Cognac Week Exclusive · Marancheville · A de Vacquer Lot 34 in barrel · Richard Desilie Discover Now
Learn more about the different Cognac ages
Learn more about the different Cognac growth areas
Park stun us once more with a Cognac hailing entirely from the Premier Cru - the Park XO Grande Champagne Cognac. This terroir is renowned for yielding distinguished eaux-de-vie that is elegant and lengthy in its finish, and requires a noticeably longer aging process than other terroirs to develop full aromatic depth.
Aged for at least 10 years thanks to its XO age denomination, this is a precious Cognac that deserves to be enjoyed meditatively as a digestif.
This Cognac is made with 100% Ugni Blanc grapes from the Grande Champagne, which has developed certain qualities thanks to the high chalk content of its soil. This is down to millions of years of specific geological activity in this very small, but very unique region. The Ugni Blanc grape is selected for its fresh quality and finesse, which allows the strengths of this fine terroir to really showcase themselves.
The casks are moderately toasted for 40 minutes to allow the development of different aromas to shine through and permeate the eaux-de-vie, such as rich notes of spice and chocolate. The wine is then double distilled using traditional Charentais copper pot stills of 25 hectoliters, to create a series of finely elaborated spirits. This method is unique to the Cognac region, and is known as the Charentais method.
Finally, the Park XO Grande Champagne spends the rest of its life sleeping and developing its aromatic potential in oak barrels of 400 liter capacity for at least 10 years. After twelve months spent in new Limousin oak barrels, the eaux-de-vie is transferred to red used casks to impart different flavors and aromas.
Sip this Cognac as a digestif, either neat or on the rocks. It is the perfect Cognac for a meditative food pairing experience while enjoying Roquefort cheese or vanilla pod ice cream. After sipping this Park Extra Old Cognac, leave a small amount in the bottom of the tasting glass. Return to the glass a few minutes later.
The Cellar Master advises that while enjoying its bouquet, close your eyes and full focus on the sensory experience. The aromas should develop even more than beforehand, further expanding your appreciation of this distinct Grande Champagne Cognac.
The presentation of Park Cognacs is always stylish and classic, yet contemporary. It arrives in a tall, slim decanter with white labeling that denotes the Park family crest. It arrives in a matching white presentation sleeve with a red finish, making it a wonderful gift.
Honestly this is a banger. If you like those deeper, dark fruit flavors, this hits the spot. I'm getting a lot of jammy black cherry and maybe some plum, but what really surprised me were the chocolate hints on the finish. It’s got that rich toast vibe that reminds me of a good bourbon but way smoother....
Color: 1st steep Pu-er tea (Because of the age, I let this breathe in the glass for 30 minutes before taking notes.) On the nose: Immediately light and long aromas of gingerbread and Christmas cake. There’s a little pepperiness and ethanol sensation as well. After are even lighter aromas of...
