COGNAC ALEXANDRE LE GRAND

History:

In the IIIrd century, the Roman emperor Probus gave the Gallo-Roman wine-makers permission to make their own wine. He freed the Saintonge vineyard of paying taxes and allowed the export of the first casks of wine throughout the whole empire.

In the XVth century, the wine from the region had been very much appreciated beyond its territory for centuries, but, only slightly alcoholic, it was not well received overseas. Therefore, it was decided to distill it so it could be transported in casks along the river Charente, towards Northern kingdoms.

The Dutch were crazy about this brandwijn ("burnt wine", which is where the word brandy comes from), that they drunk with a splash of water. In the XVIIth century came the idea of double distillation, so as to reduce the transport cost; a concentrated alcohol takes up less space that the wine itself.

The long journeys in casks along the Atlantic coast are what helped to discover the potential of the beverage when pure and aged, Cognac brandy was thus born.

Characteristics:

Everything begins with the grape varieties (mainly Ugni blanc) selected to produce the white wines used for Cognac.

This continues with traditional grape harvesting, pressurizing the grapes and wine-making according to natural methods.

Vintage Year:

XO - aged ten years - aged in oak casks

Soil:

The vines are planted with an average gap of 3 meters between them. All sizes are authorized. The most common is "Guyot double". Grape harvesting can begin as soon as the grape hits maturity, generally at the beginning of October in order to finish at the end of this month.

Grape Varieties:

Cognac comes from white wine from the Charentes region. Ugni Blanc (as well as small quantities of Folle Blanche and Colombard) is mainly planted. This grape variety has a late maturity and presents the wine with two essential elements: a high acidity rate, and generally, a low alcohol content. Since the phylloxera crisis at the end of the XIXth century, all grape varieties used are grafted on different rootstocks chosen depending on the types of soil.

Recommendations of the Sommelier:

To be served chilled or at room temperature, as an aperitif, during a meal or as an after-dinner brandy, our spirits go hand in hand with all your desires.

Available: 700ml (40%)

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