I haven’t reviewed a brandy in a while. The last was a very old armagnac from Pellehaut that was one of two bottled for the Serious Brandy group on Facebook back in 2023. Here now is a review of the other. This, a Cardinat, is much younger than that Pellehaut. It was distilled in 2009 before being bottled in 2023 at the age of 13. I believe the cask was split with K&L (the California mini-liquor chain). These days I have almost nothing to do anymore with the whisky or spirits world, and no longer read any spirits-related news or websites or blogs—with the exception of my friend Michael’s notes over on Diving for Pearls. And so it’s hard to imagine that there was a time when I actually spent time and energy arguing with K&L employees online. I wonder what became of David Driscoll—last I heard, he was planning to cure cancer or something. I guess I would have heard if he’d succeeded. Anyway, I don’t know why I went on this K&L tangent. Let’s instead get to my notes on this brandy.

Cardinat 13, 2009 (55%; Bas Armagnac; from my own bottle)

Nose: Rich fruit off the top (cherry, orange peel, a bit of apricot) and some dry oak below it. Some cocoa powder as well. Continues in this vein. With more time the fruit gets really jammy, with the apricot expanding. Not too much change here with water.

Palate: Comes in as indicated by the nose. The fruit is sweeter and almost syrupy; the oak emerges as I swallow. Much more approachable than the strength would suggest; the texture is a bit thin. On the second sip there’s more of the citrus. With time the dry oak pops out earlier and the fruit gets brighter as well (plum). A drop of water tames the oak.

Finish: Long. The oak expands—dry as on the nose—but the fruit lingers as well. Earthier as it goes and the oak picks up some bitterness. As on the palate with time and water.

Comments: Really lovely stuff. Steve’s notes at the time of the pick had led me to think this would be more earthy than fruity. Now I wish I had picked up a second bottle. Ah, well.

Rating: 87 points.