Hontambère - RAC Spirits - Armagnac Ténarèze 2000 - Single Cask D10 - 55.6 %
Hontambère and RAC Spirits are part of the new wave of selectors of characterful eaux-de-vie, focusing on micro-lots from specific terroirs and confidential bottlings. At the heart of Ténarèze, this partnership highlights winemaker armagnacs, aged for a long time in Gascon oak barrels and selected cask by cask. The philosophy is simple: transparency, traceability, and pure expression of the grape variety and vintage. This selection particularly emphasizes the balance between power, the nobility of the wood, and the identity of the terroir. Each bottle bears the signature of patient aging, without artifice or standardization. The result is a collectible armagnac, designed for both enthusiasts and discerning tasters.
This Armagnac from the 2000 vintage, aged 25 years, is made exclusively from Ugni Blanc harvested at optimal maturity and then traditionally distilled, before a long aging in a single numbered cask D10 in the Pouchègu cellar. Aged for over two decades in oak, it was bottled at cask strength at 55.6%, without reduction or cold filtration, to preserve the full density of the distillate. The run is limited to only 100 bottles, making it a very rare and highly sought-after cuvée. This Ténarèze expresses its structured, deep profile here, with a fine tannic backbone carried by perfectly integrated alcohol. The time spent in barrel has mellowed the original power, transforming it into aromatic complexity and a silky texture. This bottling combines the precision of a single cask with the classic elegance of great aged armagnacs.
On the nose, the armagnac reveals intense aromas of dried fruits, candied apricot, and prune, enriched with notes of beeswax, blond tobacco, dark chocolate, and precious wood. On the palate, the attack is broad and warm, with a deep body that unfolds flavors of roasted fruits, orange peel, mild spices, vanilla, and coffee, supported by a fine and perfectly integrated woody framework. The finish is very long and persistent, marked by notes of cocoa, walnut, mild pepper, and elegant rancio, with a saline hint that invites another sip. At the table, this cuvée is ideally enjoyed alone at the end of a meal but also pairs wonderfully with a dark chocolate dessert, a coffee soufflé, a tarte tatin, or a simple almond biscuit. It also pairs well with a well-made cigar or a plate of aged hard cheeses. Served in an appropriate glass and slightly warmed in the hand, this armagnac reveals the full complexity of its aging and terroir.
