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.
Normandin-Mercier - Grande Champagne Vieille
GRANDE CHAMPAGNE VIEILLE
Cognac d’exception, la patience et les années ont permis à ce 1er Cru de Cognac de s’assouplir
et de concentrer ses arômes pour exprimer toute la longueur et l’élégance de la Grande
Champagne.
Le COGNAC - Cognac Frapin - Extra
Extra is the result of blends of very old Grande Champagnes, which have been aged for over 50 years.
Jenssen - XO Grande Champagne
XO Grande Champagne
A fully mature, old school XO. Decades of ageing realise the potential of Grande Champagne Cognacs and prove that they counterbalance even extensive use of new oak. Opulent rancio and notes of smooth, vanilla-like butterscotch from melted tannin are rarely found in ordinary XOs.
Jenssen - Hors d'Age
Jenssen Hors d'Age
A single, unblended batch of Grande Champagne Cognac at the term of its ageing in oak barrels, bottled from demijohns. Naturally reduced, without additives.
Jenssen - Epiphanie
Épiphanie
A blend of very old Grande Champagne Cognacs who have reached full maturity after ageing in oak barrels. Discreet at first, this superior Cognac then unceasingly reveals new sets of aromas to the discerning nose.
Jenssen - Carte blanche XO
Carte Blanche
Heady, floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. Spice and zest of orange reveal its Grande Champagne cognac terroir; a hint of rancio, dried apricot and hazelnut bear witness of long years of ageing.
Jenssen - Arcana - Grande Champagne
Arcana
A single, unblended batch of extremely old Grande Champagne Cognac, Arcana is what is left after hosts of angels have taken their share.
It is bottled on demand from demijohns into hand blown crystal carafes.
Jean Grosperrin -1980- Grande Champagne
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
Young yellow colour. Powerful and expressive nose (Folle Blanche?), light tobacco notes.
This cognac needs to breathe in order to fully express its complexity.
Almond and white flower nose.
Clean, vanilla and smooth on the palate. First rancios.
Jean Grosperrin -1971- Grande Champagne Raw from cask
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
2009 release coming from the last unreduced cask! 65°2 of pure happiness with an extraordinary aromatic power. “Sparkling” nose-feel, with some notes of crystallized orange and spices, strong floral presence (jasmine, honeysuckle). Oily feeling in mouth in spite of the strong alcoholic level, surprisingly cooling. The plenitude of the ageing is at its maximum intensity on this non-reduced version. Finishes very long, with a return of spices. Very well-balanced cognac, for aficionados and cognac lovers.
Jean Grosperrin -1971- Grande Champagne (réduit)
Collection Cognac – Artisan Vintage
"A straightforward cognac," Saveurs, France, 2006. "Elegant nose with notes of hazelnut, chocolate, plum, and cigar box. Very lovely on the palate, fine structure with a nice freshness, mature flavours. Long and complex finish," Andreas Larsson, 2008. Excellent maturity and a certain fullness. The powerfulness of Grande Champagne combines with the maturity of ageing. A cognac to savour over a long time, sip by sip, eyes closed, in the tranquil peace of a late afternoon of November (…). Pure pleasure! Sommelier International, 2009.
Reduced.









