Tesseron - A tradition of fine Cognac
Tastes in what people are drinking come and go. Ten years ago, Craft Beer made its move. Five years ago, Gin had its day in the spotlight. Trends will come and go… but some products seem immune. Bought, treasured and enjoyed by a select segment of customers, these bottles are often niche - unknown or overlooked by the general public. IYKYK. Whisky would fall into this category - as would Cognac.
What these two have in common is that you don’t have to (and we probably would not expect you to) consume the whole bottle in one sitting. Expect to pay upwards of $500 for the better end of the world’s fine wines, but also expect to be finishing the bottle the day you open it. Drop that much coin on a whisky or cognac, and not only will you have several opportunities to enjoy a few tastes (over weeks, months…), but you could expect to be drinking some of the rarest, finest ‘taste sensations’ you’ll ever have. Cognac represents a high level of both craftsmanship and tradition, in the way that Scotch whisky does in Scotland.
Today, let’s hone in on one such example - Tesseron Cognac. The Tesseron family are the owners of Pauillac’s superb Château Pontet-Canet, and their cognac business has the same uncompromising dedication to quality. Back in 1905, Abel Tesseron purchased vineyards in the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions. Then, for almost 100 years they were known as one of the finest distillers and blenders in the region. Tesseron have always had a reputation for holding large reserves of extremely old eaux-de-vie, kept in their thirteenth century crypt.
All that they produced was sold to the big-name houses, who used these rare components to complete their best blends. From 2003 onwards this practice was discontinued, and all of Tesseron cognacs were now released under their own name. The bottlings - unique blends taken from this enviable reserve stock, are listed by lot numbers, and are only available in miniscule quantities.
Tesseron’s Lot No. 29 is the only cognac to have been awarded a perfect score of 100/100 points by distinguished critic Robert Parker. He described it as "as ethereal Cognac as anyone could ever hope to drink." This exceptional blend is crafted from eaux-de-vie distilled in the early 20th century, and aged for over three generations in Limousin oak barrels. Expect aromas and flavours of honey, figs, plums, bitter chocolate and exotic fruits, mingling with notes of leather, cedar, and spices.
New to the range is their first ever non-X.O. release - Tesseron ‘Composition’. This is a lovely sipping Cognac, but it was specifically designed and tested to be used in making the great classic cocktails such as a Sidecar, Vieux Carré, or even a Corpse Reviver (we like the sound of that)!
One for a special occasion is the sensational new Extra Légende. Crafted from grapes exclusively grown in the Tesseron Grande Champagne vineyards, this is a marriage of fifty reserve eaux-de-vies, aged in cellars with differing levels of humidity for at least twenty-five years - a generation in the making.
The Tesseron bottles are simple yet elegant designs, with the higher-end range doubling as decanters. They also come in a range of beautifully presented boxes, making them a considered choice for a celebration or as a sumptuous gift.
The Tesseron range is exclusively Glengarry -- we’ve got a great selection available online, and in store at Victoria Park and Thorndon for those wanting to talk to our team about each one before buying.
