La Lettre de La Cagouille de Gérard Allemandou

Version Française

From time to time, I will have the pleasure to meet you again and discuss the pleasures brought by cognac, to talk about what I discovered through my travels in the vineyard, about the product, the way to drink it, talk about it, sell it. I will also tell you of the tasting-sessions I experienced, of the emotions I went through. My comments will be illustrated with a few necessary technical reminders in order to understand this matchless eau-de-vie (brandy).

I am independent and free to organise my own tasting sessions.

As time goes by, I will tell you of my experience that made up my own taste. I will talk to you about my doubts which are more solid than my certainties. I will tell you about humility that demands exploring in the domain of taste, a domain that depends on our senses, our feelings that are as full of admirability as they lack perfection. I will try to build up the elements that can show you the notion of quality.

I have chosen to give a 1 to 5 glassses grading.... cognac glasses! They must allow you to judge more easily. Five glasses will be the exception that we wish to refer to as often as possible, even if today we start our tasting sessions with that level of grading.

Coup de coeur

We were deeply affected by Marcel Ragnaud's death. So, this tall, wizened and lean man has left us; he was curt and as rough as a vine stock, and he felt an extreme passion for cognac; he was a warm and friendly character. He was the first to show that a vine grower could put onto the market a great quality product that would be an honor to Cognac, in France as well as all over the world.

I remember how proud he was, in Paris, during a memorable "upmarket tasting" session when his "Héritage" came first equal with Hennessy's Cup nº 1. In half a century he had known how to take advantage of a priceless family stock, run his estate by taking advantage of the soil in Grande Champagne, distil with unique touch, mature and put together the eau-de-vie like a real "maître de chai" in order to produce a remarkable range of products.

His wife and daughter have all our sympathy, and we wish them strength and courage to continue Marcel's work, so that Ragnaud may keep on living, from the Domaine de la Voûte in Ambleville.

Produits/Products

We have received from the Navarre cognacs in Gondeville near Jarnac a Grande Champagne vintage dating back to 1925. Coming out of the same property and the same year; it has neither been assembled, nor artificially colored, nor filtered. This cognac has been kept for fifity years until 1975 in a cask, in a slightly damp chai, on the banks of the Charente river; so it acquired its wooded taste naturally. Before being decanted into demijohns it was 43º proof. Time was the only factor to ensure its reduction. therefore, this cognac is as natural as possible. You will receive its tasting-session-file with a letter we will send you soon, hoping it will be up to its promising aspect. Price: 895FF on departure, tax not included.

Dégustation/Tasting

Just to pay a tribute to him, I have chosen to start with the tasting-session-file concerning Marcel Ragnaud's Héritage Cognac.

With its shining bronze color and diaphanous veils appearing when it moves in the glass, this cognac beholds perfect brilliance. It attacks the nose frankly, dominated by an extremely complex "rancio" allowing it to reach the level of the greatest eau-de-vie . Then it must be given time to rise to subtlety and again strength every second while maintaining its elegance. Its solid taste quickly blooms into suave, refined and bewitching roundness. The latter are bountiful and constantly change, transforming every instant into a new pleasure. The balance is perfect, between the nose and the mouth, between the soil and the wood, age and strength. It is 41º proof. A sublime cognac one keeps for exceptional and precious occasions.

It is necessary to taste it once, knowing that great things are costly...

Les Cognacs Ragnaud-Sabourin, Domaine de la Voûte, 16300 Ambleville, France

Phone: (+33) 5 45 80 54 61 Fax: (+33) 5 45 80 50 13