We’ve reached the fifteenth pouch in the Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, and today it’s the Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime. I’ve been especially excited for this one, and for a rather whisky-related reason. A few years ago, whilst working with Dingle Distillery and assisting Graham and Fay Coull at Whisky Live Paris, I had the chance to introduce Graham to some cognacs during a break. Naturally, I brought him to the Vallein Tercinier booth.
We tasted their full lineup, and Graham was so impressed that I introduced him to the Vallein Tercinier family. This led to the acquisition of several cognac casks to mature or finish some Dingle whiskey. Over the next two editions of Whisky Live Paris, the Vallein Tercinier team stopped by to sample the Dingle whiskey finished in their casks – and they loved it! But enough about my story – let’s dive into Vallein Tercinier and take a closer look at their Liaison Intime Cognac.
Vallein Tercinier
The story of Vallein-Tercinier began in 1480 when Robin Tercinier settled in Saintonge. In 1791, Louis Vallein purchased the Domaine des Forges, and his son, Georges Vallein, founded a commercial entity in 1850, starting to bottle and sell Cognac. Georges expanded the business as owner, distiller, and merchant, a legacy later continued by his son Paul, who acquired the Camille Dupuis company in 1920 to introduce unique blends and bottled Cognac.
After World War I, Louis Tercinier, Georges’ grandson, joined the family business, bringing a decisive push to expand markets across Europe. His son Robert joined him in 1947, during the post-war boom. The house thrived during the “Trente Glorieuses,” with its distillery running at full capacity to meet demand. By 1980, Vallein-Tercinier embraced new opportunities, exporting to Asia while strengthening its reputation for exceptional eaux-de-vie and reliability.
In the 1990s, Robert’s children, Louis and Catherine Tercinier, took the helm, dividing responsibilities between farming and commerce. Proud to uphold their ancestral legacy, they continue to follow the path laid by generations before them.
Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime Cognac Review
The Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime Cognac is a blend of two rare Fins Bois eaux-de-vie: a Lot 75, previously unreleased, and a Très Vieux Fins Bois aged for nearly 40 years, also used in the Small Batch 46. Made from 100% Ugni Blanc grapes and distilled with lees in traditional 15-hectolitre stills, it has matured in both humid and dry cellars to develop its character.
This Cognac is bottled at natural colour with no additives. As Guillaume Tercinier describes, ‘Liaison Intime brings together two Cognacs, timid in their individual ageing, but united, they reveal the sweet and delicate fragrance of their land.’ About €200 a bottle but it seems to be sold out, unfortunately.
Colour:
Tawny
Nose:
Neat: Lovely aromas of dried apricots and plums, balanced by fresh eucalyptus, honey, and beeswax. Notes of vanilla and raisins emerge, followed by orange peel, peach, jasmine, and a subtle hint of banana. Delicate touches of milk and white chocolate round out the nose beautifully.
Palate:
Neat: The palate is less fruity than the nose suggests, leaning instead toward rancio, cedar, sandalwood, nutmeg, clove, underripe plums and apricots, wood bitterness, leather, and cigar tobacco. Jasmine tea adds a delicate floral touch. A bright citrusy layer of candied ginger, lemon juice, and orange peel provides freshness, alongside hints of liquorice. The mouthfeel is generous, with a subtle astringency that gently dries the gums.
Finish:
The finish is long, with lingering sour citrus notes, soft wood tannins, warming spices, and a touch of eucalyptus. The gentle astringency persists, leaving a lasting impression for several minutes.
Comments:
This Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime cognac is stunning, as it mixes rancio, wood, fruits, spices, flavours associated with all seasons, in a balanced way. Despite the reduction the mouthfeel is good, and if we trust what Guillaume Tercinier says, it’s better than the sum of its parts. I really need to get on the other Vallein Tercinier samples I have on my desk and shelves…
