Louis XIII - Collections - Rare Cask
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When man and nature work together to create great things, the rewards may sometimes exceed all expectations.A moment of extraordinary perfection occurs, for which no simple explanation can be offered.So it was for LOUIS XIII, with the discovery of this first rare cask.
"In 2004, I was conducting my regular tasting of the LOUIS XIII eaux de vie when one most unusual cask caught my attention. I discovered it in the Chai André Hériard DubreuilThe cask itself had the same history as its brothers, and held the same blend of some twelve hundred eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne. But the alcoholic content was just a touch greater than other casks, and the aromas had an exciting touch of extra potency.This particularity is certainly owing to the fact that it was brought about by slight movements in the cask at the time of the final blending, combined with historic conditions at certain moments in the ageing process. These I think are the factors that account for the striking aromatic intensity of this particular cask. But that is no more than my personal intuition.These enigmas are all part of the magic of cognac.To make sure that my first intuitions were right, I waited for a few more years during which I isolated and regularly tasted this outstanding cask. It did not let me down. I decided then that this first LOUIS XIII RARE CASK should be bottled as a special edition in its own right. I resolved moreover that there would be future editions of LOUIS XIII RARE CASK because in my heart I am sure that I will one day find another, I know that this rare phenomenon could recur.
A LOUIS XIII RARE CASK is a miracle of nature that will never be the same twice over."
The spirit in this one cask is blessed with a touch of extra strength – up from 40 degrees of alcohol to a most unexpected 43.8 degrees. Those rare flavours that are the glory of LOUIS XIII sing out with infinite richness, and a show of distinctive aromatic notes that are the exclusive property of this one LOUIS XIII RARE CASK.BouquetThe nose opens with a show of astonishing intensity, and unfurls layer by layer with fabulous discoveries. First, a formidable bouquet of wild mushrooms. Then a chorus of more lifted underwood notes that summon up visions of the forest in autumn. These are followed in turn by a sparkling display of full, spicy tones that speak of its ageing for a century in Limousin oak. Then gingerbread, wax, nuts and fresh mint round off the final bouquet.AromasStrength on the palate is supplanted here by a wave of rounded textures. From the first sip, the palate is showered with a thousand ornaments, marked by dense notes of mushroom joining in celebration with bold tones of candied fruit. You can almost taste the stone walls of the cellars.The balance between harmony and aromatic intensity touches on perfection. The famous length of LOUIS XIII is rendered as nectar, with a presence and density in the mouth that seem to know no limit.This is LOUIS XIII in its most rare and distinctive incarnation.
Crystal masters Baccarat have pushed back the boundaries of their art and have successfully met the challenge of reinterpreting the iconic decanter of LOUIS XIII in black crystal, an extremely rare version of crystal.Each crystal decanter is a spectacular race against time, executed by a team of some twenty master craftsmen working in unison, to obtain after more than fifty operations a perfectly opaque blackness. The decanter's neck is desssed in palladium, a rare and precious metal that ranks with gold and platinum.Each numbered decanter is a genuine work of art in crystal, requiring nigh on two weeks’ work to complete.
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