Domanie del Cassou L'Encantada 1999 22 yr Bas-Armagnac 750ml

L'Encantada is a négociant-éleveur based in Vic-Fezensac, founded in 2011 by a small group of friends devoted to championing overlooked corners of Armagnac. Rather than distilling their own spirit, the house searches out exceptional barrels resting quietly at small family estates, then bottles each one as a single cask, at cask strength, with no added color, sweetening, or filtration. This transparency has made L'Encantada one of the most sought-after independent bottlers in the category, prized for showcasing the character of individual domaines that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This release comes from Domaine del Cassou, a small property in Arthez-d'Armagnac within the heart of Bas-Armagnac. The eau-de-vie was distilled in 1999 and aged for twenty-two years in a humid cellar before being bottled from an individual cask, a maturation environment that tends to favor slower oxidation and a gentler concentration of flavor over time.

The nose is lively rather than heavily oxidized for its age, offering candied orange zest, dried kumquat, and green apple alongside a hint of pear and black tea. On the palate it turns fruity and well balanced, with crystallized mandarin, crème brûlée, and toasted almond leading into a long, elegant finish shaped by fine oak and subtle spice.