For day six of our Cognac Expert Advent Calendar, we feature the Grateaud Hors d’Âge Cognac from the Borderies cru. Grateaud, established in 1920, is a family-run producer of Pineau des Charentes, Cognac, and liqueurs. Their estate, located near Chérac in the hamlet of La Maine Garnier, spans 41 hectares of prime Borderies vineyard land, all within a 3-kilometre radius of the property. Recently, they expanded by renting an additional 16 hectares of vines, also in the Borderies commune of Chérac. A few years ago, they acquired 12 hectares in the Petite Champagne cru in Rouffiac, although the eaux-de-vie from these vines are still ageing.
An interesting historical note: in 1932, the French Agriculture Minister awarded David Grateaud’s great-grandfather, Alphonse Grateaud, the prestigious Chevalier du Mérite Agricole (Knight of Agricultural Merit) for his exceptional contributions to agriculture. This honor, established in 1883, was second only to the French Legion of Honour at the time.
In the Borderies, the Grateaud estate nurtures some truly old vines, including centenarians and others planted as far back as 1951. The terroir features silex and clay, contributing to the unique profile of their Cognacs. By contrast, their vines in Rouffiac, Petite Champagne, grow in limestone-rich soil that dries out quickly and lies at a lower altitude, making them more susceptible to spring frosts.
But enough background—let’s take a more exciting approach to discover this estate by diving straight into their Grateaud Hors d’Âge Cognac!
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