Chateau De Beaulon 1988 Fins Bois Cognac 700ml, 55.2% ABV

Single Cask 1988 vintage Cognac

Nose: Refined, complex. The abundantly fruity (nectarine, melon) and medicinal (ointment) first nose is also beautifully waxy and chocolatey. Allowed to breathe, noble spices (saffron, cardamom, cinnamon) and vanilla pod pair together harmoniously. The aroma palette is then elegantly drawn out with notes of apricot, mango, iris butter and very pleasant balsamic (cedar, pine, lime blossom) and herbaceous (cut hay) fragrances.

Palate: Rich, full-bodied. On the attack, praline, candied lemon and Corinthian raisin flavours form a very original first sequence. The fibrous mid-palate (ginger, liquorice stick) reveals smooth yet refreshing notes of vanilla and exotic fruit (pineapple, plantain banana, pomegranate). Like the nose, the end of the palate is also balsamic (bay leaf, pine resin).

Finish: Long, subtle. At the start of the finish, dried fruit and nuts (date, fig, walnut) appear alongside a very pure expression of mango, bitter orange and melon flavours. Persuacively combining verbena and toffee, the end of the finish develops a floral and spring-like register (vine flower, lily of the valley). The rich retro-nasal olfaction is like a slightly burnt apricot tart. The empty glass releases aromas of precious wood (beeswax, wood filler) and polished leather.

The Louis XII and Renaissance style Château de Beaulon has been a listed historic monument since 1987. The vineyard is planted with Folle Blanche, Colombard and Folignan — with Ugni Blanc only used to fortify Pineau des Charentes — and located in the commune of Saint-Dizantdu-Gua in the Fins Bois appellation. Produced with the late harvest of Colombard grape variety, this version perfectly embodies the vision of the estate’s owner Christian Thomas, who aims to create accomplished cognacs that maintain the balsamic freshness essential to ensuring their organoleptic balance.