Hermitage 2005 Chez Richon
Brandy: Cognac
From: Grande Champagne
House: Hermitage
Style: Single vintage
Colour: Amber red
ABV: 40%
N: Red grapes, black tea, soy sauce, tangerines, hints of coffee.
M: Light body, loosens, slippery, slightly tingly.
T: Sweet salty. Toffee, red grapes, peaches, black tea, coffee, hints of chocolate.
F: Medium. Chocolate, black tea, tangerines, hints of soy sauce.
Comments:
In the whisky world, the role played by a blender is somewhat underappreciated, because most blends that people encounter tend to be aimed at the casual drinker rather than the enthusiast, and therefore are priced at a relatively low point. And because one gets what one pays for, they taste accordingly. But there are some amazing blends out there, because the blender's skill is to showcase a certain style of whisky by combining alright, good, and spectacular distillates in such a way that the result is delicious.
In the brandy world, I have less intuition for the role a negociant plays, but I understood a little more after tasting this brandy. It's really very good indeed. It's young, I wouldn't say it's XO, but it's got a deep richness of flavour with savoury umami notes that burst on the tongue. There's also some bitter complexity in the finish that I enjoyed very much.
Must find some more expressions from Hermitage - older ones, if the young brandies are anything to go by. The oldies must be truly spectacular.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
