Jean Fillioux Single Cask tasting and Marthe Cognac Discovery

Dear Epicureans,

In December 2007, I finally had a chance to take some time to go back to Jean Fillioux cognac house in Charente county after a long trip in Asia right in the heart of Grande Champagne vineyards.


At the end of the morning, we finished our discussion by a great tasting with Pascal Fillioux (Fourth Generation, see picture below).


We began with Cask N°76 which was in a certain way corresponding to the vintage year 1976. I should say great nose, fine in the mouth and with a very nice finish at the end, a typical Grande Champagne cognac (see below).




Then, just followed by the cask N°70, just to compare if they were any difference noticeable in between two cognacs from the 70's (right side).
Imagine a second, the bottle was n°523 of 540 bottles, you can still tell master blender or head taster is capable to maintain and to reveal the same extreme finesse with a long after-taste to each one.




Well, we just had a wonderful family's lunch with Mrs.Monique Fillioux and their son Christophe. And, early afternoon I had the privelege to taste Cognac Marthe collection(see below) which is also owned by Pascal Fillioux. The history from this cognac, it is a lovely story. But, to make it short the cognac was made for Mrs. Marthe Chevrolet (yes, the famous car dealer Chevrolet) who falled in love with Cognac region end of nineteen century and decided to establish herself with a Fillioux family member.
The range is for connoisseur and for artist because each color will remind you the palette of a painter. The "Aquarelle" XO (average 18 years old, Grande Champagne cognac 100%) in blue on left side, center "Fauve" Extra (average 23 years old, Grande Champagne cognac 100%) and "Sepia" Very Rare (average 30 years old and in limited quantities, Grande Champagne cognac 100%). This cognac is sold to key accounts in duty paid in Europe and in United States and also in some Duty Free chains. You will be very surprised by this quality cognac.

I would like to thank you for your warm welcome and to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Great finish for this end of the year with a glass of Reserve Familiale and a great cuban cigar!

MFM

Back to Michel Couvreur atmosphere in Burgundy/ October 2007

Dear Whisky connoisseurs and friends,

I should say back to Michel Couvreur's land instead of Burgundy region even if Michel Couvreur's house is located not too far from Beaune city.

(above Michel Couvreur and myself just before going down to his cellar)

I had the privilege to visit him a couple days there in mid-October. Mr. Michel Couvreur kindly invited me to stay in his lovely guest house just above the cellars. Do not ask me, but at night is almost a travel to Scotland because all the ingredients are combined to feel it. (see below)
Next day, we made a special selection with Mr.Couvreur for a tasting conducted by Mr.Jean-Arnaud Frantzen(head taster, on the left) and assisted by Mr.Cyril Deschamps (son-in-law of Mr.Michel Couvreur, on the right)

















First, we started with 10 years old "Fleeting Single Cask".
Nose: roasted, vanilla, floral and fresh
Taste: elegant, round and good start with a long finish.
I will definitely recommand this one during Spring season.









Second, it was the "Blossoming auld sherried", 18 years old.
Nose: floral, aromatic and fruity
Taste: old cognac, very long in the mouth and touch of quince at the end.
I will say we are getting to another stratosphere.










Third, extreme and magnificient "For Ever Young Pristine, 35 years old"
Nose: light amber, floral and blond tobacco
Taste: finesse, great finish with a long aftertaste.
I will give one word to this whisky "Quintessence"









I almost forgot during our tasting I did ask to Mr.Couvreur and to Mr.Frantzen if they had something extremely special and unique they never offered to anybody. And, I had the honor to sip from the Cask 69 (April 1969) Malt whisky of 38 years old, (see below). I will keep for me my tasting notes on this one due to its rarety but I would only add it is strickly coming from Mr.Couvreur paradise cellar.




I would like to thank again Mrs. Couvreur and Mr.Couvreur and their team for their always warm welcome.
Cheers in Bouze-les-Beaune!
MFM

Lucien Lurton family/September 2007

Dear Bordeaux Lovers,

During the harvest season and last week of September 2007, I had a privelege to visit several chateaux of the Lurton family, Chateau Gruaud-Larose (2nd growth of St-Julien), Ch.Haut-Bages Libéral (5th growth of Pauillac) , Ch.Camensac (5th growth of Haut-Medoc) and Ch.Chasse-Spleen.

