Maison Dudognon enjoys a long history in Cognac's premier grand cru: Grande Champagne. From their activity as grower/traders from 1776 to the modern era, post-1970 when they no longer sell to Cognac's big houses, the quality of their vineyards and brandies have been held to the highest regard. One could cite their old vines of Ugni Blanc, their minuscule alembic stills, or even their painstaking ageing their oak and making their own barrels. Their cognacs are considered the purest of the pure, no colouring, no added boisé etc. The 'Vieille Reserve' is a blend of barrels that averages 20 years of age -- this is just enough time for the grapes from the chalky vineyards to shed their tough, mineral youth and show the latent fruit and nutty Cognac flavours held beneath typical of Grande Champagne origin and showing the amazing Peacock Tail Phenomenon (Ethereal return from the back palate).
The main grape variety in our area is the Ugni Blanc and in recent years, we replant Montils and Folle Blanche. Vines abandoned as unproductive but present in Charente until the sixties. The Folle Blanche, early varieties are harvested and vinified separately first. Then comes the turn of Montils and Ugni Blanc. We obtain the white wines of great aromatic range for distillation.
