Bob; This Epernay was from a July '12 buy. I would upload pictures, but my phone doesn't have a low enough resolution to make it in under Tony's retardedly low 768kb limit. So no photos until that changes.
Not the prettiest wrapper--some sheen, some seams, some veins. Whatever, really. Tastes fucking great.
Pre-light aroma is floral, woody, sweeter at the foot. Cold draw is fairly muted.
Aroma is woody and floral.
Opening flavors are very clean, delicate, and mild. The extra year since I last tried it has certainly calmed it down some. Creamy tobacco, touch of mocha hint of wood, floral notes, dash of pepper. Retro brings some more dry wood and floral notes. Plenty of smoke production, just a perfect draw.
Just a few puffs in and the flavors are getting heavier--touch more pepper, slightly sweeter/fully creamy notes, stronger floral notes, strong lingering finish already, reminds me of caramel and coffee. By the half inch mark it's already got a strong/bold coffee core, the woody accents and spices tingling the tongue.
Floral notes aren't as strong in the 2 year old Le Grande as they were in the 1 year old Le Matin I had the other day (or compared to the R, overall). Yet, at least. That could very well change.
By the 1 inch mark, it's like I'm smoking a coffee with cream and maybe a hint of caramel. Not that I'd ever actually order coffee like that. Cedar accents and some peppery notes here and there, floral notes are fleeting. Medium bodied, med-full flavors, but very distinct and strong tasting (if not palate battering).
And there come some stronger peppery notes, followed by a stronger showing for the floral notes. Some of the sweetness falls away (though it lingers on the finish) and its getting less creamy, replaced with a bold roasted coffee core. Then some stronger cedar shows up and again back to the bold coffee being center stage and then a growing woody/spiciness with the coffee at about equal parts and so on and so forth it goes, never quite settling on something and becoming at all boring.
In general working its way heavier and fuller as it goes. The start of the middle third is VERY far away from the opening few puffs. Perfect draw, even burn, plenty of smoke when I puff. Not liga levels, though.
So far I've been pairing with nothing, so as to not influence flavor at all. Think I'll start with a french roast now, so there's that. But I think I've made my opinion on the epernay clear.
