La Maison Delamain is renowned for producing only Cognacs from Grande Champagne and at least XO quality. At the heart of these creations is the La Pléiade range, produced in limited editions, which is structured around 3 collections defined according to aging times ; thus we find respectively Révélation, Plénitude and Apogée.
This 1969 Témoignage M.Dauge edition comes under the Apogée Collection.
Monsieur Dauge (85) owns 10 hectares of vines in Bourg-Charente in Grande Champagne. This Cognac was distilled at his home in 1969 in a small 6 hectoliter still, which was the last campaign. Still in Bourg-Charente by the river (wet cellar), it then spent its first years in 600L red barrels, where the eau-de-vie is less marked by wood, followed by aging in 400L barrels until its peak. Finally, it was transferred to cellar Delamain in Jarnac, where it matured for some time in 270L barrels, before finishing in 30L dame-jeanne (glass containers). It was bottled in 2023 and only 53 bottles reached the French market.
In summary, the Cognac Delamain Pléiade Témoignage M.Dauge 1969 Collection Apogée comes from a single harvest (1969), a single Cru (Grande Champagne), a single cask (no blending) and bottled in absolute purity (no sweeteners or colorants such as caramel, for example).
The color is a beautiful mahogany with copper highlights. The nose still offers lovely fruity notes of fig and pear, followed by equally charming aromas of fresh butter, brioche and raisin bread. The palate is of great finesse, with the natural velvetiness of old Cognacs. The fruit hinted at on the nose is repeated, accompanied by notes of blond tobacco, leather and nutmeg. The finish, thought to be eternal, wraps around the rancio with a gentle sensation of sweetness.
You can safely bring a pigeon with orange and sweet potato purée to this Grande Champagne 1969 Témoignage M.Dauge de la Maison Delamain, it easily accommodates it. But an old mimolette Extra, aged 24 months, with flavors of fresh walnuts and toasted almonds will guarantee an unforgettable experience.
