A perfectly fitting leather jacket of a Cognac: tailored, timeless, stylish - commands attention!
This bold Cognac comes from the Petite Champagne cru. Distilled over 60 years ago by the current distiller’s great-grandfather and grandfather using a tiny 3-hectoliter wood-and-coal-fired alambic, the eau-de-vie has aged untouched in a humid cellar beneath the family home. The cellar, accessed through a small door under the house, is covered in the region’s signature torula mold, its dank atmosphere contributing to the Cognac’s natural evolution. No water has ever been added; its alcohol level and stunning deep copper color are entirely natural, shaped only by time and the damp, constant atmosphere of the unique chai.
We had the rare privilege of visiting this cellar earlier this year, and the experience left a lasting impression. Stunning really. The air was thick and bitterly cold, the walls blackened with torula, and the silence broken only by our footsteps and the topette which pulled barrel samples. The family, who preferred to remain anonymous by choice, has long sold their eaux-de-vie to negociants, yet always kept a few barrels for themselves for aging in the house's chai. They've done this for generations, and this is one such treasure.
The Cognac itself is quite something. On the nose, we tell immediately that this is anything but a shy Cognac. It envelops with brooding warmth: prominent spice, maple, and cola swirl around fig paste and caramelized canelé, all framed by present pristine French oak. The palate is assertive and generous, with dessert-like richness: toasted pecan, maple syrup, and leather come together in a bold, spicy attack. The finish is long (counted in minutes, not seconds) echoing the nose and palate with a bittersweet grip that lingers for minutes.
This is a tailored leather jacket in liquid form: timeless, stylish, and unforgettable.
Note: The Cognac handles quite well a drop or two of water. Cheers!
