The latest release from Malternative Belgium comes from Réaux sur Trèfle, a small village in Petite Champagne. The cask was filled by a brouilleur de cru related to the Estève family (check the Estève Lot 89).
Cognac Lot 69 – Petite Champagne (50,3%, Malternative Belgium 2025, 364 btl.)
Nose: syrupy fruits, like red plums, dried apricots and raisins. Some caramel sweetness underneath, with stewed pears and blood orange. Then a darker side of milk chocolate and cherry jam indeed – a bit of a Mon Chéri vibe. On top of this we find whiffs of polished furniture, menthol, tobacco and Earl Grey tea.
Mouth: the polished wood comes back and mixes with more drying tobacco and Assam tea. Drops of coffee mixed with dark chocolate. Mid-palate a lighter, refreshing wave of (pink) grapefruit and orange peels comes out, along with mint and mild herbal notes. Then it starts leaning towards cherries and raisins again. Hints of liquorice too.
Finish: quite long, on black tea, menthol and still some hints of (black) cherries.
Perhaps a tad more woody and rancio-driven than I expected, but nonetheless a really good release. Just when you think it becomes too heavy, a very lively brightness appears. Overall a very fine release. Now available from Malternative Belgium and its retailers.