Grosperrin Petite Champagne 1958 41,1%

GROSPERRIN PETITE CHAMPAGNE 1958 41,1% (Lot N°15)

And then they were known

Long before Grosperrin became the trendy name of cognac it is today, they were already venturing into unexplored grounds, releasing venerable cognacs that, at the time, felt almost unheard of. This Petite Champagne 1958 is a striking example: a genuine vintage from the 50s, bottled in August 2000, right at the dawn of Grosperrin’s journey as an IB. Back then, it carried Lot N°15, a humble beginning, considering their numbering now runs well into the thousands. One of these rare bottles was unearthed and opened during Whisky Live, offering a rare glimpse into Grosperrin’s early days. So what about the taste of this rarity?

Colour: Gold, yellow shades. Irregular medium tears.

Nose: Bright profile. It smells even better than during Whisky Live Paris. Delicate apricot scents at first. Dry floral shades on jasmine and chamomile. Very fresh, almost vibrant notes of menthol and white pepper. Almost unoaked nose. Nice concentration of honeyed tones in the background, as an appealing teaser for the palate.

Palate: A bit fragile but extreme acidulous PC notes at first. Blackcurrant juice, cola sweets. A tad waxy. Hints of nutty aromas, mainly on crushed almond. Great floral profile, with jasmine and chamomile again. A tad more of oak influence than the nose let guess.

Last Notes: Dry heathery notes, almost Borderies-like (agree with you Barnacetate). Fresh zesty/earthy shades with air, as you get kind of yuzu scents. Nice kirsch notes on the palate. Hints of amaretto aromas too. Everything is delivered with precision, but I miss of some kind of depth and funkiness here.

Fragile but quite a talkative PC. Subtle fruity shades, stunning floral spectrum. Not that easy to score, as it owns something that you can’t find in nowadays bottlings, but I miss precision compared to some other 50/60s cognacs bottled more recently. 

My very subjective note: 90+/100

A few words from Jean Grosperrin about this Petite Champagne 1958

Beyond the tasting itself, Whisky Live Paris was also the perfect occasion to reconnect and share with so many passionate people. I would like to thank everyone I had the chance to meet and talk with; it was truly a pleasure to exchange ideas, stories, and impressions. Events like this remind us how much the world of spirits is enriched by the people who bring it to life and keep the passion alive.