(Ch.Gruaud-Larose, Mr.Francois Villars on the right)

Lurton family is the largest independent Estate and Chateau owner family in the Bordeaux region. Lucien Lurton gradually acquired 11 estates : Ch.Brane-Cantenac (2nd growth of Margaux owned by Henri Lurton), Ch.Haut-Nouchet (Pessac-Leognan, organic wine owned by Louis Lurton), Ch.Climens ( 1st growth of Barsac owned by Bérénice Lurton), Ch.Dufort-Vivens (2nd growth of Margaux owned by Gonzague Lurton), Ch.Camarsac (Bordeaux superieur owned by Bérénice Lurton), Ch. Tour de Bessan (Cru Bourgeois of Margaux owned by Marie-Laure Lurton), Ch.Bouscaut (classified growth of Graves-Pessac-Leognan, owned by Sophie Lurton), Ch.Duplessis (Cru Bourgeois of Moulis, owned by Marie-Laure Lurton), Ch.Desmirail (3rd growth of Margaux, owned by Denis Lurton), Ch.Villegeorge (Cru Bourgeois Superieur of Haut-Medoc, owned by Marie-Laure Lurton) and Ch.Doisy Dubroca (2nd growth of Sauternes, owned by Louis Lurton).





After the visit of the cellars and tasting of 2006 vintage of Gruaud-Larose and 2nd wine Sarget (above) we went to see Mrs.Claire Villars-Lurton owner of Chateau Haut-Bages Libéral (below)

Following this visit done by Mr.Stefano Ruini (wine maker of Ch.Haut-Bages Libéral), we went down of Pauillac estate to meet Mr.Jean-Pierre Foubet owner of Ch.Camensac and Ch.Chasse-Spleen in Saint Laurent Médoc who conducted an amazing tasting of vintage 2006 of his two wines (see below).

I have to admit I was astonished the richness of these wines. Well, we went back to Margaux to see Mr.Gonzague Lurton owner of Ch.Dufort-Vivens and we did a stop at Ch.Ferrière too owned by Mrs.Claire Villars-Lurton ( below)

(Mr.Gonzague Lurton, left side in the cellar Ch.Dufort-Vivens)

(Vinification process and great cellar atmosphere at Ch.Ferrière)

To end-up, this great and fantastic time we finished by the visit of Ch.Brane-Cantenac in Margaux owned by Mr.Henri Lurton and Ch.Desmirail owned by Mr.Denis Lurton (below).
(Vinfication process and cellar at Ch.Desmirail)

I would like to thank you everybody for their warm welcome especially during the harvest period. Sip responsibly..... MFM

QI Liquor or Chee Liquor/September 2007

Dear Connoisseurs,

QI liquor or Chee (meanning: Life force in all things) is made from a super-premium selection of Chinese tea with a base of chardonnay brandy will give you an extreme sensation of flavors when you'll drink it on ice or with different types of cocktails. It is right now the most popular drink in the US, as it is very often used by bartenders in their creation of NEW exotic cocktails.

Two recipes:


- Happy Ending

2 parts Qi White

1 part Vodka - Citron

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon. Finally, a cocktail with a happy ending!

- Tiger Woods

1 part Qi Black

1 parts iced tea

1 parts lemonade

Pour into a tall glass over ice. Mix and garnish with lemon. Wow!

* M, St. Helena

Here below is Mr.Laz Kaufman (president of LK Consultants, left side)
in New York pouring on his terrasse with a wonderful view of the big apple skyline a glass of Qi Black liquor.
Mr. Kaufman built up Jagermeister in the US market and was part of the success of Grey Goose (Vodka). Today is helping Mr. Brian Backus to develop Qi Liqueur in the US market.
Enjoy! MFM

Vinexpo/June 2007

Dear all,

Here, it was taking place in Bordeaux city from June 17-21 the world famous wine and spirits exhibition "Vinexpo 2007". Four of our producers/suppliers were presented during these five days. It was great to host our customers and to meet new ones. You'll notice too I have personally given a brief recap of each houses below:

1- De Telmont Champagne House (Hall 3.V346)

Family house in the grande Champagne tradition since 4 generations, Champagne J. De Telmont proposes cuvées of an exceptional quality, due to a constant search for perfection and experience of vines and wines.










Cuvée O.R. 1735 (Vintage 1997)

















2- Gélas Armagnac House (Hall 3. T321)
Gélas created in 1865 is the specialist of vintage Armagnacs and it presented a range of fine wine spirits from the Bas-Armagnac and Tenareze regions.














3- H.Cuvelier & Fils/Vignobles & Signature (Hall 1. A97)

The H. Cuvelier & Fils company distributes, both in France and all over the world, on an exclusive basis, the CUVELIER properties: Chateau Le Crock and Chateau Moulin Riche,
as well as classified growths and a middle range Chateaux.

