Monday, February 5, 2018

Jacques Denis - Vieille Réserve 44%


Ryan's Review

Jacques Denis - Vieille Réserve 44%

I don't know a ton about this house, beyond that the Jacques Denis estate is located in the town of Saint Preuil, which is in the Grand Champagne region. This is another family owned and run cognac house. Usually that's a promising sign. The eaux-de-vie in this bottle is a blend of vintages dating back to the 50's and 60's and it was bottled at its "natural strength" out of the cask at 44%.

Nose: Oaky, caramels, walnuts, but also some very sweet candy sugars

Taste: Caramel. Apricot and peaches. Oak, and more caramel. Or is it caramely oak.

Finish: Candied citrus peel, some drying oak spices. Nice lengthy finish with that oaky caramel.

Overall: This one is very good. Where it stands out is in the richness of its flavor profile. It's quite in your face with the sweetness but the oak notes balance it out, rather than the other way around, which is interesting. A thick-ish mouthfeel for its 44%. My parting thoughts is that this is a great alternative for the bourbon drinker. Available, and can be found for around $150.

B+

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