Cog/Armag/nac: Fillioux N. 83, Pomès-Pébérère 1966, Grosperrin Borderies 12yo, Cobrafire Evil Force
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- I had grand plans for recording a bunch of new videos today, spoiled by my entire household coming down with COVID. I'm bedbound but fine - wife and daughter are way better off - and one effect is going to be a delay on said videos until my body is ready for them. But I did have this one already loaded in the queue, and I think it's a fun one.
It's a yak battle waged across southwestern France as I review a pair of Armagnacs alongside a pair of Cognacs. Old, venerable, vintage-dated yaks duke it out first, followed by young, beefy, non-vintage ones. Whoever loses, we win. Stats:
Jean Fillioux 1er Cru Cognac Grande Champagne, Cask N. 83 Selected by Maurice Van Wees (Lot 830421, bottled 2/21, 504 bottles; 100% Ugni Blanc; 42% ABV), 88/100
Château de Pomès-Pébérère Armagnac-Ténarèze 1966 (bottled 12/14/2020; 50% Ugni Blanc, 40% Colombard; 42% ABV), 86-/100
Jean Grosperrin Borderies Cognac 12 Year Old, Lot N°700 (338 liters, bottled circa 2019; 50.8% ABV), 86+/100
Cobrafire Evil Force Cask Strength Brandy* (Domaine d'Espérance for PM Spirits; 100% Folle Blanche from cask nos. 1, 240, 123, and 4, distilled 2001 thru 2015, bottled 3/21, 6 years old; 51.7% ABV), 86/100
These are all producers (or at least negociants) that I've had on the channel before: Jean Fillioux' little Pouyade stole my heart in the Intro to Cognac videos ( • Intro to Cognac Part 2... ), I failed to pronounce Pébérère's name in the Ténarèze video ( • Exploring Armagnac-Tén... ), Grosperrin had a killer Bons Bois in a much later Intro to Cognac video ( • Intro to Cognac Part 2... ), and a previous D'Espérance/PM Spirits crossup showed well in the Dry-A-Thon ( • The Dry-A-Thon: Russel... ). To my surprise - and the complaints of the folks laying out $300 for Loopy-Boo, I'm sure - overall it's the Cognacs that won the day . What can I say, I'm a sucker for flowery Borderies bottlings and the Fillioux is straight-up delicious. But really, everything here is yumtastic; the weird little Cobrafire is a rare combination of "cheap," "strong," "Armagnac," and "good" that is otherwise pretty much unavailable in Chicago, while the Pébérère is a bargain-basement 50+-year-old oaky treat that hits the spot whenever I need some roughage in my diet. Good showings all around.
N.B. Yes, this is basically an Armagnac. No, they haven't given it some weird cask finish or something that would disqualify it from the appellation, they just didn't want to label it as an Armagnac (static1.square.... Because, well, 🤷♂️
Thanks, best no fluff, intelligent reviewer out there. Even if your vids were 2 hours, I'd still watch them.
Two hours?? Don't tempt me. 😁
Your cog/Armagnac videos brought me to your channel. Keep this sort of thing up
That's the intention!! 😁
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the amazing service that you provide to all of us. You are truly a treasure and learning from you helps me along my own journey.
Keep making this great content!
Thanks! Working on it! 😁
Great line up. Coincidentally I've been drinking white wines made of common Armangac varietals the last few weeks: colombard, ugbi blanc and the like; most have been pretty respectable at relatively modest price points. As for cocktails you could always substitute armangac for the cognac in a Tremblement de Terre!
Yup, some of those little Côtes de Gascogne whites are lovely, and I don't think I've ever seen one costing over $12. (It's a bit remarkable that even at those prices the producers in the region seem to make more money selling wine than brandy.)
Fantastic lineup! In all seriousness hoping you and yours feel better soon. Looking forward to another fun filled year of assorted spirit reviews. Until the next video!
Thanks!!
Rum reviews or we riot! Jokes aside, great reviews as always! Watching your 'yak reviews made me(to the horror of my wallet) seek out my first one, D'Aurensan! Can't wait for future reviews!
Thanks! And I've got something D'Aurensan-related in the works, now that you mention it. For whenever I can pull myself out of bed.
Van Wees is indeed the Dutch spirits importer who also owns the Ultimate brand.
Thought so! I just found it odd that they note it as a pick by the owner rather than the shop.
They always do that - I have a Glenfarclas Family Cask that was picked by Han as well. Their core business is importing and the Ultimate IB line though, the shop is more of a by-product of those activities I think. Most (if not all) of their casks for the Ultimate brand come from Signatory by the way.
So much stuff to taste in these regions. On top of my mind I can think of many (dead... or alive) not yet mentioned "big names" like Lacquy, Baraillon, Boignieres (ok expensive), Gaube or Lasgraves just in armagnac territory (the clear biais). Ok you don't feel the thrill of risk taking with these but hey, when its good... Take care
yup, the list is endless. Baraillon coming soon, though!!
Happy to have another great lineup and review session. Sad that there will be a pause. Hope you and your family get through it quickly.
More time to think up interesting lineups to review. Rum and Mezcal mash-up perhaps?
Thanks! Working on some ideas right now...
I hope you and your family get well soo. All the best from germany :)
Thanks from Chicago!