Gelas armagnac/June 2007

Dear Connoisseurs,

Here, we are at Gelas house founded in 1865 by Baptiste Gélas, Pierre's grandfather. Going back to Mr.Philippe Gelas father's, we can say he had youthful energy and enthusiasm to go on when he went up to Paris, following World War II, to open a distribution agency.

Then , following the retirement of Louis, his father joined Gersoise Company in 1952. Passionate about wine, Pierre in the sixties decided to innovate by carrying a complete range of wines from all over France. He is the first winemaker-merchant to present a range of Armagnacs from 25 different producers. All bottled on the estates where they are produced, these Armagnacs are 100% folle blanche and 100% baco 22A.


Early June, Mr.Philippe Gélas (Pierre son's) and president of Gélas Company today invited me to discover more about his family and his armagnac in Vic-Fezensac. (above)

Paradise cellar















Tasting room.


For instance, we had the privilege to taste an old vintage selection 1908, 1927, 1937, 1957 and 1967 below, we can call it a nice treatment.




3 years ago, Mr. Philippe Gélas launched a selection of 3 types of Armagnac made from one variety of grapes at 100% : Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc and Baco with an ageing of 18 years old

After this wondeful passage in Gers county, I would like to thank Mr. Gélas for his warm welcome and Santé!!!
Michel FM

Michel Couvreur Whisky/May 2007

Dear Readers,

It is with pleasure that I would like to introduce you to Mr. Michel Couvreur(below). At the end of May, I had a special day with him at his house not far from "Beaune" in burgundy region.

Actually, we are in Bouze-lès-Beaune. Pure coincidence Mr.Couvreur would tell you. In fact, he started in 1951 as Burgundian wine dealer, set himself up in London in 1959 before emigrating to Scotland in 1964.



Of Flemish ilk and nicknamed The Last of the Mohicans named by the Danish media in 1988, he found himself spellbound by the mystique of whisky to the extent that he immersed himself in the production process from the choice of the most ancient strain of cereals through to that of the sherry casks -the real key to the worldwide thrimph of Scotch. He added to Scottich practice and tradition an uncompromising respect of "ancient and honest usages" instituted by the French laws concerning the "Appellations d'Origine Controlee" and became the epitome of excellence despite the obstacles created by the rapid industrialisation of the production process of whisky. For him whisky is the most refined spirit of the world!






Let's enter to "Paradise" in the depths of the Bouze-lès-Beaune shed where lay under glass the very old whiskies, at the heart of Burgundians rocks, where the greatest wines of the world are taking roots. What can I say, just listen this dream.....but it is real.



After this walk, I felt I was in Scotland but 150 years ago especially with the atmosphere of the cellars combined with an excellent rate of humidity.
After the ageing part in oak sherry casks, the immensly precious residuum is then sealed into large demijohns or giant bottles where it will indefefinitely stay intact. (see below)





Then, we had tasting with Mr. Jean-Arnaud Frantzen(below left) who is trully the second head taster and an extreme connoisseur in term of blending at Michel Couvreur's house.



We started with the Grain Whisky which aged 4 years in oak casks. Slight iodine fragance with a hint of almond.
It is superb on ice (below right side)

After we tasted the Single Malt Couvreur's Clearack which is a vatting of malts distilled in Scotland and aged in pristine casks of very old sherry then reduced at bottling to 43% alcohol by volume with Loch Katrine water. When you sip, you can find the dry fruits and elegant grassy freshness with the spicy. Needs to be served chilled.



Of course, something else was brought to me as a new born of Michel Couvreur's series The Blossoming Auld Sherried. An exact replica of the best Victorian era malt: unforgettable roundness and strengh, together with some freshness only barley can yield. Grand Bas-Armagnac style enhanced by Scottish craftmanship. 45° a truly signature of unusual style but if you are curious you won't be disapointed!













Finally, we have the chance to taste two rarities the Very Sherried which was distilled on the 26th November and aged over 24 years in a Sherry cask. Dark, amber robe with some ruby reflects. Fascinating tropical-style sensuality, vanilla, almond and sherry with very long finish. 45° (see on the left)













To end up my day, I had some Ever Young Prisitine
with the master blender. Astounding : juvenile strenght within very old age! Distilled on the 23rd May 1970 limpid ruby colour with golden glints, caressing aroma, long warm sherry flavours. Total production 350 litres at 49° bottled only in 50cl to satisfy demand.

I would like to thank you again for your warm welcome.
Cheers! Michel