„ANGEL´S SHARE“ IN COGNAC OCCURS WHEN ALCOHOL VAPORIZES FROM MATURING DISTILLATES AND HERE IT REPRESENTS ALMOST 20 MILLION (!) BOTTLES PER YEAR. THERE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AIR TO BREATHE THERE … JUST SMELL IT BY TASTING BOUTIQUE COGNACS FROM THE VALLEIN-TERCINIER FAMILY.
NOT ALL BRANDIES ARE COGNAC
Frenchmen like to say that each cognac is brandy, but not each brandy is cognac. Cognac got its name from the town in the region and it must be made by the double distillation of white wine from the specific area* in copper distillation equipment (l´alambic charentais) and maturing in the oak barrels at least for two years (and its minimum content of alcohol is 40%). Origination of this distillate is dated to the 16th century when Dutchmen needed more stable product than wine to merchandize because that time wine “shattered” often next spring after the wine grape harvest. Long voyages caused its quality got worsened and its value decreased. „Brandewijn“ (=„burned wine“) provided a stabile beverage with higher alcohol content which was usually drunk diluted. In the 17th century the double distillation started to be used. Then it was found out that barrels which were originally meant for the storage and transportation have enriched cognac in interesting aromas and maturing in these barrels provides this distillate with its final complexity. Thus, thanks to gradual accumulation of experiences and knowledge or our “bon vivant” European ancestors we can now taste and enjoy this nice, soft, elegant and aromatically complex distillates.
COGNAC VALLEIN-TERCINIER
Little family-owned cognac houses not affected by the market caprices protect their reserve distillates as adamantly as they can. Therefore they can surprise with an unique product. Vallein-Tercinier Family has its roots in the Cognac region (Domaine des Forges) for more than 500 years. In 1850 they established a company that has been active in cognac trading. In 1920 they started to sell cognac in bottles under their own name both at the domestic market as well as for export. Before the WWII they exported to Czechoslovakia too. Well and now there comes the time the reputation of these, currently called boutique, cognacs to be renewed by us too.
Their VSOP or XO surprise you with their quality. Well cognacs produced like „single cask“ (brut de fût) are selected from reserve distillates. Only barrels not showing any defect or deterioration when tasted and that can be undoubtedly considered to be unique and exceptional are individually bottled. There was no significance given to years in Cognac in the past because final cognac in the bottle has always been a blend. Thus, the previous Vallein Tercinier generations only marked barrels simply by marking a year of harvest on the barrel by the chalk just to have them marked for their own need and without any bureaucratic records and ceremonies (so common in France). Therefore it is possible to get exact dates and identifications for this “family silver” however it is not possible to state specific „vintage“ explicitly, i.e. the time of origin (seemingly, a French regimentation is very precise and strict in terms of the time of origin/vintage proof). That is why Vallein Tercinier „publishes“ limited editions which evoke and comprise the particular year in their names: Lot 90 or Rue 75 – these are then unique products as of 1990 or 1975. And who would shy to donate or who would resist to accept the gift like L´Erotique 69 or millennial Odyssée 2000?
A JOURNEY IN TIME
Tasting of cognacs needs time and comfort. By us in the CORK Wine Bar you can find both and suddenly you stop in the past – recent or even distant contained in vintage “appetizers” from Vallein-Tercinier.
Odysée 2000 (Fins Bois 2000, Alcohol: 46%) relatively young but homogenous and aromatically interesting single barrel cognac with shades of acacia, white linden blossoms, sandal and black pepper. Patulous in mouth with the touch of eucalyptus. Very attractive for whisky amateurs..
L´Erotique 69 (Grande Champagne 1969, Alcohol: 47%) behind an irresistible marketing name there is a heart of the Cognac region (Grande Champagne). Pleasure from accord of ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, liquorice and Sichuan spice. Roundy in mouth, sweet and with long lasting end impression based on roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Sexy cognac for experts.
Enjoy the tour in the world of cognacs by us in the Wine Bar Cork at Panenská 4 in Bratislava or at Levočská 15 in Poprad (cork.sk). AND NOW ALSO IN Bratislava at Ľ. ŠTÚR SQUARE in our newly opened CORK TASTE&SHOP.
You can obtain a beautiful and valuable present for your friends also from the portfolio of the company Winetime (winetime.sk), which imports Cognac Vallein-Tercinier to Slovakia
Cheers!
Eleonóra Krčméryová, *Dip WSET/ *DUAD
*Dip WSET (WSET Level 4 Diploma, Wine&Spirit Education Trust, London)
*DUAD (Diplôme Universitaire d´Aptitude à la Dégustation, Institut d´Oenologie de Bordeaux 2)
Photos: Winetime