Vallein Tercinier L’Essentiel Bons Bois 44,5%

VALLEIN TERCINIER L’ESSENTIEL BONS BOIS 44,5%

V.T vs B.B

“L’Essentiel” is the name of the great selection made by Cognac-Expert. This specific range includes many cognac houses (Vallein Tercinier as for this one, but also Maxime Trijol, Michel Forgeron, Jean-Luc Pasquet and so much more). This cognac is a Lot 90 from the Bons Bois cru (30yo). 

Colour : Gold, orange lights. Regular  heavy  tears.

Nose : Full of praline and chestnut cream. Very buttery. A great dash of honey too. Orange zest cake. Bitter chocolate. It’s a warm one. A bit of freshness on eucalyptus and mint. It goes on chocolate again. It reminds me After E*ght chocolate  with its typical mint. Lemon zest. A great fruitiness on apricots jam and tinned peaches. A little of cinnamon and vanilla stick on the aftertaste, as a reminder of the wood effect on this cognac.

Palate : Sweet texture, a little dry. Gingerbread at first. Toffee. Orange zest. Bitter chocolate again. More exotic fruits now. Mango jam, overripe melon. Fresh lemon juice. It ends on pinesap. Less round than the nose, more dry on wood scents. A bit disappointing to be honest. 

Last Notes : With more air, it goes on spiciness. Nutmeg at first. Cardamom and dry almonds. Then it becomes more citrusy, on lemon zest and grapefruit juice. A little of honey. Back on the palate. Speculoos and raisins. Bitter chocolate. Then it’s more licoricy. The mouth is long on freshly cut wood, pinesap and it ends on candied lemon. 

This Vallein Tercinier l’Essentiel is quite a good one from V.T but the oak influence is too much present (especially on the palate) and probably hides a part of the Bons Bois fruitiness. A little lack of precision too. 

This is the first Bons Bois on Hors d’Age but not the last, for sure !

My very subjective note : 86+/100

More info on Cognac-Expert website