We had a really nice Prunier 1989 from Pieter and Ysatis a few months ago, and now we’re having one of their recent official bottlings. Last year Cognac Prunier underwent a visual makeover. This includes a modern logo, a new packaging design with orange accents and new bottle designs. Read more about the new collections on their website.
The vintage releases now come in this ribbed bottle with high shoulders. There’s also a non-ribbed version for releases without a vintage statement, like the Prunier Horizon or Prunier Singularité blends. They launched a 1975 and 1983 first, and now we’re trying the Vintage 1976.
Cognac Prunier Vintage 1976 – Fins Bois (59,4%, OB 2026, 90 btl.)
Nose: very forthcoming, with nice varnished hints of furniture polish, orange peels, toffee sweetness and rancio notes. Sweet pears, dried apricots, hints of herbal honey and some fresh mentholated hints. Then nutty notes emerge, walnuts and almond mainly. More fragrant blossomy notes appear later, along with some ginger and drops of herbal extracts. Lovely.
Mouth: very high power, even a little hot too when neat, but such a great fruitiness. Lychee stands out, more oranges, just a hint of crystallized grapefruit and apricot. Still a great varnished side. Then honeyed notes, along with fruit tea, a subtle saltiness even, some chlorophyll, mint leaves and subtle liquorice. Just a hint of leather towards the end.
Finish: long, mixing mentholated notes, some oak spice, rich fruity notes and drops of ethereal oils.
Right up my alley: a deep fruitiness with elegance and a refreshing brightness. A nice visual upgrade, and the quality is top notch.