Cognac Dudognon Vieille Réserve

Rating: 16/23 While Dudognon Reserve (10 year) doesn't blow me away, it possesses solid foundations. The issue is simply that it seems a bit young, which makes me think its age should be closer to 20 years; hopefully, that would improve things. Nose: Mmm! A very pleasant aroma! Plenty of interesting wood notes are present, along with those classic French oak tannins and a bitterness that borders on furniture polish. Juicy pears and apples emerge from the wood, as if they were freshly picked. Perhaps a hint of glacé apricots is also detectable. There's a good amount of depth and excellent balance here, though the overall complexity is somewhat restricted. Possibly some vanilla, too. Additionally, there's a dry, woody, spicy layer with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Palate: This offers a nice fullness for its proof, with definite wood-derived maturity that introduces waves of spices (ginger, clove, cinnamon) and tannins. Pears, glacé apricots, and some apples surface, accompanied by a vanilla bean. The wood and spices are dominant, with the fruits acting more as supporting notes. I enjoy this palate considerably, but a bit more fruit would be welcome. Finish: The vanilla is quite prominent here, alongside tannic, slightly polished wood. It still retains good depth and spicy wood notes. The fruits appear intermittently but are subdued. The wood isn't excessively oaky, but it is quite dry. - Conclusion - This is a very pleasant, mature drink. I would prefer more fruity richness, but it does possess genuine depth. Dudognon Reserve (10/23) shows the beginnings of the characteristic woodiness, but it's comparatively thin with noticeable alcohol. This expression truly rounds out the profile, adding depth and refining the spirit. Torres 15 (14/23) is more floral, sweet, and youthful than this. While I appreciate its sweetness, its lack of nuance makes it clearly inferior. Moving on to Remy 1738 (16/23). It's difficult to surpass Remy 1738 with its superb balance of fruits, spices, and wood. This clearly tastes more aged, but it's less sweet, fruity, and fun. Both are comparable, yet this possesses an elegance absent in the Remy, leading me to favor it. A De Fussigny XO (18/23) surpasses this without question, offering significantly more complexity. It's on the lighter side but masterfully combines various fruit flavors with refined wood notes. This does taste more mature, but that's not the sole determining factor. I believe this is closer to the Remy than the A De Fussigny, so I'm awarding it a 16, matching the Remy's score.

An exceptional cognac. I recently sampled this and it has quickly become a favorite. The nose presents as fruity, fresh, and floral, without any harshness. Oak is also present, along with a hint of spice. The texture is smooth and slightly viscous. The flavor profile is again fruity, with the oak coming through nicely. A faint trace of port is also detected. It's a smooth, lingering cognac. A touch of brightness remains, but it's pleasant. I'm excited to try the 30 and 40 year old expressions.

Presents a lovely copper hue. The nose offers stone fruit scents with a touch of floral notes. The palate echoes these flavors. It has a medium body and a medium finish. This stands out as the finest cognac I've encountered. Exceptional taste, remarkably smooth, with no detectable alcohol flavor or bite. The fruity finish lingers pleasantly after each sip. The slight price increase is fully justified.

Once this Cognac has a chance to aerate, it truly shines. Fruity notes on the nose and palate. It's remarkably rich and well-balanced. Eager to observe its future development.

From a small sample vial. A pleasant improvement over the Reserve, noticeably more full-bodied. Moderately sweet and smooth with notes of orchard fruit, honey, vanilla, lemon zest, minerality, and barrel spice.

Found at K&L