Frapin 1270 Grande Champagne Cognac

I find myself nipping away at my older brandies and the next thing I know I’ve got a half-empty bottle that I wanted to savor for years and that makes me sad. What makes me happy again? Finding an every-day sipper this good at this price. Why is it so good? Possibly because Frapin has had SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY years of practice! Established in 1270 (when the Crusades were a thing) and still family owned and run, Frapin sits on 240 hectares of vineyards in Grande Champagne, the best of the best of the Cognac region. Aromas of toffee and lime blossom entice us, with a vanilla note from the limousine oak, and surprisingly a touch of leather which usually appears in much older Cognac. A special distillation over fine lees gives us a rich, round palate with dried fruit, cinnamon toast, and tropical spice and a finish that goes for miles.