Jacky Navarre Vielle Reserve Grande Champagne Cognac
Cognac
Jacky Navarre // Grande Champagne, France
RARE
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Cost
Jacky Navarre is a fourth generation cognac distiller. His eleven-acre estate in Gondeville in the Grande Champagne region grows primarily ugni blanc among other grapes and he hand-harvests his fruit, which just isn't done anymore. He distills on the lees (the spent grapes) in his 30hl Charentais pot-still. He adds no sugar, no boisé (concentrated boiled wood chips...which is allowed), no caramel color, and perhaps most shocking, NO WATER. He allows his cognac to lower to 90 proof by natural evaporation.
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ageNAS
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abv45.0
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CognacBrandy distilled in a delimited region within France from specific grapes. Must be double-distilled to no higher than 72% abv. Required to be aged in oak for at least 2 years. Also, if labeled as the following, minimum aging is: VS-2 years, VSOP-4 years, Napoléon 6 years, XO-10 years (as of April 2018).
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Cask TypeFrench oak
Tasting Notes
"If there was an appropriate time to use the phrase "rancio bomb" it's now. This is a powerful cognac that may come off as a bit bewildering to some tasters. The concentration of nutty, savory flavor over the pretty, white flower character more typical in the region takes a moment to adjust to, but once there you are in for a powerful range of dark violet, crème brûlée, and dried tobacco. This is a unique style of brandy that may not appeal to everyone, but for those who want a truly undiluted cognac experience, this is the real McCoy. "
Reviewed by
John Rankin