Prunier VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac: Success in Youthfulness
The House of Prunier are particularly proud of their VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac, a beautiful blend of eaux-de-vie from vineyards across the Premier Cru. This expression boasts a particularly rich and sophisticated flavor profile for a Cognac of its age, with wonderfully earthy tones that can only be achieved by using quality eaux-de-vie left to age in the most optimum conditions.
As with all Prunier Cognacs, attention to detail remains unchanged, and the Prunier VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac is a wonderful example of how a young Cognac, when done right, can be as rich and indulgent as an XO or beyond.
The Prunier VSOP Grande Champagne perfectly encapsulates everything that Maison Prunier holds true - heritage, traditional distillation methods, superb quality from the Premier Cru and of course, the young spirit and innovative mind of the master blenders, who have been taking Prunier in new and exciting directions for some years now. It's no wonder it took home Gold at the 2018 International Wine and Spirit Competition with a score of 92.9/100.
Aromatic expressions of cocoa, tobacco and leather found in the VSOP are reminiscent of a Cognac that has aged for a long time in Limousin oak barrels. This is undoubtedly thanks to not only the Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, which lend themselves well to producing oaky, woody and earthy flavors over time, but also the damp and cool cellars on the Prunier estate.
These accomplished aromas are first due to the use of fine lees distillation, which produces more succinct and distinguishable flavors, and secondly thanks to the minimum five years this Cognac has spent aging in Prunier's Paradis cellar, taking advantage of the humid conditions in order to absorb the tannins from the oak barrels. Legend has it that there was once a river that flowed under the grounds of the estate, which is responsible for the cellar's unique atmosphere and contributes to the unparalleled taste of Prunier Cognacs.
At this precise stage of aging, the blend boasts a bold and hard-to-find balance between the fresh, fruity aromas of a younger Cognac, with the mellow earthy tones that tend to express themselves amongst older Cognacs
Prunier VSOP Grande Champagne may be one of the youngest Cognacs in the esteemed Maison's collection, but it certainly delivers on flavor. The deep and balanced expressions of the Cognac make it the ideal ingredient for a winter warming cocktail or mixed into a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale.
Presentation of the Bottle
Housed in a tall and slender bottle, the Prunier VSOP has luxurious and deep red tones on its label and neck, which perfectly compliment the golden color of the Cognac stored inside.
The design is understated and elegant, only allowing the VSOP to express itself fully upon that very first sip. The bottle also comes with a cardboard presentation case for gifting or storage purposes.
How to Enjoy
As this VSOP has particularly luxurious aromas despite its young age, it’s certainly possible to enjoy it neat in a snifter, perhaps even hand-warmed in the glass.
It would also pair perfectly with a crème brulée, with the caramel tones of the desert enhanced by the earthy notes of tobacco and leather found in the VSOP Grande Champagne.
Find out more about VSOP Cognac.
