Learn more about the different Cognac growth areas
For every family member born, Maison Dhiersat set aside one barrel of Pineau des Charentes from that year. This bottling comes from the 1965 cask, which makes it a single cask of extraordinary age. Old Pineau usually means twenty to twenty five years, so this sits in a different category entirely.
Pineau des Charentes is made by adding cognac eau-de-vie to fresh grape must, which stops the fermentation and leaves natural sweetness in the wine. Ageing then does the rest. After six decades in oak the fresh fruit has disappeared completely and what remains is nuts, spice and a deep rancio, with dried dark fruits underneath.
Maison Dhiersat is a seven generation family estate at Rouillac in the Fins Bois, run today by Marie Dhiersat with two female relatives. Every stage happens on site, and these birth year casks have never been part of the commercial range.
Quantities are finite by definition. When this cask is empty there is no second run of it.
A clear bottle showing the deep mahogany colour of the liquid, with a simple estate label carrying the 1965 cask year.
Serve lightly chilled, around 10 to 12 degrees, in a tulip glass. It works as an aperitif, but at this age it is better after dinner, on its own or with a walnut tart, aged hard cheese or dark chocolate.
For the category, truly old pineau, there is nothing quite like this. Make no mistake, pineaus of this age are beyond rare and true treat to taste. Heavy rancio, dried red fruits (black cherry, dried cranberry, fig paste), and all sorts of nuts. Really it's got a very heavy nut profile. We're...
