Piacere Rinato is the Belgian spirits shop of former lawyer Niels Volckaert. He is focusing on cask strength cognac and armagnac, with some aceto balsamico, calvados and other interesting things on the side.
There’s one well-known name Vallein Tercinier, as well as Michelet which I hadn’t tried before. Each of these cognacs is a whole lot younger than what we usually review, so it’s good to note Lot 12 refers to 2012 for instance, not 1912.
Cognac Michelet ‘Lot n°12’ – Grande Champagne (58,5%, OB for Piacere Rinato 2025)
Nose: a mix of coppery notes, cherry stems and some green herbs (parsley, laurel). Also dandelions and whiffs of peach. Then it becomes more pastry-like, with a hint of marzipan. Hints of jasmine too. Nice to see it avoids caramelized or woody elements.
Mouth: slightly more fruity now, on apricot and orange marmalade. Some plum eau-de-vie. Light vanilla, along with subtle floral notes. Then the heat comes out: a high ABV but also a firm woody kick, with some pine wood, liquorice and peppermint.
Finish: medium long, on orange peels and oak spice, including ginger and juniper.
The Michelet family started producing wine in 1610 and distilling in 1970. They have 30ha of vines and use the distilling methods of Remy Martin (sur lie). This 12 year old is quite vibrant, with a pleasant herbal side. Maybe not a complete malternative, but I’m sure it would work as an aperitif. Available from Piacere Rinato.
Cognac Vallein Tercinier 2015 – Bons Bois (61,8%, OB for Piacere Rinato 2025)
Nose: more fruity sweetness here, with white grapes, ripe gooseberries, peaches and hints of floral honey or honeysuckle. This is still close to the distillate, with a youngish / raw edge, a coppery element again, some vanilla but also a rather nice waxy hint. Nicely rounded already.
Mouth: quite punchy. There’s a nice fruity core, with lots of oranges, peaches and some apple cake. After that the grassy / woody side comes out: white pepper, some liquorice and clove. A mild bitterness of orange peels as well. Subtle bergamot oil and a resinous element.
Finish: medium length, with plenty of oak spice and some honeyed sweetness underneath.
Nice quality cognac, for sure, with an unmistakable elegance, even though the complexity stays fairly low. The high ABV works against it, in a way – I like it a lot more with a good drop of water. Also available from Piacere Rinato. Score: 85/100
Cognac Vallein Tercinier 2020 – Fins Bois (64,3%, OB for Piacere Rinato 2025)
Nose: rather pungent with an eau-de-vie character. There’s yellow apple, later also peaches, caramelized apple, hints of melons and freshly squeezed citrus. A little fresh bark, fresh herbs and yellow flowers. A little ginseng with some honey sweetness in the background, along with some polished wood.
Mouth: a sweet onset, but again rather spirity. Lots of grape notes and a little orange blossom. Some gin-like botanicals, with plenty of white pepper, peppermint and caraway seeds. With water it shows some apple and vanilla, as well as some peach candy.
Finish: medium length, but fairly neutral / alcohol with nice hints of lemon zest.
Again: well-made but I’m not entirely convinced of such a young age at such a high strength. If anything it amplifies the sharp character. Too soon to bring this to the market, in my opinion (as a vintage sipping cognac, I should add) but of course we’re not very experienced with such youngsters. Available here. Score: 81/100