Delamain Extra de Grande Champagne Cognac (6 x 700mL), France.

For over 200 years, this tiny family company have handcrafted Cognac from only the finest area in Cognac (Grande Champagne). Delamain is renowned for its unusual pale amber hue - a sign of premium quality - along with exquisite bouquet, complex elegant flavours, exceptional delicacy and lingering smooth finish.

Older than Pale & Dry XO and Vesper, the EXTRA de Grande Champagne shows deep maturity and a full-bodied bouquet. It is the perfect expression of an old Cognac from Grande Champagne.The EXTRA de Grande Champagne is an original decanter, designed and blown for Delamain. The shield on the decanter, comes from an original plate made by Henry Delamain in 1762 at his delftware factory in Dublin for the wedding of his nephew James Delamain to Marie Ranson.

Style

It shows deep maturity and full-bodied buqouet. It is the perfect expression of an old Cognac from Grande Champagne.

Colour

Brilliant amber topaz with a wondeful soft golden clarity.

Bouquet

Power of the perfumes, length of the fragrance

Palate

Fullness, deep maturity, extreme mellowness. Intense and complex fruitiness.

ABV 40%

Ageing

Each cognac are aged separetely (longer than for the Pale & Dry or Vesper), owing to their origin and then the blend itself, made at the end of the ageing period, is aged for two years more (marriage). Maturede in well seasoned Limousin oak casks (350L).

• "Delamain, one of the oldest independent producers in Cognac, makes Extra entirely from fruit sourced from Grande Champagne, blending very old Cognacs (older than XO) to produce a refined, gentle, deeply textured and captivating drink. It certainly is “le Cognac des connoisseurs". On the nose, you first perceive old fashioned rose and a hint of cherry blossom, then the wood comes into play and integrates the fruit. On the palate, it displays strong rancio characters, a beautiful velvety softness with a hard edge of raisin and walnut. It finishes long, strong and dry for a sublime experience."Franz Scheurer, Gourmet Traveller WINE (DEC/2008)
• Rating 95 - Pleasant aromas of green grapes and raw honey. The palate is warm with tastes of cinnamon and nutmeg and notes of buttered pastry. Texturally it is fine grained and elegant, with long tasting flavours on the finish.Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2014