Hermitage 20yo

Hermitage 20yo

Brandy: Cognac
From: Grande Champagne
Style: Single distillery
House: Hermitage
Colour: Amber red
ABV: 42%

N: Raisins, leather, tobacco leaf, tonka bean, black pepper.

M: Heavy body, slippery, syrupy, slightly chewy.

T: Bitter. Cherry, lemon zest, raisins, tonka bean, tobacco leaf, hints of watermelon.

F: Long. Cherry, raisins, tobacco leaf, leather, hints of watermelon.

Comments:

A rather medicinal tasting cognac, with a lush vanilla-like flavour note that I liken to tonka bean. There's also some intense cherry notes on the tongue and the finish, rather like cherry-flavoured court medicine, and some light rancio, presenting as tobacco leaf and leather. It's not quite as delicious as the 45yo Segonzac, but it's very good indeed.

Turns out 20yo cognac is indeed delicious. Well of course it is - time is always a friend of a spirit. As long as you age it properly, in wood, and it has to be good wood.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hermitage 45yo Segonzac (2nd Release)

Hermitage 45yo Segonzac (2nd Release)

Brandy: Cognac
From: Grande Champagne
Style: Single distillery
House: Hermitage
Colour: Walnut
ABV: 43.5%

N: molasses, raisins, tobacco leaf, prunes, dried apricots, dried pears.

M: Medium body, tingly, cool, slightly astringent

T: Sweet. Menthol, raisins, leather, watermelon, dried pears, black tea, hints of tobacco leaf.

F: Long. Menthol, watermelon, cinnamon, dried pears, hints of leather.

Comments:

Well now, this is a real treat - 45 years in wood, heaps of flavour, just a little rancio, taking the form of a leather tobacco pouch. I think this is the second release, the first release was just a tad stronger in ABV terms. Age has somehow given this brandy an intense booming flavour profile. It goes on and on and on, I was still tasting this the day after, like the best malt whiskies.

I particularly loved the menthol notes on the tongue and on the finish. It was cooling and refreshing, making this a summer dram rather than a winter one.

Verdict:

Magnificent.

Hermitage 2005 Chez Richon

Hermitage 2005 Chez Richon

Brandy: Cognac
From: Grande Champagne
House: Hermitage
Style: Single vintage
Colour: Amber red
ABV: 40%

N: Red grapes, black tea, soy sauce, tangerines, hints of coffee.

M: Light body, loosens, slippery, slightly tingly.

T: Sweet salty. Toffee, red grapes, peaches, black tea, coffee, hints of chocolate.

F: Medium. Chocolate, black tea, tangerines, hints of soy sauce.

Comments:

In the whisky world, the role played by a blender is somewhat underappreciated, because most blends that people encounter tend to be aimed at the casual drinker rather than the enthusiast, and therefore are priced at a relatively low point. And because one gets what one pays for, they taste accordingly. But there are some amazing blends out there, because the blender's skill is to showcase a certain style of whisky by combining alright, good, and spectacular distillates in such a way that the result is delicious.

In the brandy world, I have less intuition for the role a negociant plays, but I understood a little more after tasting this brandy. It's really very good indeed. It's young, I wouldn't say it's XO, but it's got a deep richness of flavour with savoury umami notes that burst on the tongue. There's also some bitter complexity in the finish that I enjoyed very much.

Must find some more expressions from Hermitage - older ones, if the young brandies are anything to go by. The oldies must be truly spectacular.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.