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Chateau Paulet VSOP Cognac
Highly Recommended 89 /100
- Cognac age
- VSOP
- Growth area
- Blend
- Bottle size
- 750ml
- ABV
- 40%
Rose G.
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Really quite nice
Highly Recommended 89 /100
At the store I work at there was a recent price markdown on the Paulet VSOP. I have had the VS and I thought it was pretty layered and spicy, but I hadn't tried their VSOP or XO yet. With that price markdown, I thought, now was the chance -- Paulet is listed under one of the houses in the Bartender's Black Book as one of the best Cognac producers, and I don't take that too lightly. I ended up telling some customers about how crazy it was that this one had gotten marked down in price, and they decided to take a chance on it. I was considering getting it before, but after those customers came back in and said this was their new favorite, getting another bottle, I decided then and there I'd have to snag a bottle for myself too.
I love richly layered complex liquors of any kind -- Paulet really delivers in the VSOP, I think. I'm a massive fan of any floral component in a spirit and this VSOP gives you beautiful white flower notes, light Madagascar vanilla on the nose, and some peach kisses.
On the palate, you're given a bouquet of those same floral notes as well as lovely dried apricot and nectarine, a little Fiji apple, vanilla, and a good allspice in the finish. The finish certainly leans more baking spice than anything, not too heavy on cinnamon -- like I said, mostly allspice, maybe a touch of clove?
The fruit in this is spectacular, it's very light and delicious. It's very smooth as well, fantastically made VSOP. My only regret is that I can't find proof that Paulet still operates as a distillery or who makes it. It's said that Paulet has stopped making cognacs in the past ten years. I can easily see why those customers came back for a second bottle. If I had finished the whole bottle in a night I would come back for a second one too.
Excellent quality for those looking to get into nicer VSOPs and branch out of mainline producers. Especially if all you've tried so far are the baseline Remy Martins, Hennessys, Martells, and Courvoisiers -- try a Paulet.
Tags
Flavour
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
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.
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?
19/20
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?
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
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?
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?
16/20
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?
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?
10/10
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?
Total: 89/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative