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Dudognon Vieille Réserve Cognac
Recommended 80 /100
- Cognac age
- Réserve
- Growth area
- Grande Champagne
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 40%
- Grape Varieties
- Ugni Blanc
John G.
Reviews written: 14 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 78
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
Bio:
Regular contributor to Malt Review. WSET Spirits Level 2 Enthusiastic about all spirits but for vodka. Whisky is my 1st love but I'm currently enjoying my affair with rum, brandy and Mezcal.
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Du yourself a favor and buy this
Recommended 80 /100
Color: honey
On the nose: Feisty, funky and sharp ethanol which clouds the different scents being given off on the nose. I believe this is what the French refer to as rancio. I get different shades of honey, apples & pears followed by dried and candied apricots and hints of melons.
In the mouth: This is much more mellow and fruity in the mouth. There’s a mild heat all throughout the body. I taste things like fuji apples, cream, honey, hints of coffee, dried apricots, melons, plums and hints of peaches. Hints of rancio funk at the end.
Conclusions
A bit of a two-faced spirit as it shows different… temperaments on the nose versus in the mouth. From a rather rough texture on the nose, to a mellow yet full body in the mouth.
This Vieille Reserve is said to be an average blend of 20-year-old Cognac. Despite being only bottled at 40% abv, this doesn’t have the usual watery body a 40% spirit does. There’s a lot of weight, depth and length in this. I’m wondering if this is the effect of incremental dilution which French brandy producers are known to do? I’m really curious to try this straight from the cask. Perhaps something to experience in the future should I have the chance to visit the Cognac region.
I consider this a steal as this only cost me $90 back in 2015. Trying Cognac like this makes me wish more people had the chance to try small house Cognac like this. I bet it will make them wonder why they and many others are willing to pay around $150 or more, for the big brand XOs? The rum geek in me is bothered by this, as these aren’t pure Cognac due to their being sweetened.
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.
20/25
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?
17/20
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?
20/25
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?
7/10
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: 80/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative