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Navarre Souvenir Impérial Hors d'Age Grande Champagne Cognac

Exceptional 92 /100

see 30 reviews

Cognac age
Hors d'Age
Growth area
Grande Champagne
Bottle size
700ml
ABV
40%

Joseph M.

Reviews written: 20 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 87

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

Bio:

Rocket Scientist (yes, I actually design rocket engines), and intermediate level cognac aficionado. I'm enjoying the learning experience.

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Great cognac, multi-leveled with great finish

Exceptional 90 /100
Verified purchase

I just finished my second bottle of this and will be buying more since it's becoming one of my favorites. It has so many flavors going on I find it difficult to pick out one particular fruit or spice. It's very well balanced between fruit, spice, and some earthy tones. Very good lasting finish.

Flavour

Sweetness

very dry / not sweet very smooth / very sweet

very smooth very dry
very sweet not sweet

Wood 5/10

Spice 8/10

Fruit 8/10

Flower 3/10

Bottle / Package Design 4/5

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

Value for Money 4/5

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.

23/25

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?

19/20

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?

24/25

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?

14/20

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?

10/10

Total: 90/100

  • 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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