Bourgoin Cognac "Marée Haute XO"

“Epitomizing the true spirit of a micro-artisan Cognac house, Bourgoin is all about a true passion for their land and vines, through an honest, transparent distillation of their terroir. The family estate is currently led by Frédéric Bourgoin, the fourth generation of a family of grape growers and Cognac distillers from the village of Tarsac in Fins Bois, approximately 30 kilometers east of the town of Cognac. This commitment to authenticity and transparency invariably leads to some variation from bottle to bottle, or year to year, which though it is uncommon in Cognac, is familiar to drinkers of many agricultural spirits like agricole-style rhum or mezcal. Bourgoin Cognac’s resistance to blending is a style in and of itself, and a defining quality of their decidedly viticultural cognac. The Bourgoin family is serious about their Cognac, but they also see their spirits as a labor of love and joy as the primary tenet of life. 

Bourgoin’s Cognac begins in their estate-vineyards. Their vines are planted only in the best pockets of chalky, Creataceous soils found in their corner of Fins Bois. They have been organically farming their ugni blanc vines since 1986, and make all their base wine using indigenous yeasts and with no added sulfites, no acidification, and no malolactic fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled outdoor vats for four days without malolactic fermentation and without added sulfites.

MARÉE HAUTE is a daring cognac that shakes up the codes. The innovation consists in downproofing the cognac with a little seawater, a nod to the heyday of the merchant navy. Daydream of trips to long shores, when the sea spray mingles with the Cognac according to the vagaries of the weather. This eau-de-vie is aged in their cellar for ten years in wide-grained French oak barrels from the Limousin forest. The Marée Haute is then down-proofed with 1% micro-filtered seawater as well as local Fontaine Jolival artesian spring water to 43% ABV. Bourgoin Cognac has no additives: no sugar, caramel coloring, or boisé.

Flavor Profile: Elegant and gently aromatic, with salted caramel, roasted pear and stone fruit.” De Maison Selections