Domaine de la Grolette Tres Vieille Cognac Reserve des Borderies, 40%

I'm going to agree with Numen that I didn't like this as much as I was led to expect, but maybe I need to try it again at a later date, and not against other Cognacs like Ragnau-Sabourin and Audry. There is a strong dry wood element here, which I think is where it fails for me, but some nice burnt sugar/maple syrup notes, lots of sultana, plum, butterscotch. It has depth and it has nutty-ness but it comes across …

from a purchased sample Nose: Starts out rather quiet and subdued, with waxy fruit flowers, peach, apricot, nectarine, vanilla, and some honey. Let's set it aside and see whether it opens up at all. Oh yes, rich and dense. Really much more of the same, along with bakery spices, and mild-moderate oak influence. Also earthy. Not the loudest or most expressive, but it smells like there's some real substance behind it. Palate: Thicker mouthfeel, but its flavors need time to …