Dolmen de Pierre Folle

A Unique Cognac Producer

Dolmen de Pierre Folle

Central to Cognac Expert's ethos is not only celebrating the renowned houses, whose Cognacs have undoubtedly captured your admiration, but also advocating for Cognac's diversity by spotlighting its lesser-known producers. This is absolutely near and dear to our hearts. Our exploration often takes us to remote corners of the region, particularly the southern reaches of the Bons Bois cru, not far from our home at Beaulieu, in search of undiscovered artisans.

We recently pulled back the curtain on Choloux and Metreau, and now - during one of these same drive-by explorative outings - I found another stunning Bons Bois gem and fascinating character pursuing his craft of artisanal Cognac production.

Visiting a French Stonehenge

Deep in the southernmost - and certainly most rural - corners of the Cognac region, I recently encountered an extraordinary figure – the farmer and Cognac maker Jeano. He's renowned not just for his 45% abv Bons Bois Cognac (subtly sweetened with 1% of sugar) delivering a sheer explosion of flavor, but also for his deeply rooted family history.

Jeano, a nickname well-known around these parts, began his journey into the world of Cognac as a young man. At just 18 years of age, he dove completely into the family Cognac business, after having assisted his father since the age of twelve. Jeano’s father tragically passed away due to an unfortunate health issue and so by 1965, he was officially on his own. At home, he still keeps Cognac bottles from 1960, genuine treasures passed down from his father.

Craftsmanship runs deep in this family. Jeano cherishes the process of creating a product from start to finish. And although he remains engaged throughout the year, only taking a week off during Easter to visit his daughter in England, he draws immense satisfaction from his work. Cognac clearly is his uncontested passion.

Another striking feature of his estate is the ancient Druid stones, known as Dolmen. Owned by the family since 1929, after his great-grandfather acquired them for 30,000 Franc, these Dolmen, weighing 30 tons and dating back to 4500 BC, attract many visitors from Brittany and Bordeaux. They come to recharge, as these stones possess 26% magnetism.

In addition to Cognac, Jeano also produces Pineau. His 39-year-old son has now taken over most of the tasks in the small business, working on the machines, while Jeano's wife is engaged in the cellar. Jeano himself oversees the harvest and grape transport. Together as a family, and with a few machines, they cover the massive workload from grape to bottle all by themselves.

This family tradition is handed down from one generation to the next. Jeano's father laid the foundation, and his son will carry it forward. Despite his vast knowledge, interestingly Jeano is mostly self-taught, having attended only one official tasting course.

Before bidding goodbye, I also met two endearing household pets: a dog named Racaille, which translates to "Raya" in Turkish, and a cat, Mimi.

Visiting Jeano was not merely a journey into the world of micro-produced, rural, immensely authentic Cognac but also a voyage through generations and a profound connection to the land and its history. It was an experience I will remember - made easier when enjoying a glass of his Bons Bois Cognac.

20 Years Old at 45% ABV