Recently I was lucky enough to be introduced Ragnaud-Sabourin Cognac at a tasting here in London. Found into the heart of Grande Champagne, this family-run estate has been distilling, aging, and pouring over Cognac since 1850.
Their Cognac is made up of two grapes: 90% Ugni Blanc Grapes and 10% Folle Blanche. What sets them apart is they still do everything themselves—cultivating 35 hectares of premier cru vines, twice distilling in the traditional Charentais still, and aging their eaux-de-vie in French oak barrels in their family cellars. For them, it’s the only way to ensure each release tastes exactly as it should.
Here are a few of the ones I sampled!
VS – 4 Year
Their VS shows why Cognac’s first cru matters. Floral, bright, lightly honeyed, apricot – an ideal introduction to their style. It’s youthful but never raw, and its citrus-and-stone-fruit core makes it perfect either on its own or in a well-built cocktail.
VSOP – 10 Year
If the VS is the opening act, the VSOP is where the story deepens. It takes on warmth: stewed fruit, soft spice, a little toasted oak. The palate is astonishingly silky, drifting into notes of pear, prune, and chocolate. A long, elegant finish brings you right back for another sip.
Réserve Spéciale – 20 Years Old
Here comes the nutty, gourmand side of the house. Roasted almonds meet nougat and toffee. The higher proof adds tension, shaping a finish that’s both deep and slightly oxidative—beautifully old-school.
Fontvieille – 35 Years Old
Honeyed, nutty, gently spiced, and full of roasted fruit, beeswax, rancio, and even a whisper of linden. It’s generous without being heavy and finishes with a confidence only time can create.
Paradis Héritage G. Briand – 100 Years Old
A masterpiece drawn from eaux-de-vie dating to the early 1900s. Dried apricot, date, nutmeg, marmalade, walnut, cocoa, and honey glide across the palate. The finish goes on and on, a quiet reminder that time is the most important ingredient in Cognac.
For anyone who loves to explore the world tof Cognac, you just can’t miss Ragnaud-Sabourin.