Learn more about the different Cognac ages
Learn more about the different Cognac growth areas
The Lheraud Vintage 1994 Petite Champagne Cognac is a remarkable Cognac that has been aged for nearly 30 years, crafted exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in the Petite Champagne region. Distilled in small 15-hectoliter alambics with lees, and matured in fine-grain oak barrels from the esteemed Tonnellerie Navarre, this Cognac is a true representation of the Lheraud family's mastery in Cognac production. With a low-toast (faible chauffe) approach, the aging process takes place in dry cellars, allowing the Cognac to develop a distinctive complexity over time while retaining its natural color without any additives.
The house of Lheraud, founded in 1970 but with roots in distillation going back to the early 1800s, is currently led by the 8th generation of the family, with Jean-Charles Lheraud as the maître de chai. As bouilleur de cru, the Lheraud family oversees every stage of production across their 100 hectares in Petite Champagne and an additional 35 hectares spread across Grande Champagne, Fins Bois, and Bons Bois. This vintage 1994 Cognac is a limited release, offering an exceptional tasting experience for connoisseurs.
An anecdote shared by the family highlights the significance of their craft: "From as early as 1860, the house of Lheraud has forged a unique identity rooted in its estate's land where passion grows and discretion is preserved." This sentiment is deeply reflected in every bottle of Lheraud Cognac, especially in their rare vintage offerings like the 1994 Petite Champagne.
The Lheraud Vintage 1994 Petite Champagne Cognac bottle is a visual masterpiece, dressed entirely in black, giving it a regal and somewhat Gothic appearance. The neck of the bottle is adorned with intricate golden foliage, secured by a wax seal that adds a touch of vintage authenticity. The front of the bottle features embossed glass, giving it a tactile character, while the handwritten label, signed by Andrée Lheraud, brings a personal touch to each bottle. This attention to detail is carried through to the packaging, with wooden boxes and hand-blown glass elements that make this Cognac not only a treat for the palate but also a collector’s item.
For an optimal tasting experience, Lheraud recommends using their specially designed Cognac glass, created in collaboration with sommelier Markus del Monego. However, any tulip-shaped glass will allow you to fully appreciate the intricate aromas and flavors of this well-aged Cognac. Let the Cognac breathe in the glass for a few minutes before tasting it neat at room temperature. As the aromas evolve with each sip, you’ll uncover layers of complexity that reflect nearly three decades of careful maturation.
Flavour profile
Deep golden colour. The nose is quite intense on citrus peels, grapefruits and green apples. On the palate oily and mouthfilling, intense on savory citrus fruits. The finish is medium to long with citrus and spicy notes - I like it. What a pity that this cognac is so expensive.
Lheraud is well known for its vintage cognacs from different crus. This is the youngest of their vintages I have ever tasted. This cognac has a deep golden color. It is rich and very intense on the nose. Green apples is my first thought. There is also some citrus there. But I also feel the expression...
Fine nose, subtle and very pleasant discovery Original: Fins au nez, subtil et découverte très agréable
 | Lheraud is a family house at Domaine de Lasdoux in Angeac-Charente, in the Petite Champagne cru, where the family dates its first vines to 1680 and has bottled under its own name since the 1970s. Today its 120 hectares of vines are all in that one cru, though the cellars still hold vintages from parcels the family farmed in Grande Champagne, Fins Bois and Bons Bois until the late 1990s. It distils on the lees, an uncommon choice in Cognac, and ages across cellars held at different humidities. It is best known for its vintages: single-harvest cognacs released across five crus, including single-cru Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Borderies that almost no other house bottles, each released at the strength its year calls for.
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