Eschenauer et Cie Bordeaux - Cognac Fine Champagne Vintage 1868 40% alc by vol.

Tasting note: Eschenauer et Cie Bordeaux - Cognac Fine Champagne Vintage 1868 (40% vol.)

Producer: Eschenauer et Cie (historic trading house based in Bordeaux, specialising in spirits and wine)
Region: Cognac, France (Fine Champagne: Grande & Petite Champagne)
Grape varieties: Ugni Blanc (dominant), Colombard, Folle Blanche
Vintage: 1868
Alcohol content: 40% vol. (adjusted by Angel's Share and dilution in the 19th century)
Ageing: Over 150 years in French oak barrels, followed by decades of bottle ageing in Bordeaux cellars.

Appearance:
Deep, impenetrable mahogany with iridescent copper and gold reflections. The viscous texture paints languid "glass legs" on the wall of the glass - a sign of extreme concentration and maturity over time.

Nose:
A monumental rancio bouquet that opens with aromas of walnut purée, dried mulberries and candied kumquats. Underneath, notes of old sherry cask, burnt honey and leather from a forgotten saddlery unfold. Fine spices (cloves, tonka bean) and earthy depths (truffles, moss) join a smoky vein of peat and roasted coffee. A hint of yellowed books and balsamic vinegar completes the picture.

Palate:
A majestic, silky entry with melting layers of caramel, chestnut purée and candied figs. The acidity is amazingly lively, carried by a sublime bitterness of dark chocolate and cocoa nibs. Nuances of tobacco leaf, sandalwood and a mineral austerity (chalk, graphite) take centre stage. The depth reveals dried mushrooms, black tea and a hint of Amarena cherry - a balancing act between sweet opulence and a tart, elegant finish.

Finish:
Eternally long and philosophical. Final accents of roasted hazelnuts, vanilla pod and a salty hint of sea crystal. An echo of rancio - old wood, honey molasses, dried herbs - lingers like an echo from the 19th century.

Overall impression:
A Cognac of transcendental depth, combining the duality of Bordeaux merchant tradition and Cognac terroir. Fine Champagne elegance blends with the archaic power of a vintage that witnessed the industrialisation of Europe. Despite its age, the brandy retains a youthful freshness, carried by a complexity that only time can give. A liquid archive piece that challenges transience.

Serving suggestion: Serveneat at 18-20 °C in a tulip-shaped glass, accompanied by a Havana cigar (Partagás Serie D No. 4) or a dessert of truffle and chocolate mousse. Also as a counterpoint to foie gras terrine or mature Roquefort.
Ageing potential: virtually immortal under stable conditions (15-18 °C, dark, upright) - this cognac has already arrived in eternity.

"A sip is like travelling through time - from the Belle Époque to the modern age, without losing its soul."

Note: Eschenauer et Cie, once a giant of the Bordeaux trade, selected and stored this cognac as a prestige item. Today, it is one of the last heralds of an era in which spirits were still traded as "liquid gold".