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Les Ormeaux
We are absolutely thrilled to share this recent discovery with you all. We have uncovered an absolute beauty of an XO, a true hidden beauty that you simply cannot afford to miss.
Behind this extraordinary liquid is an equally incredible family. Nestled in the historic town of Pons in the Charente-Maritime, the Raine family pours their heart and soul into Vignobles Les Ormeaux. Working across 51 hectares of beautifully tended vines, this 5th-generation family fiercely champions an independent, entirely in-house approach to distillation that they have been perfecting since 2002. When you step into their distillery, you aren't just a customer; you are warmly welcomed into their world, tasting decades of pure dedication and a profound, authentic connection to the local terroir. Whether it's their honest local wines, their rich Pineau des Charentes, or their breathtaking Cognac, this is a family that captures the true, unadulterated spirit of the region in every single drop.
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Finding the Soul of the Fins Bois: My Journey to Les Ormeaux
Domaine Les Ormeaux
It was a beautiful March morning in the Charente. The sky was an unblemished blue, the kind of crisp spring weather that makes the entire Cognac region feel alive. I was driving toward Pons, a historic town in the Saintonge area, with a specific destination in mind: Les Ormeaux.
This estate had been on my radar for a while, a hidden gem recommended to me by Taylor and Thomas that was definitely one for the “must visit” list. As Cognac Expert we're always on the hunt for unadulterated, small-batch Cognacs, I live for discoveries like this. I knew they sold 95% of their production to the big houses like Martell, but it was the precious 5% they kept and bottled under their own name that I was after.
As I pulled my car into the gravel courtyard of the estate, I was immediately greeted by the official welcoming committee: a sweet, energetic little terrier, barely six months old. He bounded up to my car, tail wagging furiously, proving the old adage that you can tell a lot about a farm by how friendly its dog is.
Please note: this is a small producer, supply is limited—we have secured a reserved XO Lot 72 allocation, but once it’s gone, it may be gone.
Domaine Les Ormeaux
Domaine Les Ormeaux Lot 72 70cl
50+ years old
Balanced with Fins-Bois orange fruit
$ 152
incl.
duty, tariff, clearance
excl. shipping
Domaine Les Ormeaux Lot 72 70cl
Domaine Les Ormeaux Lot 72 50cl
50+ years old
Balanced with Fins-Bois orange fruit
$ 129
incl.
duty, tariff, clearance
excl. shipping
Dorothée
Les Ormeaux watchdog
30-40 yrs old Les Ormeaux fines
The Family
I was warmly welcomed by Laurent and his wife Dorothée. They are the 5th generation to run this estate. It was a busy day for them; mid-March means pristine weather for vineyard work, and everyone, including Laurent’s father, Michel, was preparing to head out to the vines. I managed to meet Michel briefly before he left. He’s the patriarch who secured the original contracts with Martell decades ago. Despite their busy schedule, the family was incredibly hospitable, taking the time to make me feel right at home and show me around.
We walked through their stunning distillation room, which seamlessly connects to the entrance hall and tasting area. Then, Dorothée told me a story that gave the entire visit a profound sense of place. She explained why the estate is called Les Ormeaux. The name translates to "The Elm Trees," honoring the majestic elms that once stood at the bottom of their garden. These were trees that towered over 35 meters high, soaring even taller than the famous Donjon de Pons, the historic keep of the nearby town. For over a century, those trees watched three generations of the Raine family grow up. Tragically, in the early 1980s, a wood disease forced the family to cut them down. But Laurent, wanting to pay homage to the giants that had guarded his family, salvaged the wood. The beautiful, rustic furniture standing right there in the distillery—the very tables and cabinets surrounding us—was crafted from those ancient elms.
Available
Available
This way
Laurent
The oldest cellar
Les Ormeaux XO Comparisons
Godet Millésime Fins Bois 1970
Godet is one notch ahead in aromatic precision, definition, and intensity BUT x3 the cost. Justified?
Hennessy XO Extra Old
Hennessy relies on lots of Fins Bois, making this an interesting comparison between industrial vs artisanal scale. Ormeaux is less sweet and less manufactured/concocted.
