Frapin 1270 Cognac Grande Champagne (70cl in gift box) NV

Here’s an after dinner treat the French would rather keep for themselves. It’s from the Frapin family’s estate in the heart of Grande Champagne – home to the very finest French brandies. Since 1270, the family have accumulated 316 hectares of Premier Cru vineyard, most of which is planted with Ugni Blanc. To make Cognac, the family first makes Vin de Charente from the hand harvested fruit of their vines. Master distillers Gilles Lardant and Alex Cosson gently double distill the wine to produce a pure eau de vie which is then transferred to French oak casks from the forests of Limousin. Then cellar master Patrice Piveteau oversees the ageing, placing casks in different areas of the cellar to achieve different flavour profiles for blending.