V&B Saint James Brut de Fût (Sélection du Chai) 2009

#4806 09.08.2024 Relaxing with some samples. Nose Balanced, fruits, apple, dried fruit, light roasted wood, spice, light vegetal. Palate Oily, round, balanced, light vegetal, faint earthy, wood, light nutts, dried fruit, faint orange, light grass. Finish Medium long, oily, wood, light roasted, medium dry, spice, light grass, faint orange, dried fruit. The empty glass has nice chocolate, faint leather and light herbal notes.

This is a very balanced Agricole from SJ... the balance of wood, spice and vegetal flavors is very well done. Minimal fruit also appears! I find it very successful and harmonious

Al naso si riconosce il profilo SJ, è intenso con cioccolato al latte, legno/barile, frutti secchi (e forse anche qualcuno rosso), pelle quasi tendente all'arrostito, caramello salato, spezie calde e qualche vegetale; se lasciato riposare anche un po' d'agrume. Al palato è caldo, avvolgente e corposo con pelle, legno, spezie, tabacco e cioccolato. Nel finale medio-lungo qualche frutto secco e altri rossi acerbi, vegetali e vaniglia. Molto buono e interessante con una discreta rotondità. Grazie a Dr.Django.

A robust, woody nose, quite typical but, at the same time, rather elegant. Spicy praline mixed with oak. Behind it all, a discreet fruity edge. The alcohol is very well integrated on the nose, reminiscent of a 50% proof whisky. On the palate, it's spicy and woody, with a real St James flavour. But really, if you like this profile, it's a great rum at a great price. I don't rate it 90+ because it's still a little too woody for my personal tastes, but it's really very good!

The caramel and wood on the nose give way to fruits au bois, but with a rather marked solvent component, I think. To be seen on a future tasting if this impression persists.

J'attendais un nez très boisé comme St James fait en faire. C'est finalement beaucoup plus fin que ca. Boisé certe. Mais aussi fruité et végétal. Ça donne envie. En bouche, d'abord le bois. Très franc. Du cuir. L'alcool est bien là. Du fruit très discret, du chocolat aussi. De la vanille. Finale longue et délicate. J'attendais une forte amertume et finalement se sont des notes de tabac et de caramel mêlées qui restent. Du très bon !

Classic Saint James profile with a beautiful nose of noble wood, spices, green apple and a hint of leather. The palate follows the nose with spices, wood and dark chocolate. Great length, great bottle!

Surprisingly much wood. I think it lacks some fruitiness for balance.

Fresh sugar cane and grassy aromas at the beginning, quickly replaced by coffee, leather and a lot of oak, a pleasant bitterness. A good rum, but I have drunk better SJs.

Overall rather "classic" and typical profile for an old agricole. Round but not a highlight. Not particularly exceptional or complex but easy to drink.

This rum does have a profile much more driven by spices than usual saint James, especially pimento and pepper. The wood in the nose is less noticeable but the result is pretty strange, recalling some wood cleaning product, while drinking it has again the usual Saint James profile. A pretty decent St James, not overoaked. Edit: tried again, a little increase in my score. The nose now shows also some red fruits, cherries especially, that complete well the profile.

Très bon agricole hors d'âge mais il manque tout de même de gourmandise à mon goût même après ouverture. Manque de notes fruitées ou pâtissières.