It was a beautiful piece of history. We continued our tour, walking through both the old and the new cellars, and stepping out briefly to look at the vines. They also proudly showed me the new RV park (camping à la ferme) they were building behind the cellars, a nice touch of modern wine tourism.
But the climax of the visit awaited back in the tasting room.
Laurent poured me a glass of the Extra Old Cognac. While the category requires a minimum age of 10 years, the liquid in my glass was a pure, unblended single vintage distilled by Michel back in 1972, the exact birth year of Laurent’s older brother. It has rested in oak for over half a century. Furthermore, it is a 100% Fins Bois Cognac, crafted with zero added sugar and no artificial coloring.
That Lot 72 XO Fins Bois :-)
I raised the glass, and the experience was indeed pretty special.
Immediately, the nose announces its serious, advanced age. It is distinctly fruit-forward, but not fresh fruit. It is a rich, dark orange citrus.Think orange hard candies and other orange-y spicy candied citrus. Behind the fruit is a delicate dusting of baking spice and chocolate - perhaps even a whiff of caramel. And then comes a fascinating, fleeting aroma: a quick rush of freshly cracked cedar plank that hits the senses beautifully before vanishing, allowing the dark orange fruit to take center stage once again.
On the palate, the Cognac has great balance. Those who look for the aggressive grip of a single cask won't find it here. Instead, it offers incredible flavor intensity delivered with supreme elegance and ease of drinkability. The fruit notes evolve into sweet Swedish clementine candies, followed by a beautiful, rich wave of vanilla. The wood integration is pretty flawless too. There is absolutely zero tannic grip, and not a trace of bitterness. Just a wonderfully complex, harmonious finish.
The vinification cellar
To find an unadulterated, 53-year-old Fins Bois single lot (not an official vintage Cognac) of this caliber is rather rare. It proves emphatically that not all XOs are created equal.
As I packed my newly purchased bottles into the trunk, the little terrier faithfully escorted me back to my car. I drove away from Les Ormeaux under that same bright blue sky, feeling lucky that I had captured a piece of the Raine family’s history, and I couldn't wait to share it with the team and our community.
See you soon!
Max
March 2026
In Summary
Les Ormeaux is located in Pons in Charente-Maritime and is operated by the Raine family, a winegrowing family that describes the estate as having been established in the village for centuries. The domaine presents itself as a multi-generation family property, with the next generation already preparing to take part in the vineyard work. Today, the estate combines vineyard management, distillation, ageing, direct sales, guided visits, tastings, and rural accommodation, giving the brand a clear estate identity rather than that of a large industrial house.
Family Estate and Vineyard
The family estate extends across 51 hectares of vines, including 2 hectares of Merlot, alongside additional cereal land. Les Ormeaux emphasizes a grower-producer model rooted in day-to-day work in the vineyard, with Laurent Raine continuing the family line and Dorothée Raine supporting the estate’s development and administration. This close involvement in the vines and cellar gives the brand strong credibility for buyers looking for genuine, small-scale Cognac from a working family domaine in the Charente area.
Cognac Production Style
Since 2002, Les Ormeaux has expanded from vineyard farming into producing and bottling its own spirits and wines. The estate highlights the distillery visit as part of its identity, taking visitors from harvest through distillation and tasting. Its Cognac range includes VS, VSOP, and XO expressions, with ageing in oak barrels playing a central role. The XO is as a very old reserve from the 1972 harvest, its VSOP as a blend of eaux-de-vie aged 17 and 31 years, and its VS as an 8-year-old Cognac with a younger, wood-led profile suited to relaxed serving styles.
What Makes Les Ormeaux Distinctive
Les Ormeaux stands out through its direct connection between vineyard, distillery, tasting room, and visitor experience. The estate offers free tastings, individual and group visits, and a winegrower’s museum, while also producing Pineau des Charentes and Charentais country wines. For customers searching for authentic French Cognac from a family-owned producer, Les Ormeaux brings together local identity, mature eaux-de-vie, and an accessible visitor-friendly approach in one place.