Raison Personelle 3.0 Cognac Grande Champagne

D&M NOTES (09/2026):

TASTING: The Raison Personnelle Grande Champagne 3.0 is a nod to the owners' background in the Tech industry in which releases are labeled sequentially. It is a 20 year old plus blend that was bottled around 2022, most likely hailing from 1998 to 2002. It opens with an aroma set of flambeed orange peel, stone fruits, oak spice, candied ginger, cinnamon and clove. On the palate there is a sense of texture and viscosity (wood fired still?) with a flavor set of chicory root, orange zest, raw honey, and a firm sense of wood shavings to finish.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:  Husband and wife team Bertrand and de Witasse were both raised in Paris and had early careers in technology before, in the mid 1990's, they completely pivoted their lives to the world of Cognac, taking over the distillation operations of Bertrand's uncle in the Angeac-Champagne region. They immersed themselves in learning the involved business of farming and distillation from the ground up holding on to certain traditions, including his uncle's wood-fired still, while also modernizing  and refurbishing facilities and equipment. The domaine today is made up of 22 hectares of sustainably farmed Ugni Blanc vines.

PRODUCTION: The de Witasse family distills about 5300 gallons of pure alcohol a year (most of which is under contract.)  They keep a very small amount for themselves that ages in a small cave on the other side of the property-- this is generally from the wood fired still. The family ages the new make spirit first in newer oak for about a year before transferring it to older oak barrels. The alcohol by volume is generally cut with water to 60% ABV,  then little by little brought to 50% ABV where they let nature take over. The couple release about one cask a year, usually coming from a blend of two to five barrels from several different vintages.