Depaz Cuvée des Hôtes du Château

Depaz distills at the foot of Mont Pelee in northern Martinique, where volcanic terroir underpins the estate's character, and this Cuvee des Hotes du Chateau is an assemblage of older cuvees rather than a single vintage. Pressed from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, it shows the estate's signature citrus-and-oak balance in mature form.

Matured in oak and built for roundness, it leans woody and warmly spiced: candied fruit, allspice and yellow fruit on the nose, then candied fruit, wood, allspice and vanilla across a smooth palate, finishing on vanilla, roasted nuts and citrus. The Depaz hallmark of sweet orange threads through the wood. At 45% it stays balanced and approachable, a polished, gently spiced aged agricole that rewards relaxed neat sipping, a solid representative of the house even if it leans toward the consensual end of the style.