Taylor C.

Reviews written: 41 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 86

Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews

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Bio:

French wine, and the concept of terroir, captured my interest early on. Naturally, curiosity took me to spirits, in particular Cognac. Today I'm proud to be a member of the Cognac Expert team managing B2B projects, working on Cognac Expert Originals, and writing bottle reviews for the English Blog. I love to taste anything and everything - rum/rhum, whisky(ey), Armagnac, etc. - but no other spirit grabs my attention quite like Cognac, and all of its subtleties and nuance. Santé !

Guy Pinard Folle Blanche XO

Highly Recommended 89 /100

The Cognac pours a pale light yellow color. One could be forgiven for thinking that there was a light white wine in the glass. I find it refreshing that the label clearly states that the Cognac does not contain any added sugar and that the color is natural, a very promising start I must say.

What a lovely mellow nose! This is subtle, delicate, and lifted with white muscat grapes, flat white peach, white nectarine, pear (Passe Crassane is my preferred type found here in France), citrus zest, and runny acacia honey. Vanilla and the typical orange-meated fruits are nowhere to be found. Baking spices are non-existent too. We are miles away from a rancio bomb.

It’s interesting because on one hand the nose gives an impression of a light spritzy springtime floral perfume. But on the other hand, there is a sense of fat, rich, dense fresh fruit lurking one layer underneath. It’s as if there is a tug of war between light and rich. Before even tasting this Cognac, I expect a Cognac of texture. Using my past wine experience, I smell similarities between this Cognac and the textured Grenache Blancs from the Roussillon and the mellow Pinot Blancs from Alsace. Fun and unexpected!

Now we’re cooking with gas! On the palate, this Cognac has a tender sweet cushion to it that is outrageously pleasing. The fruit is fresh, dense, and oozes in the mouth. There is a simplicity to this Cognac in that it is primarily a fruity Cognac, but simplicity can indeed be a strength. Thankfully nothing distracts from these beautiful fruit flavors; it would be a crime to do so. Moreover, I taste a natural sugary sweetness as I turn the Cognac around in my mouth. I get this sugary sensation often when eating ultra ripe pears, for example. It is not in any way an industrial sugar sweetness, but instead a very pure and clean natural sweetness.

The Cognac finishes with an anise note that lingers on the tongue. Interestingly, I repeatedly get anise on the finish from Fins Bois Cognacs. Could this be a signature of Fins Bois eaux-de-vie? The flavors are exceptionally fruity – white muscat grapes, flat white peach, white nectarine, ripe pear – and the syrupy honeyed texture coats every corner of the mouth to then slowly fade away down the sides of the mouth and then linger on the tongue with the anise note.

Everything about this Cognac feels honest and true to itself. I get the sense that the producer is putting great effort to both showcase eaux-de-vie from the Fins Bois but also, and perhaps more importantly here, show what unadulterated young Folle Blanche can offer. I must say this is a winner and a welcome departure from the mature, layered, ultra-complex Cognacs we Cognac lovers constantly seek out. Nope, age is not everything.

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Flavour

Wood 5/10

Spice 5/10

Fruit 9/10

Flower 8/10

Bottle / Package Design 4/5

Where is the Love? Ordinary Nice Beautiful A sight to be seen!

Value for Money 4/5

Overpriced Low Average Bargain Steal