A magnificent forty-year old French Cognac in a stunning decanter.
Paul Giraud has been located in the town of Bouteville in the Cognac region of France for more than two hundred years. They only use grapes grown on their estate, harvested by hand. And they maintain “pure vintage” rules — meaning that Eau d’ Vie from different years are not mixed. Over the centuries, they have built up exceptional inventories of Cognac in their cellars — some many decades old. Importantly, there are gentle, natural springs that flow in and out of their aging cellars that help maintain humidity and temperature and allow the Cognac to age “softly.”
The first thing you notice about Paul Giraud Cognac Tres Rare is the lovely, gently twisting decanter. It is almost an art piece itself. But the spirit inside that lovely decanter is even more special. First, it is an expert combination of ugni blanc, folle blanche, and colombard grapes distilled in small batch copper pot stills. But the aging is simply remarkable — this exceptionally old example of French tradition has aged in those special cellars for an average of forty years.
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Appearance / Color
Rich Mahogany
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Nutmeg, vanilla, and lavender
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Crazy complex with plum jam, banana, exotic wood, marzipan, leather, baking spices, and more
Finish
Warm, smooth, and seductive
Flavor Spiral TM?
About the Flavor Spiral
What does Paul Giraud Tres Rare Cognac taste like?
The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Paul Giraud Tres Rare Cognac and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.
We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Cognac, named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy (distilled wine). It is only produced in the wine-growing region surrounding this town. Cognac must be made from specified grapes, be twice distilled in copper pot stills, and be aged at least two years in French oak barrels. Most Cognacs are aged considerably longer than the minimum legal requirement.
There are three primary grades of Cognac recognized by law: V.S., V.S.O.P., and X.O, but we also know Napoléon, XXO, and Hors d'âge.
Laws concerning Cognac-making are strict as hell. Only three types of grapes may be used, and they can only be harvested in October; Cognac must be aged for at least two years in barrels made from French oak - and get this, from one of two specific forests! Then, the stills must be of a particular French shape (no, not the baguette shape); and we guess La Marseillaise has to be sung during the entire process.
Cognac is a form of distilled Brandy. For a spirit to be labeled Cognac, it must be made from specified grapes, of which Ugni Blanc is the one most widely used. It must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais.
The wine used for Cognac is very dry, acidic, and thin but excellent for distillation and aging.
There are six different wine-growing areas (crus) authorized to produce Cognac - in descending order of prestige: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires.
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Cognac, named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy (distilled wine). It is only produced in the wine-growing region surrounding this town. Cognac must be made from specified grapes, be twice distilled in copper pot stills, and be aged at least two years in French oak barrels. Most Cognacs are aged considerably longer than the minimum legal requirement.
There are three primary grades of Cognac recognized by law: V.S., V.S.O.P., and X.O, but we also know Napoléon, XXO, and Hors d'âge.
Laws concerning Cognac-making are strict as hell. Only three types of grapes may be used, and they can only be harvested in October; Cognac must be aged for at least two years in barrels made from French oak - and get this, from one of two specific forests! Then, the stills must be of a particular French shape (no, not the baguette shape); and we guess La Marseillaise has to be sung during the entire process.
Cognac is a form of distilled Brandy. For a spirit to be labeled Cognac, it must be made from specified grapes, of which Ugni Blanc is the one most widely used. It must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais.
The wine used for Cognac is very dry, acidic, and thin but excellent for distillation and aging.
There are six different wine-growing areas (crus) authorized to produce Cognac - in descending order of prestige: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires.