Vallein Tercinier (or VT for those in the know), is one of the frontrunners of a renaissance of sorts for independent Cognac houses.

In short, a combination of increased transparency, better appreciation for provenance and singular house styles, have all led to a growing rise in popularity of independent Cognac houses as opposed to the flagship blends belonging to the Big Four Cognac brands.

VT produces its own Cognac (as opposed to being a negociant which is somewhat closer to that of an independent bottler) and while their estate primarily has vines in the Fins Bois and Bon Bois regions, they do produce Cognacs from the Grande and Petite Champagne regions from time to time - each region showcasing a nuanced and different style of Cognacs as a result of climate and soil conditions.

What started out as a move away from simply selling their Cognacs to the likes of Remy Martin, eventually became a revival of the flagship VT brand with the traditional Cognac age-based classes of VS, VSOP, XO and Hors d'Age. Yet a spark from a fellow independent Cognac house, Grosperrin, would convince VT's fifth-generation Tercinier, Catherine, to make a bold move that would entirely change the family-owned estate's fortune - to begin bottling single cask millesimes Brut de Fut (that is single cask, single vintage Cognacs at cask strength). 

As mentioned, this all coincided with a massive movement leaning into Cognacs that allowed for a greater appreciation of a more singular style (much akin to the move away from blends across whiskies and rums, and into single malts and pure single rums).

With all that said, let's get to tasting this Lot 85 Petite Champagne from Vallein Tercinier that's bottled for Precious Liquors.

Let's go!

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lots of deep, earthy notes - dark chocolate, autumnal browned leaves, brown sugar, but throw in a little bit of plasticine in there. It’s rather dry and has a mustiness of old wood cabinets, with it a sense of agedness.

Taste: The same brown sugars and autumnal browned leaves, still alittle plasticky, but its developed into a wider more juicy richness of raisins, plums, and also some tobacco leaves and cigar box earthiness. Some burnt brown sugar to boot, with a slight acetone touch. 

Finish: More dry here - cough syrup sans the sweetness, definitely more austere, with a more prominent bitterness and woodiness. Even so, it’s still very rich and oily, more of that browned leaves, barrel char, but with time more along the lines of floral blossoms.

My Thoughts

This was packed with earthiness which I enjoyed quite a fair bit - it has all the depth and agedness you’d want, and at the same time it leans into a more dry style that provides a textural contrast to the sweeter flavours.

I'd suspect that those who enjoy more herbal and earthy flavours might like this a whole lot - particularly if you're opposed to the sweeter style Cognacs. Here you'll find a refreshing pucker that's not all that common. 

Kanpai!

@111hotpot