Review: 2001 Chateau de Briat - 14 Year Old

I'm really excited about this one.  The tasting notes from K&L made this sound big and bold but at 14 years there should still be some essence of the fruit left.  In general K&L knocks it out of the park with their Armagnac selections, let's see if the streak continues.

2001 Chateau de Briat - 14 years old, 47%, $70

Taste:  There is a lot going on in here.  Sweet light caramel up front which gives way to red fruits like strawberries and sweet raspberry.  The fruit is in balance with the oak.  I get cherry on the finish.

Conclusion:  This is pretty good.  It doesn't taste young, but it also doesn't taste old.  It is pretty balanced, there is fruit and there is oak but neither dominates.  From start to finish though it is on the sweeter side.  It is never cloying but the sweetness reminds me a bit of a Cognac, not quite that extreme but in the general direction.  I'm going to need to spend some more time with my bottle before deciding if this is a reorder or not.