When we arrived in Cognac our first house visit was to Paul Giraud. I was previously unfamiliar with Paul-Jean's cognac, and it was with Amy Pasquet's guidance that we took a visit to what I learned is actually the best selling cognac label in Japan. The grapes for their cognac are grown solely in the Grande Champagne region on 35 hectares of land and the Giraud domaine is located in Bouteville. Paul Giraud is one of the bigger names in the Cognac region, despite being a relatively small producer. Furthermore, they've been in the game for awhile, since the 1600s. A family tradition passed down from father to son, the current owner Paul-Jean Giraud has been leading the ship since 1976. He doesn’t add additives and claims to not add water through the aging process. To his younger cognacs he will dilute down before bottling to 40%, but states that by the time his cognac aging in his humid cellars has reached 25 years of age they have already naturally reduced down to 40%. (This last point definitely raises some questions based on some of the much higher proofs we commonly see with cask strength releases of similar ages from other cognac houses.) We tasted through a flight of his cognac releases. High quality all around, but I was particularly impressed by a 1999 vintage release and his Tres Rare (40 year old blend of late 60s cognac). Tasting notes can be found below for the Tres Rare.
Water from a natural spring being routed through one of the cellars to increase humidity for increased alcohol evaporation.
***Tasting Notes***
Paul Giraud "Tres Rare"
40%
40 year blend of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie
Nose: Very well rounded nose - Honey, apples, pears, persimmon, walnuts, sweet tobacco, cedar
Taste: Lush and sweet with tons of dried fruits. Plums, peaches, persimmon, figs. Following there is cinnamon oil, cedar and grapefruit peel. Lingering with the spices is sugared grapefruit.
It's a touch light in body, but it has an excellent mouthfeel and is rich in flavor. I find it to be pretty immaculate on the palate. A cognac for cognac drinkers.
A-
(The Tres Rare can be found stateside at Astor Wines for $230)
