Here’s a younger armagnac from Hontambère. So far we’ve mostly seen 1980s spirits picked up by independent bottlers (not counting their own recent production). According to the Grape of the Art team this 1997 is said to come close to the lovely Hontambère 1985 though. If we’re not mistaken this is also from Pouchégu.
Armagnac Hontambère 26 yo 1997 (53,8%, Grape of the Art 2025, cask #B4, 295 btl.)
Nose: very aromatic and elegant. Indeed, much like the 1985 this shows a lot of furniture polish, light tobacco and fragrant jasmine, along with lots of juicy fruits. Nectarines and white peaches, sour plums, pears and oranges. Then subtle whiffs of potpourri with fresh minty notes. In the background also a buttery sweetness and a few drops of very old Oloroso.
Mouth: still fairly floral (jasmine, orange blossom and mint leaves) with stewed fruits. Oranges and apricots. The elegance brings it close to cognac. Then back to caramelized notes, coffee candy, along with a leathery dryness. Toasted wood. Liquorice and lightly medicinal hints too.
Finish: quite long, with more wood polish, mentholated freshness, clove and toasted nuts.
A nice all-rounder. Nice fruity elements give this armagnac a stunning cognac-like nose. Then on the palate it gets a little more robust with woody and mentholated notes, but well within limits. Still some bottles out there.