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Conte et Filles Heritage Cognac

Recommended 83 /100

see 4 reviews

Cognac age
Hors d'Age
Growth area
Fine Champagne
Bottle size
700ml
ABV
40%
Grape Varieties
Ugni Blanc

Toran S.

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Recent Winner of the Hor's d'Age CE Family tasting!

Recommended 84 /100

I purchased the bottle since it had won the CE family tasting of Hor's d'Age and I have to say so far I do and do not understand why it won. On the one hand it does everything well, balanced with spice and fruit (although I get more spice than fruit) and yet it doesn't seem to do anything extremely well where it would be a standout for some and less preferred for others. I was expecting more rancio or more fruit at this age, but I think it's just a really good all around glass which is why although it won on points it was only one of the 9 participants favorite. I will say it seems to be getting better as it opens up (I'm about a 1/3rd of the way through my bottle). Here's my tasting notes:
Nose is interesting, I get a hint of rubber, rancio, fig, honeysuckle… I’m struggling with this nose a bit. I wonder if it will open up more in the weeks to come.
Mouth: smooth, sandalwood, cigar box, muscat grape, vanilla, pepper, honey, almond.
Finish: is semi sweet, dark with a hint of band aid. I know that sounds strange, but for those that appreciate a peated scotch it’s not the smokey, iodine taste that often accompanies that but it does carry some of that band aid/rubber taste in a subtle way and that is not a bad thing.

Flavour

Sweetness

very dry / not sweet very smooth / very sweet

very smooth very dry
very sweet not sweet

Wood 8/10

Spice 9/10

Fruit 6/10

Flower 4/10

Bottle / Package Design 4/5

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

Value for Money 3/5

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.

20/25

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?

22/25

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?

17/20

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?

7/10

Total: 84/100

  • 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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