Christian Drouin Vintage 1996 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are rich and dense with scents of wild honey, baked apples, caramel, red fruits, almonds, brown baking spices, and dried fruits (fruitcake like). The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering waves of fruit ranging from plum, red berries, apricot, and of course apple with hints of honeycomb, nutmeg, and oak. Medium to full-bodied with intense waves of fruit and spice while maintaining a very pleasing balance. $163.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Blanche de Normande Eau-de-Vie-de-Cidre
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Incredibly fresh with ripe, crisp apple and pear, sweet fresh press juice, and hints of citrus. The palate carries the nose being decidedly sweeter allowing it to fill the mouth with ripe apple and pear flavors and to linger on for minutes. Medium-bodied with rich fruit and crisp acidity that keeps it perfectly balanced. $48.99 – 4.5 Stars
Pierre Croizet VS Cognac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly floral with waves of ripe and baked orchard fruits, wild honey, pale caramel, roasted almonds, vanilla bean, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering waves of fruit beautifully intertwined with spice, caramel, and wild flowers that linger for minutes and finishes with hints of nutmeg and allspice. Medium-bodied with perfect balance flawlessly marrying mature wood-aged notes with vibrant youthful Cognac notes. $31.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are full and rich opening with baked apples supported by loads of brown spices with hints of candied ginger, cinnamon, honey comb, cocoa nibs, dried autumn leaves, and white pepper. The palate agrees with rich and drier notes rising to meet the fruit-driven core with flanking notes of mineral, salinity, and rich wine cask accents. Medium to full-bodied offering great density – being assertive while delicate with long, trailing fruit and spice notes. $84.99 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin 25 Years Old Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully complex with fresh juice, caramel apples, and rich baked apples competing for dominace with waves of spice, oak, dried fruits, and a subtle cinnamon heat. The palate is a natural extention of the nose delivering rich, layered fruit and caramel core with assertive brown spices rising on the finish met by toasted oak and delicate mineral accents. Full-bodied with hedonistic fruit notes while keeping a perfect balance and delivering a finish that beautifully carries on for minutes. $259.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1975 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very floral and amazingly youthful with loads of apple and supporting waves of marzipan, honey, candied orange peel, rancio, and rich butter toffee, and delicate brown baking spices. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering waves of fruit, caramel, honey, and spice with peppery wood, soft cinnamon heat, and a trailing toffee and apple melange that lingers seemingly forever. Medium to full-bodied with intense honey and fruit married in one flawless package that defies its age. $356.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1993 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the scents of honey, wild flowers, figs, caramel, and layers of fruit with toffee, apricot, pecan, and brown butter. The palate fully agrees with the nose delivering rich layers of brown butter and baked apple with loads of honey, assertive brown baking spices, and soft oak accents. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and a building warmth from the freshly toasted clove, cinnamon, and allspice. $191.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1995 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite fruity and complex with scents of prunes and cashew butter, red cherry, vanilla custard, stewed red fruits, red currants, and cinnamon. The palate is so in-tune with the nose with loads of red fruits, spice, cinnamon, and bright Port cask notes giving it a strong vinous accent. Full-bodied and quite assertive with so many fresh fruit flavors arriving in waves with baking spices and Port while keeping a perfect balance. $163.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Pommeau de Normandie
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aroma of freshly baked apples fills the nose with supporting notes of brown butter, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg, and subtle caramel accents. The palate echoes the nose offering a very vibrant but rich, fruit-driven core with generous butter toffee and soft brown baking spice notes. Medium-bodied and very sprite with the open bottle being in grave danger of being exhausted in one sitting. $34.99 – 4.5 Stars
Saint-Vivant VS Armagnac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very pleasing and complex with sweet, honeyed apples and pears, dried fruits (think fruitcake), allspice, mace, vanilla, and orange peel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant fruit-driven core with supporting accents of oak, brown baking spices, black pepper, and dried fruit concentrate that lingers with nutmeg, clove, and brown butter. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance and length offering the full and semi-rustic flavors that Armagnac lovers seek. $28.99 – 4 Stars
