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Sophie & Max Selection N° 1 Cognac
Highly Recommended 88 /100
- Cognac age
- Extra
- Growth area
- Petite Champagne
- Growth area
- Fins Bois
- Growth area
- Bons Bois
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 40%
Fredrick B.
Reviews written: 2 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 87
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
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Esquire
Recommended 80 /100
Dear Cognac Expert Team,
I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to get this review out to you, but I wanted to thoroughly sample Selection No. 1 before providing a review. After all, the Team put a lot of time, dedication, heart and soul into this project, and deserve more than a three sentence opinion.
Let me start with my personal bias. I am a fan of Cognac-Expert, and suspected this wouldn’t just be a good cognac, but a special one. Sophie and Max likely wouldn’t have put their names on the bottle unless the cognac inside was truly singular. Cognac-Expert’s commitment to quality and total engagement with all things cognac was the red-carpet for this XO’s introduction. And, with Jacques Petit at the helm, I knew this would be a treat.
I’m also a fan of small, artisan, handcrafted spirits. Yes, my cabinet has several big-name XO bottles within it, but residing alongside is an equal number of small-producer XOs. Another bias (sorry, genes at work) is that my palate tends to resonate most harmoniously with dark, layered XO cognacs, including Hennessy, De Luze, and Martell.
A word about the bottle. I must admit, it took me a tiny bit to warm up to Selection No. 1’s contemporary styled label, juxtaposed to the (quite special) old-world wax treatment on top. Admittedly, it does whisper modern elegance, simple yet stylish, with a nod to handcrafted tradition.
A long time ago in a cabinet far, far away, I used to relish the heavy, ornate and sometimes even cumbersome bottles of elite cognac. But really, it’s the liquid inside that matters. Yes, presentation counts, but I like to think I’ve graduated, moved past packaging and able to focus on substance far above form. After all, when you’re done with your beautiful Remy or Louis Royer bottle, what do you do with it? Recycle it? Perhaps use it for some type of art or craft? Or, more likely, just store it in a cabinet. (One of the nicest bottles out there is that of Martell‘s Cordon Bleu. Nothing fancy or over the top, just a simple, timeless shape and beautifully understated label...a classic.)
Now on to the task at hand…
Rarely can one pop a cork, slam a dram, and offer a valid opinion. Selection No. 1 cannot be hurried. Its personality indeed takes some time to develop. It requires time in the glass, gently warmed by the hand, to bring forth the most it has to offer. (I used a Riedel Vinum Hennessy Cognac glass.)
~Well balanced, full-bodied with light wood and vanilla tones.
~Medium nose, not overly complex; smooth, lingering finish.
Nose : 4
Palate : 4
Aftertaste (finish) : 5
Value for money : 5
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.
18/25
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?
15/20
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?
18/25
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?
19/20
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?
10/10
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