Appearance: Pale amber. Nose: Fresh, crisp fruits. Grape, peach, apricot. A little cask presence but the oak contribution is genteel and subtle. A fresh and uplifting nose. Very similar to the VSOP in aroma profile. Palate: Soft stone fruits – peach, apricot, plum. A little spiciness but very well balanced in counterpoint against the fresh fruitiness. The texture is elegant and just on the dry side but still sweet. Again, it’s very similar to the VSOP Tariquet expression but just a tad drier. Finish: Medium. Fruity, semi-sweet. Straightforward but most enjoyable and a steal at the price - really, AUD$59 is absurdly cheap for anything of this quality. Young armagnac is the still the hidden gem of contemporary spirits (oops, should I let the cat out of the bag? Sorry). Nah, ignore me, it’s horrible stuff – look somewhere else, please ;-) I tasted the VSOP here a while ago and this is close in profile – choose either with confidence, and have a mild cigar ready to enjoy along with it. I have an irresistible compulsion to indulge in tobacco when drinking this. My rating is based on quality and tasting alone, but if price is factored in this is easily worth 3.5 or higher. “Above Average” : 80/100 (3 stars)