Pineau des Charentes is a Sweet and reasonably strong "Vin de Liqueur" from the Charente (Cognac) region of western France. It is made by adding Cognac brandy from the previous year's distillation (or earlier) to fresh Grape must from the current Vintage. By law, the must must be freshly harvested and, although it may have undergone partial Fermentation, its sugar content at the time of "Mutage" (when the brandy is added) must be greater than 170 g per litre. The Cognac itself must have an Alcohol content of at least 60 % and must have been kept in casks before being used.
The resulting blend has an alcoholic strength of 16-22 % and a sugar content of at least 125 g/l. Any fermentation will have been stopped by the high alcohol content and, as the must remains essentially unfermented, it retains all its "grape" aromas and - ideally - the Varietal characteristics of the grapes used, which develop over time. All Pineau des Charentes is cellar-aged, although this varies according to the type of Pineau produced. White pineau - the most common - must spend at least 18 months in the cellar, 12 months of which are spent in oak barrels.
The launch of the 2022 Collection takes the total number of Last Drop releases to 27 since the company was founded by drinks industry veterans Tom Jago and James Espey in 2008. Tom’s daughter Rebecca Jago is now the company’s MD. This year’s releases include The Last Drop’s first Japanese whisky: a blended malt that includes whisky from the fabled Hanyu distillery, taken from the beginning and end of its brief lifespan (1980-2000), as well as malts from other unidentified Japanese distilleries. ...
Philippe Schaus, chairman and chief executive of the Moët Hennessy division of LVMH, called Joseph Phelps Vineyards ‘an iconic name and an iconic winery’. Joseph Phelps founded his eponymous winery on a 260ha former cattle ranch in Napa Valley in 1973. He turned it into one of California’s most prominent producers, famed for its flagship Insignia – a Bordeaux-style blend – and its pioneering use of Rhône varieties, which kick-started the ‘Rhône Rangers’ movement in the Golden State. The founder’ ...
First past the post in a race for the world’s first biodynamic whisky release was Waterford Distillery’s Luna 1.1, made with biodynamic barley from three Irish farms. Matured in used and new American oak, French oak and vin doux naturel casks, the single malt joins Waterford’s Arcadian Series heritage range. Released towards the end of 2021 and priced at £89.95 per 70cl at Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange, Waterford Luna 1.1 (Alc 50%) is fruity with mellow cereal and rye notes. The smooth ...
