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Vallein Tercinier Hors d'Age Cognac
Recommended 81 /100
- Cognac age
- Hors d'Age
- Growth area
- Fine Champagne
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 42%
Valentin A.
Reviews written: 6 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 71
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
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Perfect work of assemblage
Recommended 80 /100
Colour: Dark amber
Nose: A strong rancio enhanced by some sweet violet and lavender notes. With some air, stunning scents of cherry and mango. We could have expected a cognac softened by its age, but it isn’t at all! It is savage and exotic. A full spoon of acacia honey. This « Hors-d’Age » is a killer.
Palate: Texture is a bit oily. Sweet flavors are exploding: tinned peach (almost syrup) and cherry again. The mouth is persistent even if the ABV could have been a bit short (42%). Great freshness with mint syrup, a yummy spiciness with cinnamon. In the background, some brown sugar and roundness that could remind us the sweetness of an old Layon wine (similar to a Sauternes but located in the Loire Valley), with a little mineral touch too. Walnut kernels, melon, and prunes cake. This Hors d’Age is magnificent.
Last notes: Nose at first. The honey is back again. Almond pear too. On the palate now. Roasted mango and a bit of licorice. This cognac is elegant, precise, and well-balanced. Is there something else to ask for?
The empty glass let us some caramel and hints of violet.
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.
19/25
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
7/10
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