Grosperrin Cognac 1969 Petite Champagne

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46.4% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This vintage Cognac brings together a long family history and Grosperrin’s selection of old stocks. The lot belonged to a family of notaries established in Cognac for generations. The father bought the Cognac as an investment in April 1970. After his death, the division of his estate between his wife and son stalled, leaving the stock intact for decades before Grosperrin acquired it.

Since distillation, the Cognac was stored by O.R.E.CO under state supervision. When Grosperrin purchased it, the stock comprised several casks of 350 litres each. The bottled Lot N°568 is limited to 205 litres. Only a little water was added before bottling to reduce the alcohol strength to 46.4%. The 0.7-litre bottle comes with gift packaging.

Its amber colour is retained without added colouring. Grosperrin also adds neither sugar nor wood-based flavourings to its vintage Cognacs. Before bottling, they undergo only light filtration at room temperature, without chilling. Ripe and dried fruits meet wood, spices and subtle smoky notes, alongside hints of old Banyuls.

This bottling won a gold medal at the Cognac Masters in London in 2015.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals very ripe fruit, dried pears and prunes. Delicate smoke and scorched notes accompany candied raisins, orange peel and nutmeg. Orange, quince and earthy, mossy impressions add further layers. Orange blossom and honeysuckle mingle with old fine wood, thuja, an old humidor, eucalyptus and menthol.
• Palate: The Cognac is powerful and fresh on the palate, with lime blossom and hawthorn notes. Pronounced oak combines with moss, bark, pinewood and pine cones. Clove, caraway, cinnamon and cracked pepper bring spice, while orange and peach provide a fruity counterpoint to the woody character.
• Finish: The long finish is distinctly bitter, recalling dry herbal liqueurs. Bergamot and apricot reappear in the aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Grosperrin is an independent, family-owned house that selects Cognacs, oversees their further maturation and bottles them. Jean Grosperrin began working as a Cognac broker in 1992, gaining knowledge of the stocks held by small distillers. In 1999, he bought old casks of Cognac to preserve distinctive lots separately rather than see them disappear into large blends. His son Guilhem took over the business in 2004.

In 2012, the house moved into 19th-century cellars beside the Charente in Saintes. Its approach takes each stock’s origins and history into account throughout maturation. For its own casks, Grosperrin selects wood with gentle tannins and avoids heavy toasting so as not to mask the fruitiness of the spirits. For vintage Cognacs, cask interventions and bottling are supervised and documented by a bailiff; every bottle is numbered and traceable.

Facts: