Leyrat XO Hor D’Age Cognac

Raymond Ragnaud Vielle Reserve 1er Cru de Cognac

Raymond Ragnaud Vieille Reserve is a 20 years old “assemblage” Cognac from Grande Champagne 1er cru.

Nose: Slightly woody nose with autumn fruits.

Palate: Unctuous and velvety, releasing delicious exotic notes such as cinnamon, ginger and liquorice.

Length: Very long, complex and balanced eau-de-vie.

Introduction of the distillery:
In 1860, the family of Raymond Ragnaud owned a small vineyard in the Grande Champagne, the most sought-after area of the quality of its eaux-de-vie which were particulary suited for ageing, planted only with Ugni-blanc and Folle blanche grapes, the best varieties of the Charente vineyards.

In 1920, Paul Ragnaud settled in the Château of Ambleville and was succeeded in 1941 by his son Raymond who ran the vineyard and decided to market the eaux-de-vie he had inherited.

In 1963, his wife, with the help of their two children, Françoise and Jean-Marie, expanded the business which now covers 47 hectares in 3 different vineyards – Ambleville, Criteuil and Lignières-Sonneville – lying on the slopes of the Grande Champagne, a unique and exceptionnal area which produces eaux-de-vie of unparalleled quality. These vineyards are cultivated by the Ste Ragnaud-Bricq.
For the last 30 years, Françoise Ragnaud-Bricq, has remained faithful to her roots and carried on the tradition by supervising the grape harvest with meticulousness and great experience. She works hand in hand with the cellar-master to produce eaux-de-vie by distilling only wine harvested in hers vineyards.

Distilling takes place in two stages in two copper pot stills with a capacity of 16 hectolistres. The first distillation is called “Le brouillis”, with an alcohol content of 24° to 32 ° depending on the wine being ditilled, which is then distilled a second time to produce the “bonne chauffe” where only the “coeur” (the heart) is retained, with an alcohol content of 70°, producing a crystal-clear pure eau-de-vie.
This nectar remains in our aging cellars for about a year, stocked in a new oak casks from the Limousin area, before being transferred to older casks to avoid excessive tannin. The eaux-de-vie undergo many changes during this long period in the casks : the volume and the alcohol content are reduced, the colour and the bouquet are transformed to become “cognac”. Once they reach maturity, these “eaux-de-vie” are “awakened” after several years to be blended to produce a harmonious, subtle cognac which is both full-bodied and mellow.

Grosperrin 1990 Cognac Fins Bois

This vintage Cognac comes from a winegrower in the commune of Bonneville, located between Rouillac and Aigre. This small property in the locality of Patreville is typical of family farms in the region.

The 1990 harvest was stored at ORECO, under State control, from its distillation until June 2012, when we became owners. It has since been stored in one of our cellars, which is closed by a grid and placed under bailiff’s seal.

Amber colour. On the nose, musky and vinous aromas (old Semillon), with a waxed sidelined with acetic notes. On the palate, greedy attack, the first notes confirm this characteristic nose, with a predominance of nutmeg and liquorice. It is a Cognac that is both supple and rustic, but increasingly greedy with aging.

Cognac de Collection Jean Grosperrin – Artisanal Vintages – Jean Grosperrin worked as a cognac broker in the Cognac region. A broker in eaux-de-vie plays a very discreet yet strategic role between the producer and the buyer. His job is to evaluate the quality of the eaux-de-vie and to introduce interested parties to each other. His profession takes him to many cellars to estimate the value of different batches, among which there are sometimes some very old cognacs. Practically all vine growers distil their own harvest and they usually conserve, as former generations have done before them, some barrels of cognac in their cellars. These family treasures are very rarely up for sale and the transactions are very confidential. It is these cognacs, sometimes very atypical with strong personalities that Jean and his son Guilhem (since 2004) seek to obtain in all the appellations of Cognac. And digging into documents, family histories allows for description and anecdotes on each cognac which makes great reading. Tasting Notes are precise, to the point, short, not at all the excessive praise and lies. And their selections and vintages are astonishing . Success means, that supplies run out often.

Frapin Chateau Fontpinot XO
SINGLE FAMILY ESTATE
100 % GRANDE CHAMPAGNE – PREMIER CRU DE COGNAC

Real treasure of Cognac Frapin, Château Fontpinot XO is presented in a sleek, elegant bottle. This very old reserve XO can lay claim to the Château appellation because it is made exclusively from grapes harvested, distilled, aged and bottled at the Château Fontpinot. Hand-crafted distillation over lees and a long ageing in dry cellars give it a particular character.

Fontpinot couleur nez cognac Frapin
COLOUR & BOUQUET
Château Fontpinot XO unveils a gorgeous autumnal golden-orange colour with warm highlights.

This XO cognac is the fruit of long ageing in dry cellars, which gives it a subtle, complex, refined, long-lasting bouquet consisting of candied fruit aromas (dried apricot, dried fig), marzipan, hazelnut, nougat, then port notes and finally the famous “rancio” character.

PALATE
Balanced, rich and complex on the palate with aromas of dried fruits and candied fruits and an exceptionally long finish. Add a drop of water to Château Fontpinot XO to let the aromas breathe and soften the power of the cognac.

«Only a true gourmet will appreciate the Château Fontpinot XO to the full. This cognac enchants desserts with its fruity flavours and offers its character to anyone who enjoys the simple pleasures of a cheese board.»
Patrice Piveteau, Cellar Master

Cognac Frapin video cocktail
AWARDS
2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge – US
95/100. “Extraordinary. Ultimate Recommendation”
2018 Cognac Masters – UK
Master
2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – US Gold medal
2018 International Spirits Challenge – UK
Trophy Best XO / Gold Medal
2018 ISW – DE
Gold medal / Best XO
2018 Cognac Masters – UK
Master
2018 Gilbert & Gaillard – FR
93/100
2017 World Cognac Awards – UK
Gold medal
2017Tasted 100% Blind – FR
93/100

Drouet Reserve de Jean 1er Cru de Cognac is pure Grande Champagne, Napoleon aged cognac that was created in tribute to the founder of the house.

Color : well developed mahogany.
Aroma : delicate, woody and spicy notes: oak, pepper, nutmeg.
Taste : full-bodied, long on the palate, unforgettable flavour of gingerbread.

A well finished vintage, bouquet typical of Grande Champagne – keep this for the very end of the evening.

Awards :
Gold Medal – Concours des Vignerons Independant 2012
Selection Guide Gilbert & Gaillard – 2010, scored 91/100