Francois Voyer - Grande Champagne XO 1er Cru

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

François Voyer XO brings together mature fruit notes and the influence of French oak. The blend comes exclusively from Grande Champagne, the Premier Cru of the Cognac region, and is made from Ugni Blanc. Its eaux-de-vie are ten to twenty-five years old.

Maturation begins with three years in new Limousin oak casks, then continues in older casks. Fruit, vanilla and wood shape this amber cognac with its shades of antique gold. It is bottled at 40% in a 0.7-litre decanter and offered in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, vineyard peach, plum and quince paste mingle with vanilla. Fruit and wood are evenly balanced.
• Palate: The fruit notes return on the palate, joining woody notes with hints of vanilla. The cognac feels supple and rounded without losing its aromatic power.
• Finish: The long, lingering finish reveals cooked fruit and quince. A subtle nuance reminiscent of blue cheese adds to the aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Pierre and Anne Marie Vaudon run François Voyer as an independent cognac house. Pierre Vaudon is responsible for the blends, and the house has two stills of its own. The brand's cognacs come entirely from Grande Champagne.

At Domaine Voyer Vaudon in Échallat, visitors can follow production from pressing through distillation to cask ageing. The agricultural estate includes presses, stills, ageing cellars and a Paradis, the storage area for particularly old eaux-de-vie. The shared estate brings together the Grande Champagne and Fins Bois cognac growing areas.

Facts: