The average age of the cognacs in this extraordinary Grande Champagne assemblage is at least 70 years, the oldest dating to 1872 when the Normandin-Mercier house was first founded. What little remains of this original stock continue to age in very old oak, undisturbed. The combination is a truly outstanding cognac with profound aromas and a subtle, soft "rancio" in its perfectly balanced rich, long taste of incomparable smoothness. Its 40% alcoholic strength is achieved entirely naturally, with no requirement for dilution. The simplest of labels understates the quality of this cognac. Tasting Notes: Eye: copper-coloured mahogany with reddish copper-coloured reflections. Nose: dominants fruity (candied fruits, dried fruits), empyreumatique (chocolate, burned (blown) out, smoked coffee(cafe)), rancio (Porto, wine storehouse of spirit), wooden (old barrel, limps in a cigar), spiced (cinnamon, vanilla, licorice, saffron). Notes: floral (pink)((rose)), vegetable (tobacco, lime tree), sweetened (honey). Palate: ample, powerful, aromatic. Fruity (dried fruits), rancio, empyreumatique, spiced (vanilla), wooden, very long.