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A Grande Champagne XO, a Premier Cru Cognac by François Voyer, this decanter reveals a blend of eaux-de-vie aged between ten and twenty-five years, distilled on lees and aged in Limousin oak barrels. Its amber color gives way to a nose of peach, quince, and vanilla, followed by a velvety palate where the rancio notes create a warm, lingering finish. A meditative cuvée, tailor-made for Grande Champagne connoisseurs.
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Today, Maison François Voyer benefits from Pierre Vaudon's family business, which covers 70 hectares, including 8 hectares of 1er cru Grande Champagne vines around Saint-Même-les-Carrières.
In the commune of Verrières, in Grande Champagne, 1er Cru of Cognac, Maison François Voyer has been cultivating vines and distilling eaux-de-vie for over 200 years.
Today, under the direction of Pierre Vaudon, cellar master and renowned oenologist, the house perpetuates know-how handed down through five generations.
Over the decades, Maison François Voyer has distinguished itself through its unwavering commitment to quality. As early as the late 19th century, Paul André, one of the Rares winegrowers to distill his own production, left a precious legacy, including eaux-de-vie that have received prestigious distinctions. Among them, a gold medal for a brandy over 50 years old at the brandy competition in Segonzac, capital of the Grande Champagne.
The 60s marked a turning point with Guy Chauchet, a fervent advocate of ageing eaux-de-vie, who enriched the house's stocks. It was also the time of the first successful bottlings. The revamping of the range in the 90s heightened connoisseurs' interest in this exceptional terroir.
Today, Maison François Voyer works with numerous winemakers from Grande Champagne to perpetuate the tradition and excellence of its Cognacs. The eaux-de-vie are carefully blended by Pierre Vaudon. Distributed in over 30 countries around the world, François Voyer Cognacs have also earned a place on the menus of the finest restaurants. Medals won at prestigious international competitions testify to the reputation of the house's eaux-de-vie.
Pierre Vaudon took over the brand in 2017. He continues to keep the family heritage alive, preserving the values of hard work and perfectionism handed down by his ancestors. The house remains true to its vision: to offer ever more aromatically ambitious Cognacs from Grande Champagne, to accompany its consumers' finest moments and earn their loyalty, while respecting the generations who built this exceptional heritage.
Made entirely from Grande Champagne, a Premier Cru region of Cognac, this XO from Maison François Voyer blends eaux-de-vie aged between ten and twenty-five years, selected from the family’s 28-hectare vineyard located in Verrières and Ambleville. Established in 1870 and passed down through five generations, this artisanal house maintains a direct connection between the vineyard, the still, and the cellar—without intermediaries—which gives each cuvée a consistency of terroir rarely achieved at this price point.
Tasting Notes
The color of this eau-de-vie features amber tones with golden and coppery highlights, displaying beautiful clarity. On the initial nose, scents of vineyard peach and quince paste come through boldly, accompanied by a note of ripe plum. After a few minutes of aeration, the bouquet deepens with soft vanilla, toasted oak, and subtle spices, along with a hint of rancio that signals the blend’s maturity. On the palate, it opens with a supple and velvety attack, characteristic of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie aged in a humid cellar. The full-bodied, rich palate develops flavors of dried fruit, cocoa, leather, and mellowed wood. The long, warm finish is marked by rancio and an aromatic persistence that confirms the quality of the aging process.
Food and Wine Pairings
This XO is best enjoyed neat, as a digestif, after a gourmet meal. Its aromatic profile, rich in dried fruits and rancio notes, pairs remarkably well with a square of 70% cocoa grand cru dark chocolate or a few candied figs. A semi-cured foie gras or a full-flavored blue cheese, such as a Roquefort AOP, also makes for a superb pairing. The complexity of this blend deserves to be savored without ice, to preserve its full richness.
Aging Potential
This cognac is best served in a tulip-shaped glass, which concentrates the aromas toward the nose while limiting the ethanol saturation typical of balloon glasses. Pour three to four centiliters into the widest part of the glass, and gently warm the glass in the palm of your hand for a few minutes to gradually release the tertiary nuances and the rancio. Bring your nose to the glass in several stages to first capture the volatile notes and then the deeper ones. Once bottled, cognac no longer evolves: an unopened bottle can be stored indefinitely in a cool, dry place away from light, in an upright position to preserve the integrity of the cork. After opening, the bottle retains its qualities for several months if it is carefully recorked.
The vintage in the vineyard
François Voyer’s eaux-de-vie come entirely from the family vineyard, twenty-eight hectares in Grande Champagne, spread across the towns of Verrières and Ambleville. This terroir is built on Cretaceous limestone soils, with a subsoil of soft limestone known as “Terre de Champagne,” which gives the eaux-de-vie their characteristic finesse and promotes slow aging, conducive to a long, lingering finish. The sole grape variety grown is Ugni Blanc, which is naturally acidic, low in alcohol, and low in sugar—qualities that make it the ideal raw material for the Charente double distillation process. The temperate oceanic climate of the Charente region further defines this exceptional terroir.
Work in the Cellar
The base wine—a dry white with low alcohol content—is distilled on its fine lees, a practice that enriches the distillate with aromatic precursors. Double distillation is carried out in Charente-style copper pot stills using the “repasse” method, following traditional techniques: an initial heating produces the “brouillis,” while the main heating extracts the “cœur” (heart), which is carefully separated from the “têtes” (heads) and “queues” (tails) by the Cellar Master. Aging begins in new Limousin oak barrels and then continues in older barrels in a humid cellar, which promotes gradual rounding out and a controlled reduction in alcohol content. Since 2010, François Voyer has used a blending technique inspired by the solera system for this expression, ensuring consistency in style from one year to the next. The “angels’ share”—natural evaporation of two to three percent per year—slowly concentrates the aromas over the decades.
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Founded in 1971, the Club Trésors de Champagne is a very exclusive circle that brings together 25 of the region’s finest artisan winemakers. United by a love for their terroir, respect for traditional craftsmanship, and a vision for the future, these exceptional winemakers have been rigorously selected for the excellence of their work. Membership in the club is granted only upon sponsorship by one or more existing members.
For them, champagne is not just a celebratory drink; it is a unique story told through every bottle.
The “Spécial Club” cuvée
Being a member of this highly exclusiveclub allows winemakers to produce a unique, vintage-dated prestige cuvée: the Spécial Club. Recognized as the ultimate symbol of their expertise, this cuvée undergoes a rigorous process to ensure impeccable quality.
To earn this coveted “label,” each bottle must pass through rigorous stages:
