VICTOR GONTIER 2004 Domfrontais

Nose : fine, full-bodied. The opening is a crash course in what a Domfrontais Calvados truly is, as the apples and pears rival for first place. Mustard seed and cloves are scattered over the quarters of apple and pear. A refined liquorice note weaves its way into the very core of this Normand vignette.

Palate : mellow, balanced. The attack is delicately honeyed (acacia, lime blossom) and bucolic (bocage, cut hay). White florals (lilac, lily of the valley) are submerged by the tangy juice of a lemon. With disconcertingly natural ease, the end of the palate shifts into a vanilla-scented, milky (coconut) register.

Overall : long, silky. It decides to give the pear the starring role. As it becomes increasingly dry, it also becomes spicier (ginger, ginseng). Suddenly, it bursts free to fully reveal its assertive character in total freedom of expression. The retro-olfactation has notes of noble spices (saffron) and cocoa. The empty glass is an explosion of apple juice.