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Normandin Mercier La Peraudiere Cognac
Exceptional 90 /100
- Cognac age
- XO
- Growth area
- Grande Champagne
- Bottle size
- 500ml
- ABV
- 42.7 %
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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A bourbon-ish Cognac?
Recommended 82 /100
Color: honey
On the nose: Woody and floral. I get long and medium aromas of dried apricots, oak, honey, cinnamon syrup, rancio, and leather. The rancio is more like a shiitake mushroom-based sauce instead of the more usual astringent dry shiitake mushrooms I get in other old Grande Champagne Cognacs.
In-between are really soft and round aromas of peaches and red grape skin.
In the mouth: Astringent from the start. I get persistent tastes of leather, cinnamon, tannins, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Underneath those are bits of honey, fresh peaches, dried apricot.
Thankfully, the astringency weakens as the Cognac gets to breathe more.
Conclusion: I’m not sure what to think of La Peraudière. But I’m sure that I’m more in love with the nose than the mouth. This tastes more like a bourbon-style Cognac. The cask it was aged in seems to be new as there’s too much tannin and other characteristics I associate with astringency. It’s the opposite of what I loved about the nose, which is it was delicate and gentle yet assertive.
There’s the hogo factor that’s said to come with old Cognac. I’m not familiar with it yet so I’m not sure how it factors in here.
Aside from these, I wish the producer would add more details. Such as the cask #, the exact age of the Cognac, type of French oak, blend of grapes, and what kind of cellar it was aged in. I think this type of added transparency and information will make this brand and the whole of Cognac more interesting to whiskey drinkers.
I asked Cognac Expert if they could ask Edouard some questions for me. He said this is a 25 year old Cognac. This explains why I think this is very oaky. Compared to whisky, the price of this is also a steal for the age. Though, being bottled at 500ml is surely making this cheaper.
This will make for a good present. Not every drinker is a geek so age is always an appealing factor. The age of this plus the decanter-like bottle it comes in will be delight for everyone.
Again, thanks to the Cognac Expert team for generously sending me a bottle.
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.
22/25
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?
16/20
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?
18/20
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?
6/10
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: 82/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative