Clos Martin XO 15 year old Folle Blanche

Wine information: Clos Martin is produced by M&T, near Nogaro, in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac. M&T owns and manages a group of domaines that produce Armagnac in the Landes and Gers departments of France. Pruduction is overseen by cellar master |Jose barbe. The traditional stills used by Clos Martin’s domaines are very small and allow a lot of the heavy, congener and fusel-rich vapours to pass over with the heart of the distillate. Therefore Clos Martin's Armagnacs always have a rich, earthy character and are fine, flavoursome and well-balanced. After about 10 years in barrel, the true quality of Armagnac prodcued from a continuous still emerges; it is at this point that all the balance, complexity and roundness one expects from a quality spirit begins to come through. M&T keep different vintage and varietal distillates separate allowing for the possibility of not only vintage-dated Armagnac but also varietal vintage Armagnac. At the Clos Martin chais, Folle Blanche varietal distillates are at the heart of the VSOP and XO. Folle Blanche has excellent levels of acidity and aromatics that are perfect for distillation and this, combined with M&T's low distillation strength, allows for rich and piquant spirits with great perfume. These spirits are aged unblended from year to year, and so are always bottled as single vintages that exceed the age statement on the label. The Clos Martin XO is bottled between 15 and 20 years old. Finer and more mature than the VSOP, the XO has a refined nose full of the Folle Blanche typicity, with hints of vanilla, cinnamon, dried orange peel and just a touch of tobacco leaf. The flavour is very fine, rich plum fruit with elements of vanilla, coffee and dried figs combining to produce a good long finish with just a touch of spirit lightening the end.

 
     

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