Fruity and Harsh: I have had a couple younger cognacs that taste like this one. it tastes exactly as a cognac should. I can taste the dark fruit upfront, but I get burning after that. The burning doesn't quite come entirely from barrel spice, its from the ethanol too. If you can afford it and still want Remy, try the 1738. otherwise I get a similar experience to the Claude Chatelier VSOP at half the price