TIFFON Tres Vieille Reserve Cognac – Fins Bois
TIFFON Tres Vieille Reserve Cognac – Fins Bois is made with eaux-de-vie aged for up to 90 years. The grapes come from the Fins Bois cru of the region and have resulted in a Cognac with notes of candied fruit and oak spice.
An assemblage (vatting) of very old Fins Bois, some said to be eighty years old. The house Tiffon too are owning their own vineyards, while the distillery’s located in Jarnac.
A Fins Bois Cognac from the long-running Cognac house, Tiffon. Made using some very well-aged eaux-de-vie, this expressions captures some of the stand-out elements of the region – very impressive indeed.
We’re rather finding plenty of prunes, dried currants, hints of violets, and just touches of thuja wood, pine, and eucalyptus… As for the flowers, I’d rather say peonies, and perhaps carnation (discreetly). Colour: very deep reddish amber. Nose: the older age feels, but in no way is this very fine Cognac tired, or too oaky. Mouth: this has clearly more oak, but the fruits keep singing in the background.
Quite a lot of cocoa and coffee beans, black tea, and behind all that, rather blackberry jam and indeed prunes. Tends to get a little thin, I find it a little regrettable that they’ve gone down to 40% vol. here. Finish: medium, a tad mentholy, with more prunes as well, and a black tea-ishness in the aftertaste. A tad harsh. Comments: isn’t it getting out of fashion to bottle such an old spirit at 40%? I’m totally sure that things would have been very different à 45%, or even 43%. Excellent Cognac and a missed opportunity as well in my opinion.
There are different versions of this “Tres Vieille” bottling from different regions – for example the more available ones from Grande Champagne and Borderies.
About Tiffon Cognac:
With strong ties to the Scandinavian country of Norway, the history of Cognac Tiffon dates back to 1875. Tiffon is to this day a family run business, and is based at the beautiful family home, the Chateau de Triac, just 5 kms from the town of Jarnac. The Chateau itself has a battle-scarred and convoluted history, dating back to the 11th century, which includes being razed to the ground by fires and completely demolished during the Hundred Years’ War. Today, the family grows 40 hectares of Grande Champagne and Fins Bois vines, overseen by cellar master Richard Braastad, who comes from an old cognac producers’ family.
