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Painturaud Frères
The story of Painturaud Frères
The story of Painturaud Frères
Founded by Hippolyte Painturaud in 1804, Painturaud started out at the end of the 19th century, following the big phylloxera crisis – but didn’t come into action until 1934, when Guy Painturaud began selling Cognac and Pineau des Charentes under his own name. Later, in 1973, Jacques Painturaud took over from his father as the third generation to take the reigns of the family business. Business grew through the success of taking part in national wine and spirits fairs – alongside starting a shop in Segonzac. In 2010, Jacques handed over the business to his four sons Jean-Philippe, Vincent, Matthieu and Emmanuel – who now stand proud the 4th generation of Maison Painturaud Frères 4th generation
Distinguished by its dedication to Vintage offerings, Painuraud Frères offers 100% Grande Champagne Cognacs – which in itself symbolizes the brand’s value on producing exclusively exceptional quality Cognacs and Pineau des Charentes. In discussion with cellar master Jean-Phillipe we gained a glimpse into the admirable work of Painturaud Frères, the brothers behind the brand and how current Cognac trends and climate change are affecting business in Charente.
Meet the Family
Jean-Philippe: Responsible for the domaine, vineyards and distillation. Having spent his childhood in the vineyards, he learned to drive a tractor at 11 years old and loves cars, motorbikes and 4X4s. Jean-Philippe is also part of the Fête du Cognac team.
Vincent: Helping out with the technical side of oenology and tasting. He started out working for Pierre Ferrand before becoming a teacher and tutor at the CFE de la Gironde. Significantly, Vincent used to be the cellar master of Ocealia group and also spent time working in sales at Decathlon. Vincent loves hunting with his father.
Mathieu: Helps out with strategic planning, sales and marketing. He learned the distillation process at school and joined Groupama in marketing, where he currently enjoys working as part of the export team there. Mathieu has a passion for travel.
Emmanuel: Works in the trade side of things including production, packaging, communication, administration an sales. He used to work in a wine shop in New Zealand and also spent part of his career selling Bordeaux wines to hotels and restaurants. For fun, Emmanuel plays the drums.
From left to right: Mathieu, Emmanuel, Vincent, Jean-Philippe
Representing 200 years of skill, know-how and family tradition, today the four brothers at the forefront of Painturaud Frères live independently, each with their own separate life and circle of friends. Yet, when we asked Jean-Phillipe if there were many occasions when the brothers taste Cognac together, we were pleased to hear – it is of course the chosen beverage of family meals, parties and birthday celebrations for example. Likewise, Jean-Philippe values the opinion of his brothers when trying new cuts in the cellars. You may be wondering when is the best time to embark upon a tasting? Jean-Philippe divulges:
For a technical tasting, I prefer to try my Cognacs at around 11am, otherwise I’ll enjoy Cognac as an aperitif in the form of a cocktail, or on ice. And if it’s an old Cognac – as a digestif with friends.
Changing trends in Cognac
This year, many Cognac producers were affected by the soaring temperatures and drought of France’s summer 2022 heatwave. Jean-Philippe explains:
Like many people, we were afraid that the harvest would be altered by the drought this summer and by the hail that eventually affected about ten hectares of our vineyard.However, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and the quantity of our harvest – that being said we were prepared and implemented an increased vigilance on our vinifications.
The long-term impact of climate change? While we shouldn’t generalize as each harvest is different – Cognac producers are now opting to harvest earlier than in the past under almost summer conditions.
The change in conditions has encouraged us to invest in a cooling unit to manage the temperature of our vats and to avoid the risk of having too hot musts which consequently become to warm during fermentation.
With changing technologies, climatic conditions and fashions in Cognac we put forward whether the Pauntraud Frères have seen changes in Cognac a few years ago, compared with how it is perceived today:
In terms of ancestral know-how, no, we cannot reinvent the way we make our product - however, techniques have evolved such as, automatic distillation, harvesting machines for a healthier harvest, pneumatic presses as well as stainless steel vats.
Such advances are invariably partly responsible for the identity of Cognac as a luxury spirit today, yet the problem remains in the French market. According to Jean-Philippe who regularly welcomes tourists on wine tourism trips to his estate:
99% of the French visitors we receive know next to nothing about Cognac, whereas many foreign visitors are already familiar with its culture.
So despite Cognac’s fiercely strong French identity – it remains a widely international spirit appreciated more abroad than in its country of origin.
While this isn’t new information as international trade has been a historical priority for the Cognac region for centuries – we’re just as stunned as Jean-Philippe about the French market’s continued lack of awareness around such an internationally celebrated product of France.
Introducing: Painturaud Frères Pineau Lot 135
Limited Edition
Celebrating the birthdays of Vincent (aged 50) Matthieu (aged 45) and Emmanuel (aged 40) – Jean-Philippe decided to go rummaging around in his old barrels to find rare eaux-de-vie jewels to blend as one exceptional Pineau dedicated to his brothers. The result of three quality vintage Pineau’s, each blend boasting a different grape variety (Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, and Cabernet-Franc), Painturaud Frères Pineau 135 takes the number 135 as its product name as it is the sum of the three brothers ages combined. Rather fittingly, it is also the number of bottles produced of this limited edition.
How to enjoy: This Pineau is best consumed fresh as an aperitif or as the perfect accompaniment to a chocolate dessert.
