St-Remy Signature Brandy (700ml)

A russet, auburn-coloured NAS brandy made from a blend of 30 to 50 different varietals from around France. Maturation took place in two different types of casks: New oak (Quercus Petraea with a fine grain) and traditional casks (Quercus Robur with a large grain). The nose yields soft, semi-sweet aromas of dried apricots and prunes alongside vanilla and coffee-cake and follows with a medium-bodied, silky and rounded profile, the lush dried fruit notes enhanced by sweet spices. The finish is gently tannic, warming, balanced, medium-long. An attractive and easily recommendable style for flavoursome cocktails or serving neat. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... An initial rush of oak is balanced by fruit, some spice, and ample vanilla coming on strong. (Roudaut mentions coconut, but I don’t really catch much of that.) The palate is intensely fruity, apples and pears leading to lighter notes of dried raisins. Plenty of sweet vanilla here, the brandy becoming more candylike as it lingers on the palate. As the finish arrives, notes of milk chocolate arrive. The finish is spun sugar and Starburst, gentle notes of linen and incense lingering on the conclusion. There’s a lot of flavor in Signature but it’s not dramatic in complexity, nor is it really intended to be at this price level. I wouldn’t try to compare it to Cognac but put it up against American brandy, where the flavor profile is similar, and against which Signature acquits itself admirably. - drinkhacker.com