Cognac is rarely born of a single eau-de-vie or a single growing area, but generally from a blend of different ages and crus, sometimes up to a hundred of them.
It can be made also exclusively from certain “cru”, for example exclusively from “Grande Champagne”, but of different ages.
Grande Champagne : about 13,000 hectares of clay and compact chalk soil. The Grande Champagne cru is located around the town of Segonzac. It produces a very fine, high-quality Cognac. It is known as the Premier Cru du Cognac.
Petite Champagne : some 16,000 hectares of clay and a more compact chalky layer of soil. Petit Champagne is very much of the same quality, but a touch lighter. It’s vineyards lie to the south-west and south-east of Grande Champagne.
Fine Champagne : The blending of Grande and Petite Champagne with a minimum of 50% of Grande Champagne is called “Fine Champagne”.
Borderies : only 4,000 hectares of unique soil on the plateau above Charente river. The eau de vie has a slight nutty taste. Borderies, which lie around the town of Burie (north-west of City of Cognac), is the smallest of the crus in the terms of acreage. Eaux-de-vie from Borderies has rich, flowery aromas and it is known as "…Cognac that ladies prefer".
Fins Bois : 37,000 hectares of soil. characterized by quick aging environment. A subtle flowery bouquet characterizes this eau de vie. The largest, and by far the intriguing cru, is Fins Bois. Geographically, it rings the other three crus. It lies, approximately, in the triangle between the towns of Rouilliac, Matha and Pons. It has a rich, full, strong aromas with a touch of the maritime climate.
Bons Bois : less chalky but more earthy soil of 16,000 hectares that is well reflected in the eau de vie.
Bois Ordinaires et Bois Communs (Bois a Terroir); 30,000 hectares of soil influenced by the Atlantic climate. Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires are the exterior crus heavily influenced by the climate of the Atlantic ocean. They contribute less and less to the overall production of Cognac but are, nevertheless, known to produce some interesting Cognacs.
Château de Montifaud - Héritage Louis Vallet
Cask strength Eau de Vie 45-50 years old.
Blend of eaux de vie between 1947 and 1955.
Antic bottle. Gift box on request with extra cost.
Château de Montifaud - Réserve Spéciale Michel Vallet
Special Reserve Michel Vallet : (Helios decanter)
The hints of linden flowers remain very present whereas the flowers on the vine have almost disappeared. There are dreied flowers and vanilla.
In the mouth : apricot and plum. Not aggressive to the palate but the wood is more perceptible than in the VSOP.
Château de Montifaud - XO -
Remarkable aromas of dried fruits and, in particular, grilled almonds. Great freshness and not too tannic.
Ariane bottle with its gift box.
Château de Montifaud - XO - Helios
Remarkable aromas of dried fruits and, in particular, grilled almonds. Great freshness and not too tannic.
XO of Château de Montifaud is proposed in four presentations.
Helios decanter with its gift box.
Château de Montifaud - XO - Kéops
Remarkable aromas of dried fruits and, in particular, grilled almonds. Great freshness and not too tannic.
XO of Château de Montifaud is proposed in four presentations.
Kéops decanter with its gift box.
Estève - Réserve de la Famille
Jacques Esteve offer to trusted connoisseurs and all those who search for the ultimate in quality and authenticity for which his family is renowed.
Jean Grosperrin -1965- Petite Champagne
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
Do you remember the Petite Champagne 1962 at 62.8°? This batch from 1965 was produced by the same person, distilled in the same alambic and aged in the same cellar. Like those of 1961, 1962 and 1964, this cognac comes from a family who has been located close to the village of Châteauneuf for nearly 80 years. This remarkable cognac was distilled in an old still of 10 HL powered by coal briquette. The records were particularly well kept and they were confirmed by C14 dating.
Jean Grosperrin -1973- Petite Champagne
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
Powerful floral and honey aroma. It is light and frank on the palate, with a liquorice and ginger finish.
Jean Grosperrin -1974- Petite Champagne
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
Powerful honey and ripe fruit aroma. It is frank and smooth on the palate, dominated by ginger with a light touch of citrus fruit. Fruity and elegant.
“The 1974 cought our attention (…), that kept much of the sunshine but added some intriguing caraway notes”, Wine & Spirits, USA, 2006.
Jean Grosperrin -1976- Petite Champagne
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
"Feminine" character, according to some.
"A very typical and expressive cognac, de grande allure", Newzy, France, 2006.
