Domaine Bernard Gauthier
Grande Champagne ‘Reserve de La Famille’ (10 year old) 40%
Tasted: Sept 2011
A slightly perfumed and edgy nose with no shortage of crisp citrus fruit along with a touch of linseed/ poppy seed oil. Interesting and definitely different. The slight perfumed note aside this is a dense and masculine nose with some heavy, dark, sweet dried fruit aromas.
The palate shows the same density and weightiness as the nose implies although the natural oils do seemed to have dumbed the palate a tad. There is plenty of crystalised citrus and violet but the oak clamps down and bitters the finish. Some sweet, dark, liquorice infused honey does fight back but doesn’t quite balance the bitterness out.
Grande Champagne ‘Tres Vieux’ (20 year old) 40%
Tasted: Sept 2011
Surprisingly high toned and slightly spirity nose, although in saying that there is some lovely light nutty moments. Vigorous dried fruit, light coffee and walnuts are generously sugar coated and with time some lovely mature wood comes through along with a heavy, musky spice note.
The palate is again quite nutty with dried prune, apricot and citrus. However the flavours are all front of mouth as the bitter wood tannins dry the palate really quickly. Yes there is some delightfully sweet vanilla, but one feels like this has spent far too long in barrel.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 