Paul Beau VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac

A full-bodied, VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac from Paul and his wife Denise in Cognac, France, made from Ugni Blanc and a small amount of Colombard grapes, all cultivated in the family estates and aged in new and used French oak barrels. It opens with an aroma of dried fruits, cedar, white flowers, grapes, fig, vanilla, and a hint of toast; while its body offers notes of pear, mango, raisins coated in brown sugar, honey, and caramelized apple; concluding with a long, spicy finish featuring rancio and blood orange. July 2019 / January 2021

My first experience with Cognac. It looks appealing in the glass, a nice medium amber color. It leaves thin, weak legs. The aroma is unexpectedly pleasant, with notes of barley, fruit, and vanilla; somewhat similar to whiskey. The taste is entirely different: it has a dry wine character (as expected!), very unlike the sweetness of whiskey. Plenty of fruit – grapes, berries, and mango – but very little sweetness. The finish is quite long with hints of biscuits and dried fruit. For my initial exploration into cognac, it's quite good, particularly coming from a whiskey background. 4/5. Cheers!

The aroma is almost like candied orange. There's orange on the palate too, but it still carries a lot of grape flavor along with subtle hints of vanilla and salt. It starts a bit hot and the finish is disappointingly brief, but overall, a very commendable producer of Cognac.

Sweet, initially displaying very strong notes of overripe grapes, followed by dried mango, then some vegetal, bitter orange, and oaky undertones. An elegant and comparatively light cognac.

Lovely, mellow, crisp. Like a potent white wine, with notes of fig and pear, and a touch of pepper. It leaves a beautiful sensation in the mouth.

Full of fruit