JLP Le Cognac de Claude 49,8%

JEAN-LUC PASQUET LE COGNAC DE CLAUDE L.84 49,8%

Trésor de Famille

First bottling of the Trésors de Famille range! A 37yo G.C from Angeac-Champagne with a stunning ABV. Here is Le Cognac de Claude!

Colour: Amber, gold lights. Irregular heavy tears. 

Nose: Roasted notes at first. Cocoa powder, freshly ground coffee. Heady rancio scents on orange peel, chamomile, and verbena infusion. It turns more and more fruity, mostly on red berries (raspberry/strawberry) marmalade. A tad of mint chocolate shades in the background. Few spicy smells arise but it remains quite fruity, and while I’m about to taste this L84 G.C, it exhausts some pleasant melon jam scents. 

Palate: Oily texture. Very smooth/acidulous aftertaste (like some P.C palate in terms of texture). Cherry and chocolate mix at first. Then it tastes far spicier than it smells. Yes, strong and elegant spiciness on paprika and ginger. Great mouth length provided by a high-level ABV, but it doesn’t feel like a 49,8% spirit at all. Quite tobacco-y in the aftertaste. Delicious tinned peaches and honey aromas with a bit of air. As I noticed the first time I tasted it, this Cognac de Claude needs to wake up from its nap to reveal at its best. 

Last Notes: Earthier with more air. It reminds me a lot of some old French Indies rums. Still, melon scents melted to a strong spiciness on caraway and paprika. Heavy espresso notes in the background. There’s also a distinct fruitiness on raisins and dried figs. And the palate? Again this fruitiness previously perceived, but this time on rhubarb and blackberry marmalade. Spicy notes are back, especially on tarragon, ginger, and cardamom. Endless spiciness. 

Does it feel like a standard G.C? Not at all. Don’t know if I’d be able to say from which cru it is in a blind tasting session. Maybe a tad unbalanced on spiciness, but that’s a minor shortcoming. Another banger from JLP’s cellars. 

My very subjective note: 89/100

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