ABV: 18%
Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc
Bottle size: 75 cl
An ode to Pineau:
Charente’s underrated spirit
In addition to the fabulous range of Cognac produced by Painturaud Frères, the domaine specializes in producing Pineau des Charentes. While Cognac has kept up its momentum, popularity and development since the mid-2000s, Pineau des Charentes quite often stands in the shadow of Cognac, which has subsequently seen a decline in its production rates in Charente.
Jean-Philippe explains:
Pineau suffers from an image problem as there are few commercial outlets, instead it stays mainly local with few exports. It is a pity when we see that the "old spirits" are making a come back to the forefront, especially in mixology. But these often belong to large businesses that have the commercial and marketing strength to promote them.
While Pineau may lack a widely recognised reputation and place in successful marketing campaigns, it remains a high quality spirit – with a consumption that is not limited to the aperitif.
From my analysis, the name of the product itself is complicated for the consumer, both French and foreign: Pineau des Charentes is long! While other spirits and wines have short and memorable identities – Cognac, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne each brag one word to identify the product.
With few of the widely recognized spirits producers in Cognac offering Pineau their collections, the brothers at Painturaud Frères make it their mission to keep the industry alive. After all, their family have based much of the brand’s reputation on the outstanding quality of their Pineau products started by their grandfather. Today Painturaud Frères offer six pineau in total, with the newest edition (Painturaud 135) having just been added to the range. Now more than ever, the brand is able to reach a more niche clientele alongside lovers of exceptional offerings through a rarer, older and atypical collection of pineaus.
But is pineau worthy of the attention of a Cognac lover? The simple answer is yes. As Jean-Philippe confirms:
In very old white pineaus in particular, we can find the same aromatic notes as those typically found in Cognac
So if you’re a lover of good Cognac, it’s highly likely that you’ll appreciate the nectar of a well-aged Pineau too. Like Cognac, Pineau can be served in various different ways, whether you prefer drinking it the classic way – chilled as an aperitif. There are also many great cocktails based on pineau worth getting experimental with. Meanwhile, Jean-Philippe suggests tasting an old white pineau alongisde foie gras for the ultimate food pairing. Delicious.
Limited Edition Pineau Lot 135
Eye: A beautiful ruby color with orange reflections.
Nose: Elegant aromas of candied fruits such as apricot or prune, almond paste or honey notes.
Palate: A full mouth, with a nice roundness and a touch of acidity for freshness expressing candied and fruity notes.
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ABV: 18%
Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc
Bottle size: 75 cl
The Cognacs
Located near Segonzac, in the very heart of Premier Cru Grande Champagne country, Painturaud Frères Cognac has a history that can be traced back to the end of the 1800s. With 40 hectares of vines planted over rolling hillsides, the main crop is composed of the Ugni Blanc grape, with a smattering of Colombard and Montils. They also grow a small amount of red grapes – Merlot and Cabernet Franc – for production of red Pineaux des Charentes.
Painturaud Frères Générations
Grande Champagne
Growth Area: Grande Champagne
Cognac Age: Hors d'Age
ABV: 40%
The Painturaud Frères Generations Grande Champagne Cognac is a rare delight. Created from Ugni Blanc eau-de-vie taken from a single oak cask stored for over 60 years within the deepest cellar of J. Painturaud, this really does offer a truly sublime tasting experience. Over half a century of aging have imparted some of the rarest, most sought-after aromas and flavors, bursting with tobacco, leather, spices, cinnamon, and cocoa. Bottled at 40.5% ABV, this is an intense expression that brings with it the very finest characteristics of old Premier Cru Cognac.
Painturaud Frères XO
Grande Champagne
Growth Area: Grande Champagne
Cognac Age: XO Cognac - matured for over 25 years
ABV: 40%
The intense XO-quality Grande Champagne Cognac is a true delight from the artisan house Maison Painturaud Frères. Matured for over 25 years, well above the legal minimum required for a Cognac of this provenance, it carries all the style and elegance you expect of a well-aged Premier Cru expression. From the moment you set eyes on the Painturaud Frères XO Grande Champagne Cognac, you are sure to be enchanted, drawn by a nose that boasts tempting exotic fruits, and a powerful palate that continues to evolve right through to its exceedingly long and satisfying crescendo. A simple, yet complex release, full of character.
Painturaud Frères Hors d'Age
Grande Champagne
Growth Area: Grande Champagne
Cognac Age: Hors d'Age
ABV: 40%
This terroir-driven Cognac has been produced with 100% Ugni Blanc grapes sourced from the Painturaud estate. Matured in their cellars for an average of 30 years, this is a subtle and elegant expression, laced with secondary characteristics that present themselves piece by piece like a treasure hunt. The Painturaud Frères Hors d'Age Grande Champagne Cognac is the epitome of why anyone and everyone should introduce themselves to Cognacs from smaller, artisan houses.
Painturaud Frères Vieille Reserve
Grande Champagne
Growth Area: Grande Champagne
Cognac Age: Réserve
ABV: 40%
The Painturaud Frères Vieille Réserve Grande Champagne Cognac is an excellent, well-aged blend with the youngest eaux-de-vie clocking in at around 20 years of age. Produced from Ugni Blanc grapes harvested on the Painturaud estate in the Premier Cru, this shows some intense aromas followed by a complex and rich palate - typical of mature Cognacs from this region. The House of Painturaud Frères is a prime example of how the smaller houses really bring unique Cognacs to market that offer exceedingly good value for money.
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