In search of a brandy...

M

Michael Powers

Michael Powers
Hi all, inspired by a recent bricks and mortar search for good brandy, as well as by the Scotch thread currently under discussion, I have chosen to float a request for brandy recommendations. For years I loved a vintage armagnac from Domaine de Baraillon. I came in at the '82 and followed through '85. The price was originally mid '50's, but by the end I saw some retail for closer to 100 (and not for older vintages either). Anyway, I can no longer find it at any price in my area and with the weather turning cooler I need to find a replacement brandy. Keeping in mind that I am in the hinterlands for this sort of thing (Missouri) I will likely have to source online. I would appreciate recommendations for a good Armagnac, Cognac, or other brandy. I would love to find something around $50-60, but am interested in recommendations to 100 and more so that I can have a range of products on my radar. I always found more bang for my buck with armagnac but I do see some intriguing cognacs from time to time as well. I see some love for the Germain Robin XO in the other thread. I have had only the lower level product from G-R but found it to be a nice brandy, other thoughts here on the XO? IIRC that is around $100, is it good value there?

Thanks everyone!
 
I assume you know the Pierre Ferrand and Gabriel & Andreu Cognacs, yes?

Brana Eau de Vie Prune Vieille, though that may be outside the range of what you're looking for. And if you can find it.
 
I have seen the Pierre Ferrand cognacs around, any suggestion on which level is worth buying into to try? Same goes for the G&A. I have relatively little Cognac experience outside the big houses various offerings, having always focused my attention more on armagnacs. Then the small armagnacs disappeared and now all that I can find are products like Tariquet.
 
I think the entire Ferrand lineup is an excellent value at each level, so pick the price you want to pay and give it a shot. Probably not the Ambre as your introduction; start with the Rserve and work up or down if you find it interesting.

G&A can a little more uneven, and they also have some goofy luxury bottlings you'll want to avoid, but they also do a more classic geographic series that's quite compelling.
 
The bottle of "Claverie 1975" at Chambers St. Wines is Domain Baraillon - that's Paul Claverie's domaine, if you want to spend $150.

I prefer G-R XO to Ferrand "Vol des Anges" by quite a bit. The Ferrand wins on complexity on the palate attack but nose, midpalate, finish, etc is GR by a wide margin, in my view. And it's slightly cheaper.

I am just learning about Armagnac myself so I don't have as much to say there yet, but the Charles Neal lineup (Boingneres, Briat, Ravignan) gets good reviews from lots of folks. They are also 'natural' brandies without additives, etc. I am currently working on the Briat 1988 and haven't formed an opinion yet other than that it's good, somewhat lighter-bodied than the Germain-Robin and probably the Ferrand VdA, and has a very long and interesting finish. But I just had one brief sample last night so no considered opinion just yet.
 
I'll have to give Germain-Robin another look. I didn't love it the last few times, though.
 
I would disagree about Pierre Ferrand. For the price points, Paul Beau pretty much smokes Ferrand at all levels. Beau is also Grande Champagne.
 
I am not so hot on the G-R Alambic Brandy - it's OK, but for $5 more Guillon-Paintuiraud is a no-brainer - but the XO I liked.

It is an idiosyncratic blend, though - Pinot Noir with a touch of Palomino? - so I can understand mixed reactions to it.
 
I don't pretend to be a brandy expert, but Maison Surrenne has always been a favorite. I have a bottle of the unblended Borderies Cognac (Lot 1986) that I'm saving for a rainy day. Leaving my bottle untouched is turning out to be quite a test of self-control... If you can find it, it should be in the $70ish range. The less expensive Petite Champagne Cognac would be more like $50, and the XO Grande Champagne would be something like $120. In my opinion they're all great values from what seems to be a lesser known brandy producer.
 
