No. 35/41 Grosperrin - Grande Champagne - 45.8%
Sample and context provided by Cognac Grosperrin.
This Cognac comes from an estate in Bonneuil, one of the best Grande Champagne terroirs.
The three casks we bought from this family in 2012 are from the share of the family estate
owned by André Noblet, father of the current producer, who had made three different
blends with his own father’s eaux-de-vie. This is one of these blends. The casks of this very
special cognac had been stored, hidden from sight, on a wooden floor in the farm’s attic.
The estate has a remarkable history. André’s father, Jules Noblet, mayor of the
commune throughout the war, and his wife Berthe, were long-time members of
the French resistance and active in the Bureau des Opérations Aériennes [French
air operations office] from 1942. They took part in important missions such as the
destruction of the Angoulême powder store and helped many people. Although
Charentes was resistance territory, they were denounced by a Frenchman in March
1944 and arrested in their home. A man working in their vines is reported to have been
killed during the arrest. Berthe and Jules Noblet were deported to Germany, never to
return. Hoping in vain that he would come back one day, the inhabitants of Bonneuil
re-elected this brave man to the head of their commune in 1945. André, who had been
held prisoner in Germany since the start of the war, learnt of his parents’ deaths on his
return.
Notes: Very expressive and dense with lots of baked and dried notes - nutty, red apples, dried berries. The oak presents old and weathered. While the aged notes are forward, there's still fresh florals and tropical fruit notes hanging around. Rich and weighty on the palate. Almost a little sluggish at first, but the length and layered spice keep it moving. Really pops with a few drops of water - brightening the profile, enhancing the tropical fruits.
Score: 8 (Stash One) Plenty to chew on here. A pour to get lost in. Doesn't suffer from the thinness I've run into on some older production cognac.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour