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Marancheville 10 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac

64 /100

see 12 reviews

Cognac age
XO
Growth area
Grande Champagne
Bottle size
700ml
ABV
40%

Taylor C.

Reviews written: 41 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 86

Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews

Bio:

French wine, and the concept of terroir, captured my interest early on. Naturally, curiosity took me to spirits, in particular Cognac. Today I'm proud to be a member of the Cognac Expert team managing B2B projects, working on Cognac Expert Originals, and writing bottle reviews for the English Blog. I love to taste anything and everything - rum/rhum, whisky(ey), Armagnac, etc. - but no other spirit grabs my attention quite like Cognac, and all of its subtleties and nuance. Santé !

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Marancheville 10

64 /100

On first nosing, I immediately smell aromas of caramel, toffee, and Werther's Original candy (basically a caramel, creamy, milky hard candy). There are fruits and spices, but for my nose they are distant behind the upfront caramel and toffee smells. So while fruit and spices are present, I would hesitate to call this a fruity or spicy Cognac. As the Cognac got air, I even picked up a slight curry note. Hmm. It smells perfectly fine. No off notes, but nothing explosive either - just nice well-behaved easy and rounded off notes.

In the mouth, yes, very easy. It is rounded off with a texture that is very creamy and fully cushioned. The caramel and toffee smells carried over into flavors, so there were no surprises but nothing too complex either, and certainly nothing demanding for the palate. Most of the action happens at the front of the mouth and the overwhelming creaminess leaves my palate wanting slightly. But still, this should be evaluated relative to other Cognacs of this same age quality (VSOP and some Napoleons). I'd classify this as a very friendly and tasty Cognac for a beginner or a general audience who wants to taste typical Cognac flavors without venturing too far into Cognacs of immense character.

Tags

  • Apple
  • Butter
  • Candied Fruit
  • Caramel
  • Dried Apricot
  • Spices

Flavour

Wood 4/10

Spice 5/10

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.

15/25

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?

14/20

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?

15/25

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?

14/20

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?

6/10

Total: 64/100

  • 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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