There are only so many occasions where you stumble upon a truly unknown entity in the booze world. I've been to Calvados many times and spent countless hours researching every producer of note, but somehow this exceptional estate had slipped through the cracks. Partially that's because they don't really have a commercial presence or even commercial goals. This estate is run as an agricultural school and while their sustainable polyculture curriculum is the focus, they've spared no expense to make the absolute highest quality brandy available anywhere in Normandy. If you ask anyone who knows Calvados who the best producer is, their response should unequivocally be Camut - the traditional producer in the center of the Pays D'Auge. But, wonderful Merval estate is well outside the region which is generally excepted as the benchmark for the category. Nonetheless this exceptional operation, which started seriously focusing on quality brandy only in the last few decades, should be considered one of the regions very best. This is the very first barrel to ever be exported, selected specifically by the master distiller to exemplify the house style, and represents a somewhat new way of thinking of Calvados. It's single barrels without blending which makes this product so unique and of course the exceptional flavors that they've managed to achieve. Here's my tasting notes. The color is deep gold. Immediately a huge punch of caramelized and spiced apple slices, Tarte Tatin, candied ginger, roasted cloves and a rich earthy underbrush character. The intense and heady aromatics offer so much aromatic complexity, it's truly unlike any other calvados I've ever tried. No doubt that comes from the commitment to static aging and the tendency to eschew some of the traditional brandy blended practices. On the palate the richness is unbelievable, offering texture that few other brandy producers can match. The wood is extremely restrained, but frames the rich fruit perfectly. Soft clove, cinnamon and sage add to the bold pome fruit character. It's definitely a malt drinkers brandy, offering a huge amount of character, power and depth that reminds me more of a great old Highland malt than the soft light stuff you might know from some of the more classical producers. This is an absolute treat and one of the most significant finds in the brandy category for many many years.