And now for something completely different: a brandy de Jerez. Among the older ones, I have always found Gonzlez Byass' Lepanto to be the lightest, most elegant one. But there are now two even more interesting versions: Lepanto aged in Oloroso casks and Lepanto aged in Pedro Ximnez casks. Both around $47, and both available online in the US. Here (among other places): http://www.hitimewine.net/
 
Putting my mouth where my mouth is, I unplugged this a few hours ago:

Ferrand Cognac Grande Champagne 1er Cru du Cognac Rserve (Cognac) A little over-succulent and almost candied on the nose, at first opening. Lets let it breathe for a bit. [] And were done. Blood orange? Yes, that and butterscotch. Were verging into California chardonnay territory here. More air? Yes, please. [] Settling down, at last, but theres still an inexorable pumpkin pie element, both aromatically and texturally, that I cant quite get past. A lot of soil is to the good, but its not enough. I admit that all beverages of this type are almost exclusively aromatic pleasures for me; I can enjoy drinking them, but were that all there was to them Id still to wine. So that the palate here is a little diagonal and slashy, bringing a great deal of heat and white chocolate for which I dont care, is no big deal. I want to smell, not quaff. And thus, I wish the nosegrab* was more enticing.

[one hour later] Starting to get a lot better, knitting and filling out, with less of the fetid and more of the elegantly feral. I suspect it might be days before this rounds into form, though. More later. (11/10)

Several hours later: still improving, still knitting, developing layers and depths. Still not what I want at this price, but the trajectory is positive. The major complaint remains: there's a candied aspect for which I don't care.

So, I put my former recommendation on hold pending review.

But Brana, I don't rescind. Awesome stuff.

*Coad, WTF? Do we need Bush and Parker rolling around in a vat of warm oil, swilling Turley while Viking kitties cavort around the perimeter?
 
originally posted by Michael Powers:
In search of a brandy...Hi all, inspired by a recent bricks and mortar search for good brandy, as well as by the Scotch thread currently under discussion, I have chosen to float a request for brandy recommendations. For years I loved a vintage armagnac from Domaine de Baraillon. I came in at the '82 and followed through '85. The price was originally mid '50's, but by the end I saw some retail for closer to 100 (and not for older vintages either). Anyway, I can no longer find it at any price in my area and with the weather turning cooler I need to find a replacement brandy. Keeping in mind that I am in the hinterlands for this sort of thing (Missouri) I will likely have to source online. I would appreciate recommendations for a good Armagnac, Cognac, or other brandy. I would love to find something around $50-60, but am interested in recommendations to 100 and more so that I can have a range of products on my radar. I always found more bang for my buck with armagnac but I do see some intriguing cognacs from time to time as well. I see some love for the Germain Robin XO in the other thread. I have had only the lower level product from G-R but found it to be a nice brandy, other thoughts here on the XO? IIRC that is around $100, is it good value there?

Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

Bang of the buck...I'd go with the Chateau de Pellehaut Reserve Armagnac from Charles Neal. Can find it online for around $40-45/bt. I second the recommendation for the Brana but I don't think that is currently being imported into the US by anyone and it would be a lot more expensive.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone, keep 'em coming it others have new suggestions. I like what I see here. Ferrand and Surrenne available, and the Surrenne at better prices than suggested. I am liking the idea of the Pellehaut just because I miss a good Armagnac, but I also see that the Paul Beau VSOP is available for < 60, and that is a possibility too. And the Guillon seems to be right there as well. Any of those three looks to be a good option. Unfortunately none of those in local markets so I will have to make a choice and ship. K&L has the Guillon and the Pellehaut so that might be a good way for me to go.

Those are perhaps the frontrunners because I am looking for something different. I will keep the Ferrand and Surrenne in mind for the next time I want something readily available.

Steven you are right about the Baraillon, but again this used to be much more available and at much better prices.
 
Ferrand Cognac Grande Champagne 1er Cru du Cognac Rserve (Cognac) Third night after opening. All the faux candied sweetness mentioned earlier is gone, leaving something a lot more elegant. No, thats not the right word. Sophisticated. Perhaps a little over-jacketed in layers of formality, to be honest. Loosen the bowtie! Theres a lota lotof soft, loamy earth, which I like and find intriguing in a Cognac. But theres also a planar stuffiness to the finish, as if the brandy has a slight head cold. Or as if that aforementioned bowtie is a little suffocating. (11/10)
 
It is really remarkable, isn't it, how brandies change over the first few days open. The Briat I'm drinking is still pulling together, but man was it good last night. What a finish.
 
I'm looking forward to getting back to it next week. The open road is separating me from my Cognac at the moment, alas. Though my brother-in-law's Scotch collection is more than compensating.
 
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