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Hardy Noces d'Argent Fine Champagne Cognac

Highly Recommended 88 /100

see 13 reviews

Cognac age
XO
Growth area
Fine Champagne
Bottle size
700ml
ABV
40%

Willie J.

Reviews written: 47 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 83

Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews

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Cigars in a tack room

Highly Recommended 88 /100
Verified purchase

Almost at the bottom of this bottle and I’d say the tobacco, leather and cocoa notes have been getting stronger as it oxidises. There’s also ginger and cloves, with honeysuckle, cigars and a spot of licquorice.
Astringent tobacco on the palate. Almost ashy. There is an explosion of spice and a sensation of chewing leather. (Don’t know when I ever did that, but that’s what it evokes in my mind.)
Spices continue to gently fizz and pop on the long finish. Traces of bitter orange marmalade surface from time to time.
This is a very complex drink that will appeal to those that enjoy long aged spirits. It seems to lose sweetness as it oxidises, but it loses none of the interest or complexity. Very nice indeed.

Tags

  • Cigar Box
  • Clove
  • Cocoa
  • Ginger
  • Honeysuckle
  • Leather
  • Liquorice
  • Orange Zest
  • Tobacco

Flavour

Sweetness

very dry / not sweet very smooth / very sweet

very smooth very dry
very sweet not sweet

Wood 7/10

Spice 10/10

Fruit 3/10

Flower 1/10

Bottle / Package Design 5/5

Where is the Love? Ordinary Nice Beautiful A sight to be seen!

Value for Money 4/5

Overpriced Low Average Bargain Steal

Tasting

Nose

What aromas do you get when you sniff the Cognac? Do you get hints of fruits or flowers - perhaps it's sweet? Is it intense or rather flat - and most importantly, is the nose coherent to taste and finish? The nose is the most important part when tasting Cognac.

23/25

Mouth

A small sip: Allow your taste buds in the various areas of your mouth to distinguish the different flavours. This part of cognac tasting is described as ‘the palate’. Don’t just swallow it down; allow the liquid to touch all the regions of the mouth. Doing this is necessary as the taste buds pick up contrasting flavours in the different areas of the mouth; on the tip of your tongue to the sides, for example. Take a tiny sip to prep your palate for the sensory experience to come. Take a second larger sip, and gently roll the cognac around, etting it come into contact with every corner of your mouth. Focus on the perceived textural sensations. Are the sensations round and rich or fresh and elegant? Is the overall mouthfeel intense, balanced, disjointed, or lacking presence? In short, how does the cognac feel in your mouth?

18/20

Taste

Quite simply, what do you taste as you gently roll the cognac around in your mouth? Pay close attention to any flavors of fruits, flowers, oak, and spices - or a complex combination of those elements. Are the flavors cohesive with the Nose and the Mouth, giving a sense of balance and complexity?

21/25

Finish

The ‘finish’ is the experience you get after you’ve swallowed the cognac. What flavours can you detect? Is it a flat or rough finish and rather sharp, or is it a slight 'punch' you like? How long does the finish last? Also think about overall balance: How does the finish compare to nose and taste?

18/20

Overall Impression

Consider the Nose, Mouth, Taste, and Finish simultaneously - the cognac as a whole. Is there cohesion between the four categories, or does the cognac shine in some areas and appear dull in others? Quite simply, is the memory from the tasting experience one that will last your lifetime; is the memory good but nothing extraordinary; or is the cognac’s impact entirely forgettable?

8/10

Total: 88/100

  • 80-84: Recommended
  • 85-89: Highly Recommended
  • 90-95: Exceptional
  • 96-100: Superlative
Flat Acceptable Fine Excellent Ethereal Thin & weak Disjointed Balanced Exquisite Bland Ordinary Good Excellent Spectacular Non-existent, or rough Acceptable Good Memorable Endless Uninspiring, or rough Ordinary Good Excellent Memorable
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