Cognac_directory_FINAL

Hermitage (BC)
A range of single vintages from 1900 to 2000 from small
firms and individual growers, scrupulously selected by David
Baker of Brandy Classics (qv).
43 GC V: complex fruit and floral nose, hint of rancio deep
and long.
1900 GC: 45%, pungent tobacco, lemon and grapefruit nose.
Hine
16 Quai de l’Orangerie
16200 Jarnac
Tel: +33 545 35 59 59
H by Hine PC: can be used for cocktails. Florality – and
liquorice – on the nose nicely rich, slight burn.
*Rare & Delicate: an up-market VSOP – the average age
of the brandies, at around ten years is far above that of the
usual offering.
*Hine Antique XO Premier Cru: in itself a meaningless
name. I believe Hine when they affirm that the youngest
brandy in the blend is twenty years old. It’s simply deeper and
more complex than its distinguished predecessor. Indeed it’s
immediately identifiable by a unique raisiny concentration
with an unobtrusive touch of wood that holds the blend
together.
Triomphe and Mariage: classic examples of the rich,
chocolate fruit-and-nut qualities found in classic mature
cognacs from the GC.
Homage: Like Frapin (see page 174) Hine has produced a
cognac formed from three vintages (1984, 1986 and 1987)
and twenty cognacs, three of them Early Landed. Very
flowery and fragrant, fresh and young on the palate – no
rancio – but no alcoholic burn.
Also offers a number of single vintages, an early landed
and an older one matured in Cognac as well as a vintage
pack with three 20cl bottles from the 1957, 1975 and 1981
vintages.
Jenssen
Jenssen SARL
Le Maine Pertubaud
16120 Bonneuil
Tel: +33 545 96 02 78
info@jenssen.fr
Carte Blanche GC: fresh floral, fruity nose, a trifle young
but refreshingly grapey.
XO GC: darker colour, slightly woody on the palate, losing
its fruit and a little leathery but long and satisfying.
Hors d’Age: 41.6%, rather dry on the palate a truly old,
woody, leathery cognac – but some dried fruit.
L’Epiphanie Hors d’Age: 42%, very deep rancio, real rich
fruit cake on the nose, very well balanced.
Arcana: 43%, the model of a very old cognac that, for once,
has not been left in the wood too long.
Kelt
Château de St Aubin
32800 Réans
Tel: +33 562 09 98 18
VSOP Tour du Monde: one of the rare VSOPs from the GC
and it shows.
XO GC Tour du Monde: rich and powerful but not cloying
or blowsy.