Le Laurier d'Apollon is a Cognac from Petite Champagne, a cru with limestone soils just covered by a thin layer of clay, and which produces bouquety eaux de vie of great finesse. The plot, known as "Mère Robin", is planted exclusively with Ugni Blanc vines that are around twenty years old.
During vinification, fermentation lasts between 5 and 7 days at a controlled temperature (<24°C). The wine, with a PH of 3, is complex and fruity. It is distilled in a 25Hl copper pot still, heavily loaded with lees to reveal its aromatic richness. Aging is carried out in two phases: an initial period of 8 months in new French oak barrels to temper the ardor of the eau de vie, followed by ten years in red oak barrels to achieve the desired aromatic complexity while preserving its freshness. These Cognacs are authentic, with no artificial additives or colorants, no filtration and no chilling. This Laurier d'Apollon cuvée is a limited edition, distilled in 2011, and limited to 5 casks (2,560 bottles).
It's a Cognac to La robe with a soft amber hue and golden, laurel-green highlights. The fruity nose opens with ripe, eXOtic fruits, such as apricot and roasted pineapple, mingled with lightly spicy, mentholated and even aniseed notes. This is followed by warmer aromas of grain, malt and spices, supported by a fine woody structure. The palate is immediately full and fleshy, with pear, peach, plum and apricot flavors. Then it's rich and powerful, invaded by notes of coffee, leather and cedar wood. The finish is wonderfully aromatic and energized by spices, mentholated herbs and cracked pepper.
This Cognac Laurier d'Apollon would be the perfect accompaniment to a coffee tiramisu; but for the more daring, try it with the measured iodine of Marennes Oléron oysters, or the sweet salty bitterness of black olive tapenade.
