He went on to state, “It’s like a demerara rum but less sugary and more fruity.” Djurre was particularly impressed with the drastic transformation of the nose, which shifted from dominant wood-driven notes to brighter, fresher fruit tones. At one point that transformation, he even picked up cookie dough.

The tasters all agreed on the long, warming finish and its balance between wood, fruit, and spice. Its interplay of nuttiness, dried fruits, and wood make it an ideal choice for the winter – and festive – evenings ahead.

Grape: 100% Baco
Age: 40 years old
ABV: 52.9% – natural color, no additives (sugar, color), no chill-filtration
Bottle size: 700ml

Tasting note

Nose: Wood varnish, old books, leather, nuts (cashews cooking in a buttered pan, spices (cinnamon, vanilla, ginger), fruits (cherry syrup, apricot, dates, orange peel). Mulled wine. A nose which evolves in the glass, changing from dominant wood notes to spice and fruit notes.
Mouth: Fruits: cherry syrup and various red and dark dried fruits, citrus, Christmas spices (cinnamon, clove, vanilla, ginger), wood-driven but with an interesting interplay between wood, spice, and fruit. 
Finish: Long

Please note: Amateur Spirit is a pre-buy bottling. The period of sale is open for 10 days, then closed. There is a maximum amount of bottles possible (what’s left in the barrel). Once the 10 days are over (maybe less if all the bottles are sold), the bottling starts at the domaine, the labels will be printed, the bottles will be labeled, and then shipped from France.

IMPORTANT: Bottling will take place immediately following the end of the presale. A best effort will be made to send bottles quickly, but it is likely that they will only arrive just before or just after the new year. Thanks for your understanding.