Spirit of the Week: Léopold Gourmel Cognac
by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager
Our newest Cognac line is not only gourmet, it’s Gourmel. As in Léopold Gourmel, a connoisseur house of Cognac owned by a passionate Cognac man and co-founder Olivier Blanc. Founded in 1972, the house was named after the founder’s grandfather, a saddle maker by trade, hence the horse head logo.
Monsieur Blanc presents a range of Cognac, up to 25 years old, that reflect the core flavor of each age. The flavors mature from the bold fruit of “Age de Fruits” to the heavenly flower-spice of “Age des Épices”. Moreover, the Gourmel Cognacs are totally pure, from the vineyard to the bottle, taking steps that are overlooked by much of the Cognac industry:
- no chemicals or pesticides in the vineyard. Which is nice for the hardworking grape vines, since their roots penetrate the ancient Cognac subsoils to a depth of 80 feet or more.
- Although French law prevents stating the vintage of the Cognac on the label, each Gourmel Cognac comes from a single vintage, and are never blended with another vintage.
- Gourmel does not chill-filter their Cognacs. More and more spirits around the world (Scotch, in particular) are turning to this gentle bottling technique to ensure all the flavor and texture remain from the barrel to the bottle.
- Gourmel avoids the additives that plague some market-leading Cognacs, namely caramel color, oak extract, and sugar. You really get the flavor of the grape, the soil, the cask, the very air of Cognac, expressed in these beautiful brandies.
I’ve had my eye on Léopold Gourmel for many years. It’s a pleasure to bring them to The Party Source, and add them to our stable of artisan Cognacs. Saddle up with a new Cognac!
Léopold Gourmel Premières Saveurs $52.99
Léopold Gourmel Age du Fruit $80.99
Léopold Gourmel Age des Fleur $96.99
Léopold Gourmel Age des Épices $158.99