In the heart of grande champagne, we visited the cognac house Voyer for the first time in 2021. There, where vineyards whisper their stories to the wind and grapes grow in the shadow of history, we discovered a treasure trove of cognacs that had stood the test of time. A memorable day it became! As this nearly hundred-year-old cognac touched my lips, I tasted the history, joy and virtue that had been infused into it over the centuries. Every drop was like a trip back in time. As I savored this extraordinary cognac, I couldn't help but smile. Here, in this moment of pure pleasure, time itself was forgotten and the joy of life was celebrated. A smile that embodied the essence of pleasure and virtue. This demi john was kept to cherish and share.
This nearly 100-year-old cognac opens with an enticing burst of fruitiness on the nose, with notes of juicy apricots, ripe pears and sun-ripened grapes. With each sip, profound complexity unfolds, with the vibrant fruit notes seamlessly blending into the refined rancio. The rancio character offers wonderful depth to the Cognac, with hints of dried figs, walnuts and subtle earthy undertones. Sweet tobacco, ripened fruit and mint provide a wonderfully complex finish.
about the producer:
François Voyer’s 28 hectares of vineyards are located in the Grande Champagne region, the Premier Cru of Cognac, known for producing eaux-de-vie with aromatic power and qualities suitable for long-term aging. François Voyer Cognac is a family-run Cognac house that is passionate about every detail of its production.The cognac house François Voyer transferred to its cellar master and oenologist Pierre Vaudon in 2017 to perpetuate its identity.
Their cognacs develop the typical aromas as they age. The notes of pear, banana or even blackberry in the white eaux de vie are quickly complemented after distillation by the first aromas of oak from the barrels. This combination reveals floral aromas in the young cognacs, which then develop into fruity aromas (peaches, plums, apricots, walnuts and hazelnuts). The aging process leads to spicy (cinnamon, pepper) and complex notes (leather, incense, cedar).The vineyards are in Verrières and Ambleville, and cognac has been produced there since 1870. There is mainly Ugni blanc planted. But recently Folle Blanche was also reintroduced, for the first results we have to be patient.
10% to 20% of each harvest matures for 3 years in new barrels and then in old barrels to refine the aromas. For this, they use French oak from the Limousin region, but also from forests such as Bercée, Le Gâvre or Reno Valdieu. The natural atmosphere in the cellars is more or less humid and influences the finesse or suppleness of the bouquet. Moisture softens eaux de vie, while dry cellars refine them.Every year, 10,000 bottles evaporate from François Voyer’s cellars. In 1 hour, 1 liter of brandy evaporates from the stock. Through natural evaporation, these cognacs reach 40% full in 50 to 60 years. Distilled water is regularly added to the youngest blends. As a result, young, reduced cognacs will be less dense in flavor than old cognacs concentrated by natural evaporation.
The range is classic, with a range of younger expressions, as well as exceptionally old assemblages and vintage bottles. The House of Voyer cherishes traditional knowledge and has an enormous focus on perfectionism. This combined with hard work and you have an excellent match. Definitely one of our favorite cognac houses as they brilliantly manage to set the bar very high throughout the entire range and bottle absolute uncompromising and very recognizable quality.
