AVAILABLE NOW: Grape of the Art Castarède 1986 - strictly limited   SHOP NOW

Pasquet "Trésors de Famille" Le Cognac de Claude

Exceptional 92 /100

see 3 reviews

Growth area
Grande Champagne
Bottle size
500ml
ABV
49.8%
Grape Varieties
Ugni Blanc
Distilled in
1984

Taylor C.

Reviews written: 41 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 86

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

Bio:

French wine, and the concept of terroir, captured my interest early on. Naturally, curiosity took me to spirits, in particular Cognac. Today I'm proud to be a member of the Cognac Expert team managing B2B projects, working on Cognac Expert Originals, and writing bottle reviews for the English Blog. I love to taste anything and everything - rum/rhum, whisky(ey), Armagnac, etc. - but no other spirit grabs my attention quite like Cognac, and all of its subtleties and nuance. Santé !

Share this Review
URL copied to the clipboard

Tresors de Famille, Le Cognac de Claude

Exceptional 92 /100

Nose: This nose is open for business right away - more than the Cognac de Noel. I imagine it will gain additional clarity with air, but it's dazzling on first pour. I first smell sparkling clean miel de fleurs, a medium strength floral honey found all over the place here in France. Then I get a sweet tobacco note. I’ve smelled this sweet tobacco note in some men’s fragrances (Le Labo’s Tabac parfum is one such ultra clear tobacco-woody smell that I pick up in more mature Cognacs). Maybe I’m dreaming but I pick up a faint grassiness. And after those initial waves of smells comes a layer of fruit: mirabelle plums, greengages, and fruit cocktail cups in syrup.

I can’t explain this, but at various moments I thought I was smelling a rum from Savanna, a quality rum producer from Reunion island. I digress, this is a great nose!

Palate: Even at 49.8% abv, it amazes me just how well this Cognac de Claude wears its alcohol. Curiously, the finest spirits always give off a strong sense of composure and poise regardless of the alcoholic strength. Pasquet deserves a major tip of the cap for finding this Cognac’s sweet spot in terms in abv. Bravo!

After getting over the balance of the Cognac, I’m met with layers of fruit: mirabelle plums, sultanas in syrup, and fruit cocktail cups - peaches, mandarins, and some white grapes (from my childhood days). The previously mentioned miel de fleurs is present too, and pate de coing shows up as well. Interesting, the sweet earthy tobacco note only showed up on the nose for me, not in the mouth.

The texture is full but not palate staining. It manages to coat the mouth while still maintaining a sense of elegance. This is as fine a glass as I’ve had recently. As always, slow down and let the glass reveal all it has to say.

Finish: Dare I say the finish is so long that it even bothers me. Seriously, the fruit, honey, and spice flavors linger so long on the entirety of my tongue that taking another sip feels like an interruption. I have no problem taking my time, but these flavors struggle to fade away. I know, what an unhelpful complaint. Kidding aside, I’m impressed by the depth of flavor, the richness of texture, and length of the fruit, earth, and spice notes. I might not brush my teeth tonight.

Tags

  • Honey
  • Orange
  • Peach
  • Pear
  • Raisin
  • Spices
  • Tobacco

Flavour

Wood 6/10

Spice 6/10

Fruit 8/10

Flower 4/10

Bottle / Package Design 4/5

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

Value for Money 5/5

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.

22/25

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?

18/20

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?

23/25

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?

20/20

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?

9/10

Total: 92/100

  • 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
Product added to wishlist
Product added to compare.
To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies and by continuing to use the site you agree that we can save them.  Our Privacy Policy
You have successfully followed this brand