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Navarre Vieille Reserve Grande Champagne Cognac

Highly Recommended 89 /100

see 8 reviews

ABV
45%
Bottle size
700ml
Growth area
Grande Champagne
Cognac age
Hors d'Age

Coop S.

Reviews written: 2 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 84

Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews

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THé PêCHE!

Recommended 80 /100

NOSE : Armagnac - rustic, French oak, tannins, but not a monster. (Not on the nose.)

Refined rancio. Cassis / black currant. Unripe peaches. Marzipan. Soft vanilla. Banana. Lime and kiwis ( often present for me in older Cognacs, and always in Armagnac ). Strawberry note, raspberries, very ripe, wild strawberries. Sweet peppermint, mint leaves. Mango. Cola cubes. Honey melon. Canned cocktail cherries. Tangerine peels and orange oil. White grapes. Marguerite daisies. Molasses, very faintly. Red licorice note. Pineapple. Papaya juice.

CONCENTRATED fruit - like walking into a TEA SHOP. Positively delightful.
( Very zesty with a sprinkle of water. )

The cola candies, vanilla and fresh sweet fruits come to the fore as the *eau* slowly aerates in the glass.

( And is that an *suggestión* of leather and furniture polish, ha - ha. I am indeed pleased to say that the lacquer-y side of rancio is somewhat less prominent here than I expected (and I will say dreaded) from a bottling of this age ).

Chocolate milk mix powder in the empty glass. Some spice. Figs and dates.
Fennel and powdered black licorice candies.


MOUTH : The first pours do have a distinct oaky astringency to them. The palate early on is, without exaggeration, extreme. This is is mitigated as you let the bottle sit, but it takes a great deal of time: seven months and half the bottle down in my case before this opened up properly. It was at that point even sweet, with lovely vanilla and very rich fruitiness.

Nettles. Black currants. Sour mango. Red licorice. Cola gummies.
White grapes. Lemons. Lime peels. Kiwi. Assorted tropical fruit juices. Zesty.
Pomegranate. Carnation. Caraway seeds. Ginger and white pepper. Touch of cardamon.
Lingering black currants, lime, nettle, mango flesh, kiwi, and hint of vanilla pod on the finish. Finish is long.
Floral intensity.

My score is a very solid 80 for the first half year - 91 with six to eight months of thorough aeration.

Flavour

Wood 9/10

Spice 6/10

Fruit 6/10

Flower 9/10

Bottle / Package Design 4/5

Where is the Love? Ordinary Nice Beautiful A sight to be seen!

Value for Money 4/5

Overpriced Low Average Bargain Steal

Tasting

Nose

What aromas do you get when you sniff the Cognac? Do you get hints of fruits or flowers - perhaps it's sweet? Is it intense or rather flat - and most importantly, is the nose coherent to taste and finish? The nose is the most important part when tasting Cognac.

21/25

True to category
Array of smells
Intensity of smells
Balance of smells
Presence of ethanol

Mouth

A small sip: Allow your taste buds in the various areas of your mouth to distinguish the different flavours. This part of cognac tasting is described as ‘the palate’. Don’t just swallow it down; allow the liquid to touch all the regions of the mouth. Doing this is necessary as the taste buds pick up contrasting flavours in the different areas of the mouth; on the tip of your tongue to the sides, for example. Take a tiny sip to prep your palate for the sensory experience to come. Take a second larger sip, and gently roll the cognac around, etting it come into contact with every corner of your mouth. Focus on the perceived textural sensations. Are the sensations round and rich or fresh and elegant? Is the overall mouthfeel intense, balanced, disjointed, or lacking presence? In short, how does the cognac feel in your mouth?

17/20

1st impression
Body
Texture
Alcohol level

Taste

Quite simply, what do you taste as you gently roll the cognac around in your mouth? Pay close attention to any flavors of fruits, flowers, oak, and spices - or a complex combination of those elements. Are the flavors cohesive with the Nose and the Mouth, giving a sense of balance and complexity?

20/25

True to category
Complexity of tastes
Distinctiveness of tastes
Intensity of tastes
Balance of tastes

Finish

The ‘finish’ is the experience you get after you’ve swallowed the cognac. What flavours can you detect? Is it a flat or rough finish and rather sharp, or is it a slight 'punch' you like? How long does the finish last? Also think about overall balance: How does the finish compare to nose and taste?

14/20

Flavours
Length
Power / “Smooth”
Balance

Overall Impression

Consider the Nose, Mouth, Taste, and Finish simultaneously - the cognac as a whole. Is there cohesion between the four categories, or does the cognac shine in some areas and appear dull in others? Quite simply, is the memory from the tasting experience one that will last your lifetime; is the memory good but nothing extraordinary; or is the cognac’s impact entirely forgettable?

8/10

Total: 80/100

  • 80-84: Recommended
  • 85-89: Highly Recommended
  • 90-95: Exceptional
  • 96-100: Superlative
Flat Acceptable Fine Excellent Ethereal Thin & weak Disjointed Balanced Exquisite Bland Ordinary Good Excellent Spectacular Non-existent, or rough Acceptable Good Memorable Endless Uninspiring, or rough Ordinary Good Excellent Memorable
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