Malternative Belgium is dropping two new cognacs today: an undisclosed Lot 19.70 Petite Champagne and a new Marie Foucher Lot 19.79 Fins Bois.
In fact there’s also a new armagnac but we’ll try that one in a different session. Instead we chose to include two more cognacs that were released a few weeks ago, from Chollet and François Voyer.
Cognac Lot 19.70 – Petite Champagne (51,2%, Malternative Belgium 2026, 167 btl.)
Nose: right up our alley. Peaches, hints of lychee, along with seductive flower petals and drops of gewürztraminer. Then candied orange slices, a little marmalade and very bright hints of berries. All this with a beautiful layer of polished wood, along with fine herbs.
Mouth: the marmalade theme is back, with mandarin peelings and (pink and yellow) grapefruit. Some pleasant bitterness with it balanced by subtle peach jam and botrytis in the distance. Great sweet and sour balance. Then a fresh wave of peppermint and jasmine tea, varnish once more, and herbal tea.
Finish: long, with herbal honey, fruit tea and drying oak.
The bitterness on the palate was a little surprising, but I like it. Especially since there are so many nice elements to balance it. Great find. Now available from Malternative Belgium and partner retailers.
Cognac Marie Foucher Lot 19.79 – Fins Bois (54,1%, Malternative Belgium 2026, 366 btl.)
Nose: a fruity onset. We’re getting mirabelles, oranges and apricot. That said, it’s less fruity and jammy than how I remember the Lot 75 for instance. A pleasant dustiness, even a salty touch underneath dried herbs. Later also a darker, slightly caramelized note in the background.
Mouth: richer than I expected, on stewed apricot and apple, hints of quince jam and almond sweetness. Then the herbal notes set in, along with a little tea and clove oil. Sweetened black tea, drops of Peychaud bitters. Back to citrus peels after a while.
Finish: long, on citrus zest, herbal tea, date sweetness and drying, slightly toasted oak.
Already the fourth Foucher release by Malternative Belgium. Another very good one, even though some of the others left an even bigger impression. Available from Malternative Belgium. Score: 90/100
Cognac Chollet Lot 19.84 – Bons Bois (45,1%, Malternative Belgium 2024, 99 btl.)
Nose: aromatic peach jam, candied fruits and vibrant mirabelles. Orange peels. Then a subtle hint of dried wildflowers and balanced spices like candied ginger and a hint of white pepper. Light caramel sweetness in the distance.
Mouth: stewed fruits again, bordering jammy notes (apricot, pear, plum) but always with a refreshing acidity. Baked apples with a caramelized edge, even a drop of Calvados or so it seems. Mid-palate the woody notes add some extra tension, along with ginger and black tea. Later also dark cocoa and light nutty notes.
Finish: quite long, with the same apple notes, citrus peels, candy sugar, tobacco and spice that never becomes intrusive.
Slightly younger but a very enjoyable cognac! Chollet was one of Pieter’s first bottlings a- great to see this name returning. Sold out, I believe. Score: 90/100
Cognac François Voyer Lot 19.60 – Grande Champagne (48%, Malternative Belgium for Crazy Norwegians 2025, 42 btl.)
Nose: big rancio notes right away. Good ‘old’ oak, along with raisins, walnuts and pecans. These are matched with lovely jammy fruits, dried fruits, stewed pear and dark honey. Then some mintiness, cedar wood and leather in the background.
Mouth: a bit of everything really. It goes from dried fruits (raisins, candied guava) over fresh fruits (mango, figs, bergamots, hints of passion fruits) to minty top notes and jasmine. Along the way it also picks up vanilla (and pastry), herbal honey, marmalade, sweetened fruit tea and tobacco. Oak is only supportive here. It is quite weighty and rich, but it also comes with the vibrant brightness I’m looking for.
Finish: long, still brightly fruity, with a bit more drying oak spice now. Still some tropical notes and herbal freshness.
A private release for some very likeable cognac aficionados from Norway. They know their stuff: this is a brilliant cognac. May I suggest a bottling for Crazy Belgians as well? Thank you. Score: 92/100