Dudognon Heritage 40 Year Grande Champagne Cognac

The Dudognon family have grown grapes in the small village of Lignières-Sonneville since 1776. This village is about 11 miles southeast of the town Cognac in the heart of the famed Grande Champagne zone. After the Second World War, Raymond Dudognon raised the domaine's reputation to new levels with his close attention to detail and minimal intervention of his spirits. These days, under the stewardship of his daughter Claudine and her husband, they are one of the only Cognac producers to not sell any of their brandy to the big houses, instead focusing on their own terroir driven, well aged bottlings.

The Heritage bottling is an astounding 40 year Cognac, bottled with no additives, colorings, sweeteners, flavorings, or other nonsense. There is a lovely rancio note on the nose with a mashed almond nuance. The palate is viscous and honeyed, with additional notes of creme brulée and beautiful lush tropical fruit. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. There is concentrated sweetness with a hint of toasted coconut on the extremely long finish.