tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post5679653553557693800..comments2024-03-13T04:04:32.568-07:00Comments on Sku's Recent Eats: Two New Chateau de Pellehaut Armagnacs from K&Lskuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-89974664603272689892013-08-22T10:42:48.670-07:002013-08-22T10:42:48.670-07:00Sku, you make a compelling case for both expressio...Sku, you make a compelling case for both expressions, and happily even the Baraillon is still available. Many thanks!WTKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-67636956637406996572013-08-22T09:30:52.030-07:002013-08-22T09:30:52.030-07:00That's a great question WTK, thanks for asking...That's a great question WTK, thanks for asking for the rest of us. I have been on the fence about the Baraillon for a while (been buying too many bottles!) but I think I may go ahead and bite the bullet now.Matt Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905030222578936222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-44738672396383578752013-08-21T19:29:43.342-07:002013-08-21T19:29:43.342-07:00WTK, tough call as both are excellent. Baraillon ...WTK, tough call as both are excellent. Baraillon has more fruit and some sweetness whereas the '96 Pellehaut is drier with a mix of spice and oak. If I had to pick just one, I'd probably go with the Baraillon, but they're both fantastic.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-47781593227989491312013-08-21T15:42:30.712-07:002013-08-21T15:42:30.712-07:00Sku, Thanks for your periodic Armagnac posts, you&...Sku, Thanks for your periodic Armagnac posts, you're definitely filling a need with these reviews. Which expression do you rate higher, the '96 Chateau de Pellehaut, or the '85 Domaine de Baraillon?WTKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-47476364102907104932013-08-20T11:22:33.021-07:002013-08-20T11:22:33.021-07:00I hear you man!I hear you man!Matt Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905030222578936222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-26842951437011772862013-08-20T08:49:57.311-07:002013-08-20T08:49:57.311-07:00Numen, thanks for the info. That's very simil...Numen, thanks for the info. That's very similar to what's happening in Scotch these days. They are taking off age statements in order to add younger whiskeys to the blend.<br /><br />Matt L., thanks. It's harder than you think. Stuff doesn't stay on the shelf for long these days.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-15941449746612791772013-08-20T08:48:38.133-07:002013-08-20T08:48:38.133-07:00Always enjoy the blog Sku, but really appreciate i...Always enjoy the blog Sku, but really appreciate it when you get reviews up of things that are still available. Keep up the good work!Matt Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905030222578936222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-62660651127328085112013-08-20T04:16:34.090-07:002013-08-20T04:16:34.090-07:00Also, to parrot something from another poster on t...Also, to parrot something from another poster on the cognac forum (reporting something that he heard from cognac producers during a recent trip) -- there's a debate among cognac producers to change the minimum age of eau-de-vie in XO to 10 years from 6. It's probably a lot easier for smaller producers to hit that mark, but the big houses are fighting to keep it at 6. Most XOs from the major houses tend to be significantly younger than those from the smaller houses. The bigger houses may use some older (read 20-25 year old) eaux-de-vie in their XO blends, but I'd suspect that it's more to balance out to some extent the much younger stuff in there. XO from the big houses are also significantly more expensive than the VSOPs, and can bring in much more revenue. They're able to put out significantly more XO if they are able to fill up more of the bottles with younger stuff, which also takes up less space. I'm sure that some of the purchases in China are status-driven (XO over VSOP). The various bureaus that oversee regulations have probably calculated that keeping the XO designation for 6 years is more profitable to France/Cognac in general because of the volume difference between the big four and the smaller estates.<br /><br />Just something to keep in mind when buying things now, especially when new buyers are wondering whether to spend more for a known name or less to venture into the realm of a smaller producer.numennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-50932032779170191142013-08-20T04:10:50.868-07:002013-08-20T04:10:50.868-07:00The global demand for French brandy in particular ...The global demand for French brandy in particular is really increasing and having a significant impact on pricing of the big Cognac houses, and availability even of the smaller estates. During a recent trip to Cognac, I was told by Remy's rep/guide that the US was the largest purchases of Cognac by volume, but China/Asia was the largest market for the premium products (XO and up), and prices for those were going up.<br /><br />Armagnac doesn't have the same level of marketing that cognac does, so it's been left alone so far, but there's so little produced that it may not take much demand to dry out the market and jack up prices. There are a few estates (Laberdolive and Boingneres, to name two) that already charge relatively premium prices due to their reputation and recognition, but many more are "hidden" for now because they are making spirits for their own or local consumption, and not actively seeking distributors for their products in foreign markets.<br /><br />That's why people like the K&L buyers are so important; they're able to score some of those great deals to bring things here.numennoreply@blogger.com