Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph 500ml Millesime Vintage Armagnac 1980

Colour: Dark amber

Nose: Stewed yellow and white fruit are kicking in, in this case bananas and apricots, with some green tea, cedar wood, apples, cinnamon, then more mint and liquorice. Oak oils, a little pine sap and cocoa powder.

Mouth: Excellent, Stewed fruits, liquorice and herbal teas. Hawthorn, honeysuckle, rosehip and all that. Then ripe black cherries, raisins, prunes, caramel, orange liqueur and a touch of mint. Wonderful...Very pleasant gritty oak, bordering Russian tea and crude cocoa, then gears towards marmalade and tangerine liqueur as well as quince paste, a combo that always wins in my book. These few drops of pine bud liqueur from the oak just complete this grand slam. Stunningly rustic brandy. The body and the strength are just perfect.

Finish: Rather long given the strength, with oranges, liquorice and toffee. And raisins. Comments: we’re approaching perfection.