The nose on this Armagnac draws you in with enticing sweetness and fragrant fruits – stewed plums, ripe figs, Amarena cherries, dark chocolate, marzipan and plum jam. It later develops toffee, cola cubes and Liquorice Allsorts, with an intriguing background of leather, tobacco, resinous wood and Persian rug shops.

The palate is complex and satisfying, with a lively tongue tingle of orange soda and woody spice (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, anise, toasted oak). The fruits are earthier now – prunes, syrup of figs, orange oil and dark cherries in syrup, with an interesting undertow of black tea and Amaretti biscuits.