Vincent Cornu’s passion project is breathing fresh life into the Armagnac category by taking the spirit back to its brash, masculine roots. Where many commonly available examples are adulterated and uninteresting, the L’Encantada line relies on Vincent’s forward-thinking aging regimen in new oak (and sometimes in used bourbon barrels) to turn out powerhouse bangers like this 2017 single cask. It’s a striking combination of complex depth and youthful energy. The nose is explosive with tons of big baking spices, deep spiced orange peel, and compact red fruits. Some initial heat, but it blows off quickly, revealing secondary notes of hot stones, cinnamon cookies, new leather, and sweet cured meats, which all fall in line with this Armagnac’s assertive profile. With aeration comes its luxurious side – toffee and praline, rich pipe tobacco, orange marmalade, chocolate Black Forest cake, sweet spices, and mulled cider. I’ll say it again; the aromatic depth is outstanding for its age. The palate is likewise full of robust complexity riding a rich, viscous texture. It’s exceptionally smooth with just a touch of heat, again defying all expectations for a cask of this age. The fruit mirrors the nose, accented by a medicinal, minty note, while in the background youthful wood tones of fresh cedar dust, nutmeg, raw canela, and dark tobacco play out in succession. A drop of water softens the spices, rounds out the fruit, and draws out the finish in a stunning combination of super-fine, stony minerality and deep cherry liqueur. It’s an Armagnac like few others I’ve come across.
94 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Oct 2025)
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