Marancheville l’Essentiel A45 42,8%

This Cognac is the result of a collaboration between Marancheville and Cognac-Expert, bottled for the L’Essentiel range. It’s a Grande Champagne from Juillac and Marancheville aged in small casks (60 liters) for 45 years (A45, so 45yo I suppose). 

Colour: Amber, gold lights. Medium irregular tears.

Nose: Fresh citrus notes blended with gentle waxy aromas. Apricot jam and the lively fruitiness of a relatively young Grande Champagne. Vanilla touches appear, along with chalky undertones. Slight malted notes, reminiscent of some young GC profiles (thinking of a few JLP bottlings).

Palate: Lightly oily texture with a pronounced acidic backbone. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc-like aromas, apple bitterness and a touch of verjus freshness. Nutty notes develop, cardamom and pistachio, before finishing on mentholated accents.

Last notes: Rounder with air. Tinned pear and more opulent vanilla notes. Fresh spices, anise and white pepper. Tannins become more noticeable now. Sharp aftertaste on peppermint and yuzu.

An unusual balance for a 40yo+ Grande Champagne: fresh and energetic, yet clearly marked by small-cask ageing. The wood influence is evident, though not entirely dominating. A bit like an adolescent placed in a retirement home. I miss some kind of aesthetic sense here.

My very subjective note: 84/100