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Lheraud XO Charles VII Cognac
Highly Recommended 87 /100
- Cognac age
- XO
- Growth area
- Blend
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 44%
Vasili S.
Reviews written: 21 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 82
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
Bio:
Just a Cognac fan
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Structured Depth and Dry Elegance
Highly Recommended 87 /100
Lheraud XO Charles VII presents a powerful and structured style, where oak influence and dryness take precedence over immediate sweetness, creating a more mature and assertive expression.
In the glass, it shows a deep copper color with above-average viscosity, hinting at both concentration and texture.
The nose is intense and clean, offering a rich aromatic profile built around plum and dried fruits, supported by clove, caramel and chocolate. There are also notes of caramelized pear and nuts such as walnut and pecan, giving the impression of depth and sweetness, despite what follows on the palate.
On the palate, the Cognac reveals a clear contrast. The sweetness is moderate and fruit-driven at first, but is quickly overtaken by a firm, well-defined acidity. Bitterness emerges through nutty notes and dry tannins, while the alcohol is warming and well integrated, becoming more noticeable after the initial sweetness and helping to extend the overall structure. The texture is oily and full, yet the profile remains dry, velvety and slightly austere.
The finish is long, warm and deeply structured. It carries notes of dried fruits, nuts, oak, cigar, cinnamon and tobacco leaf, with a distinctly dry and enveloping character. The tannins remain present, giving a gently drying sensation that reinforces its mature profile.
Overall, Lheraud XO Charles VII is a bold, oak-driven Cognac with a pronounced dry structure and a strong sense of maturity. Despite its rich and rounded aromatic profile, it evolves into a more austere and powerful style on the palate. It may appeal particularly to those who appreciate more structured and spirit-forward profiles, including enthusiasts of aged rums, whiskies and bourbons.
It is best enjoyed neat, where its evolution and structure can be fully appreciated. It may also pair well with fruit-based desserts, where its dryness can provide contrast and balance.
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.
23/25
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.
True to category
Array of smells
Intensity of smells
Balance of smells
Presence of ethanol
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
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?
1st impression
Body
Texture
Alcohol level
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?
True to category
Complexity of tastes
Distinctiveness of tastes
Intensity of tastes
Balance of tastes
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
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?
Flavours
Length
Power / “Smooth”
Balance
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?
9/10
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: 87/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative
Unverified review - we do not confirm that the author has purchased or used the product.
Reviews were written in exchange for loyalty points redeemable on a future order.
Reviews were written in exchange for loyalty points redeemable on a future order.