Tesseron Lot N° 76 XO Tradition Cognac

Tesseron Lot 76 XO Tradition Cognac Four generations of savoir-faire have meant that the Tesseron estate in Châteauneuf-sur-Charente possess a truly fine Paradis cellar. They are one of the few Cognac houses that possess three grape varieties, giving them an edge over many producers.

The maître de chai creates a unique blend from the different grapes; blending with such expertise to give Cognacs such as the Lot 76 XO Cognac their own unique personality.

The lot number of a Tesseron Cognac is a good indication of the average year of distillation of such a fine elixir. As an Extra Old Cognac, the oldest eaux-de-vie of this Tesseron XO Lot 76 was distilled in 1976, and most of the eaux-de-vies have been aged for over a generation. Blended exceptionally from a selection of reserve stocks, this Grande Champagne Cognac has been aged to perfection. The Grande Champagne, also known as the Premier Cru, is renowned for its premium chalk soil and limestone subsoil, thanks to a maritime climate and millions of years of gradual fossilization. It is a unique terroir, with sloping hills catching the sunlight at the right time of day, and creating fine, floral eaux-de-vies from its Ugni-Blanc grape variety for the Tesseron Lot 76 Extra Old. Aged in Limousin French oak barrels in Chateauneuf-sur-Charente, this XO Cognac is a wonderful example of Tesseron’s fine expression of the Grande Champagne. The Tesseron philosophy for creating the Lot 76 XO Tradition Cognac Underneath the old church in the Tesseron Cellar, the Cognac house strive to age only Cognacs of “XO and beyond” quality.

Lot 76 Cognac Awards Spirit Journal : **** Highly Recommended Wine Magazine: ****(*) Wine Enthusiast: 90-95 points Superb International Wine & Spirit Competition: Silver 2009

How to serve and presentation A XO Cognac from the Grande Champagne of this age and quality should be savored neat, or over ice. It arrives in a regal golden brown box, in a traditional bottle.

Armagnac Saint Vivant is a brandy with a very special, very aromatic flavour. The Armagnac was the first French schnapps and is said to be more than 700 years old. For this reason, it is considered the oldest distillate in Europe. The Saint Vivant will explain it to you through its excellent taste that will lead you to savour a piece of history.

TASTING NOTE:

Color: Has an attractive amber colour with mahogany hues.

Smell: Exquisite aromas of prunes mixed with vanilla, caramel, violets and some spicy notes.

Taste: It has a complex entry due to its dense texture and aromatic character. On the palate: the power of alcohol is felt intertwined with caramelized fruit essences, which are rounded off with notes of leather, wood and tobacco.

PRODUCER: Saint Vivant.

Winery located in the French commune of Condom, in the department of Gers. In 1975 it was acquired by the La Martiniquaise group of companies.

COUNTRY: France.

ELABORATION DETAILS: This magnificent Armagnac comes from the distillation of wines made with different varietals of white grapes from the region of Gascony, among which are Ugni Blanche, Baco and Folle Blanche.

The fruits are fermented and then distilled in traditional copper stills. Finally, the liqueur is left to mature for a year in French oak barrels. The entire production process takes place in the commune of Condom-en-Armagnac, located in the southwest of France, which has had the Bas-Armagnac designation of origin since 1936 to make this content-type of liqueur. Another peculiarity of this distillate is its incredible presentation of the traditional bottle with a sloping neck.

ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH: 40%

A bright pale yellow color with green highlights, with a stream of many fine bubbles. Intense with notes of  tropical fruits and citrus. Creamy and smooth, very pleasant and well balanced.

Rosé Imperial displays a pink color with amber highlights. Lively and intense, the bouquet exudes red fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with floral nuances of rose and a slight hint of pepper. On the palate, the wine shows a juicy intensity of berries (strawberry, raspberry, red currant) rounded out by the fleshiness and firmness of peach and the freshness of a subtle note of mint.

Tasting Panel: Lovely pink hue; fresh, fragrant, and smooth with notes of strawberry and apple; elegant and long.

Wine Spectator: Delicate verbena and candied pink grapefruit zest accents lead to macerated blackberry, toasted nut and saline notes in this balanced and creamy rosé, with well-cut acidity.

Wine & Spirits: This blend is mostly Pinot Noir and Meunier, including 10 percent red wine for color. Chardonnay accounts for 10 to 20 percent, including a portion of reserve wines that may be providing the oceanic, oyster-shell notes that bring to mind Champagne's Kimmeridgean limestone. This is broad and loose up front, with fruity scents of orange and pomegranate. Then the wine keeps buzzing with brisk acidity, tightening up and extending the flavors with energy. An impressive release of Imperial.

James Suckling: A complex and fresh nose with fresh berries, as well as berry pastry and biscuits. The palate has a fresh, crisp and lively feel with impressively upbeat berries. Drink now.

Decanter: Restrained red fruit nose. Long, rolling palate, fresh and crisp throughout, with abundant cranberry, sherbet lemon, green herb and ginger flavours.

The perfect balance for the palate of the Fine Busnel makes it an excellent calvados for initiation or use in cocktails.

Luminous yellow in color.

Fruity, clear aromas of fresh apples on the nose.

Balanced with pronounced floral accents on the palate.

Long, persistent and subtly wooded finish.

Serve as a digestive straight at room temperature.

The Fine Busnel is from a blend of different Calvados Pays d’Auge aged for 2 years minimum in oak barrels.

Medium sweet, medium acidic, honey melon notes, orange marmalade notes, hint of honey.

TASTE Mellow and sweet whites are medium-dry or even sweet. You can discern apricot, honeydew melon and floral notes in these wines. Residual sugar rounds up the flavour.

TIPS FOR USE These wines are all characterised by delicious, fruity sweetness, which means that they are excellent for socialising and a good match for Eastern dishes and vegetables. Try with Indian vegetable or chicken korma, shrimp and cheese quiche or black label Emmental.

HOW TO SERVE White wines are best served chilled, at 10–12°C. Chilling a bottle from room temperature to the perfect serving temperature takes about two hours in a fridge. The sweeter the wine, the cooler it can be served.

Find this and more exceptional selections at Kaasak.