XO Cognacs - Napoléon
A Napoleon, or X.O (for Extra Old ), also called Hors d'âge, is a cognac which youngest eau-de-vie is at least six and a half years old.
A Cognac may be sold only when its youngest eau-de-vie reaches a minimum of two and a half years old, as of the first day of October following the harvest of the grapes.
Only the years of storage in oak barrels count to determine its age. Once transferred into glass, Cognac stops maturing. It stands still.
However, most Cognac houses will use Cognacs much older than those required by law, allowing X.Os to reach a minimum of twenty years old, in order to reveal their very best.
XO is perhaps one of the vaguest classifications regarding quality, and should’t be taken at face value without further search. Some of the XOs you can find in our site are certainly under-priced, while some others, which, of course, you will NOT find here at Le Cognac, may be quite mediocre . In fact, selecting Cognacs with a reasonably quality/price ratios is one of our raisons d’être.
On the other hand, regarding Cognac, beyond a certain level of quality one enters into the realm of subjectivity. And then, of course, there is always a premium in rarity. When a product is scarce, if demand remains strong, it is only natural that prices go up. This is exactly what we have been seeing with high-end Cognac prices in the last few years because of the huge Chinese demand.
As a rule, we would say that the XOs present at Le Cognac are all good value in general market terms. Some of them are indeed very good value.
Delamain - Pale and Dry XO
A blend produced exclusively from Grande Champagne, the first cognac growth, and aged for many long years, reveals a remarkably delicate elegance.
- François Voyer - Napoléon
François Voyer cognacs are selected by the finest restaurants (Alain Ducasse, Lucas Carton, Laurent...)
Subtle and elegant.The « best-seller » of François Voyer Cognacs, which pleases the novice as well as the connoisseur ... A superb performance by the Master of cellars ...
Hine - Antique XO Grande Champagne
Created in 1920 by Georges HINE
90 years later, the House of HINE reinterprets Antique, now an XO Premier Cru.
Blend of more than 40 cognacs exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne, the finest cru of the Cognac region.
All cognacs are aged for more than 10 years.
Paul Beau - Hors d'Age
Vieille Grande Champagne. Gold medal at the 2008 Concours Agricole de Paris, Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2001. Aged 20-25 years.
Gold medal at the 2010 Concours Général Agricole of Paris !
Raymond Ragnaud - Tasting Set - Grande Champagne
Tasting set : three little 20cl bottles of cognac with the Sélection, the Grande Réserve and the Vieille Réserve from Raymond Ragnaud.
Raymond Ragnaud - Folle Blanche -2002-Grande Champagne-
This fine and elegant "eau-de-vie" is produced from a rare and old grape variety "the Folle Blanche".
The "Folle Blanche" is the original cognac grape variety, abandoned after the attack of phylloxera in the late nineteenth century.
The "Folle Blanche" gives incredibly elegant, delicate and perfumed cognacs.
Couprie - XO Très Vieille Réserve
This XO, made with expertise handed down from generation to generation, has an oaky character provided by Limousin oak barrels. The blend has been patiently aged for decades, and the youngest component has spent many years in barrel.
Couprie - Napoléon
The youngest Cognac in this blend is aged for long time in Limousin oak barrels (including several years in new barrels).
Elegant copper highlights, a lingering bouquet, and a powerful, round flavour make this a very distinguished Cognac. The oaky characteristics and candied fruit flavours coat the palate after the first sip.
Couprie - XO Carafe Elégance
This XO, made with expertise handed down from generation to generation, has an oaky character provided by Limousin oak barrels. The blend has been patiently aged for decades, and the youngest component has spent many years in barrel.
