Tony M.
Reviews written: 76 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 90
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
I have a passion and love for all spirits, but particularly world brandy and world whisk(e)y. The great people at Cognac-Expert have greatly increased my exposure to not only more Cognac, but smaller producers who are doing phenomenal things!! Love you all!! Cheers!! CERTIFICATIONS Certified Specialist of Spirits, Society of Wine Educators, 2017 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS The American Wine Society National Conference, 2019 PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Member, American Wine Society Judge, Denver International Spirits Competition, 2019 Judge, North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition, 2018, 2020, 2021 Judge, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Spirits, Table Captain, 2017, 2020, 2021 Judge, San Diego International Spirits Competition, Table Captain, 2020, 2021
Incredibly complex and well balanced
Vert de Coeur Distillerie 108 Plantes. Batch size: 108 bottles, Number of plants: 108. The 108 Plants includes: small absinthe and large absinthe, which I assume to mean the artemisia absinthium, harquebus, 5-6 types of mint, 4-5 types of pepper, 4 types of ginger, eucalyptus, lavender, basil, thyme, wild thyme, gentian, angelica, and coriander, among many, many others. We suspect the blue lagoon color comes from butterfly pea flowers. Floral and citrus greets the nose initially. As it opens, anise joins in, creating a very floral, aromatic, and incredibly complex spirit. It also delivers subtle earthy and herbal undertones. Off the chart complexity! The palate starts cloyingly semi-sweet, before finishing incredibly long and dry with a hodgepodge of flavors that lasts everywhere in the palate! Not just incredibly complex, but so damn balanced as well!
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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.
25/25
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?
20/20
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?
25/25
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?
20/20
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?
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: 100/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative