Domaine Fradon

Fradon is located within the Petite Champagne cru, noted for producing high-quality Cognac equally on par with Cognacs from the Grande Champagne cru. This is undoubtedly due to the limestone soils, which contain a healthy dose of chalk.

The estate has a storied history that dates back to the 1930s when Henri Chainier began bottling and selling Pineau des Charentes. In the 1950s, the operation was taken over by his daughter Denise and her husband Marc Fradon, after whom the estate was renamed. Their son Michel took the helm in 1989, placing greater emphasis on commercializing their products in France and Europe. Today, the estate is managed by Damien, Henri's great-grandson, who continues the family tradition of Cognac production.

The domaine practices traditional winemaking techniques, beginning with the harvest of white grapes in September. To prevent any loss of freshness, the grapes are pressed and fermented swiftly without the use of preservatives. The estate has reintroduced the historical Folle-Blanche grape variety, celebrated for yielding smooth, aromatic eaux-de-vie - although the grape tends to be very fickle and fragile to grow. Distillation is conducted in a 20 hL copper still.

Aging of the Cognac at Domaine Fradon is a careful and deliberate process, requiring the watchful eye and nose of the cellar master to accompany the eaux-de-vie during maturation. It takes place in oak barrels for years, even decades, during which the spirit undergoes a transformation, developing its characteristic amber color and complex aromas. This interaction with the oak and the gradual evaporation are critical to the flavor development.

And for the Vieille Reserve, XO, and Brut de Fut in the Fradon range, given their respective ages, time has done wonders to these beautiful eaux-de-vie.