Jean Fillioux So Elegantissime XO Carafe Vivaldi

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 41% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

So Elegantissime combines at least 22 years of ageing in French oak with a distinctly floral character. This XO Cognac is made from Ugni Blanc grown in Grande Champagne. The wine is distilled twice with its lees in Charentais stills. Bottled at 41%, it comes in a 0.7-litre Vivaldi decanter with a premium box.

Blossoms and light fruit notes shape the aroma, while exotic fruit and citrus notes emerge on the palate. The long finish brings a different emphasis with gentle spice notes. This Cognac contains no added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is distinctly floral, bringing together spring blossoms, hawthorn, wild rose and acacia with white peach and nectarine. A hint of violet sweets adds to the aroma.
• Palate: The Cognac is lively and fruity on the palate, with passion fruit, lemon tart and dried apricot.
• Finish: The long finish reveals gentle spice notes of coriander and cardamom.

Distillery/Bottler:

Honoré Fillioux founded his own Cognac house in 1880 and acquired Domaine de La Pouyade in Juillac-le-Coq in 1894. The estate covers 25 hectares in Grande Champagne. Its vineyards occupy sunny elevated sites with limestone-rich clay soils. Ugni Blanc, the predominant grape variety, produces high-acidity, low-tannin wines for distillation.

Christophe J. Fillioux runs the house as its fifth generation, working alongside his father Pascal, who represents the fourth generation. The estate uses pneumatic presses for its grapes. Before distillation, the house also allows natural malolactic fermentation to run its full course, converting malic acid into lactic acid. As a result, the distilling season usually begins only in December.

Christophe and Pascal select casks from several Charentais coopers to provide different ageing conditions and options for subsequent blending. They require long, slow toasting at a medium to slightly heavier intensity. The house's long-aged Cognacs spend their initial maturation in new casks before moving to older ones, allowing the oak tannins to integrate harmoniously over time.

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