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.

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.

This non-vintage Rose is the end result of a desire to create a Rose champagne with a delightfully luscious, fruit-based charm. Jacques Peters, the cellarmaster, and his team wanted a champagne that would be accessible and naturally engaging while conserving Veuve Clicquot's essential values in terms of style. The wine has a luminous color with attractive pink glints.

The nose is generous and elegant, with initial aromas of fresh red fruit (raspberry, wild strawberry, cherry, blackberry), leading to biscuity notes of dried fruits and Viennese pastries (almonds, apricots and brioche). The fresh attack is followed by a fruity harmonious sensation on the palate. The wine is perfectly balanced in the best Veuve Clicquot style of pink champagnes, combining elegance and flair. The wine works its magic—this delectably full champagne can be enjoyed as a true delicacy. A deliciously fruity wine in earlybloom, this is a wonderful aperitif to be shared as a twosome or simply with friends. Made using 50 to 60 different crus, the cuvee is based on Brut Yellow Label's traditional blend: 50 to 55% Pinot Noir, 15 to 20% Pinot Meunier, and 28 to 33% Chardonnay.

Pere Kermann is an absinthe made with worm wood extract. It's a bright blue shooter. Sweet, spirituous and drying with notes of mint and anise.

Light nose of apple, a tinge of cinnamon plus apple and butterscotch in the taste, this is a smooth, approachable and Cognac.

Playful, bright and straight forward with a soft vanilla finish.

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.