STN: Cognac Pierre Ferrand Ambre

"Pierre Ferrand Ambre bears the designation of Grande Champagne Cognac, which requires a minimum of two years in oak casks before blending and bottling. Even the highest granted designation of Cognac, XO or Napoleon, currently requires only 6 years maturation.

But here it's about the house style rather than a declaration of age. This is the standard bearer of the house of Pierre Ferrand.

Though it's not stated, Ambre is a 10 Year Cognac.

And it is totally unlike all those “entry level” Cognacs you’ve had before.

This is mellow, rounded, richly aromatic, redolent of prunes and apricots and peaches…and surprisingly little wood, for the wood here is transmuted into light spicy cinnamon and vanillin, and fully integrated into the flavor profile. As the aromas develop, there’s a distinct floral note that emerges---for me it was the faint scent of roses. At the next heady whiff I thought of fresh fruit pastries baking, with a wisp of almond paste or marzipan.

Unlike lesser cognacs, there’s no hot scalding burn of alcohol intruding, no rough edges, and no harshness---just gentle, mellow aroma and flavor that seems to go on forever, with each sip yielding more nuance as it trickles slowly down the throat.

This is superb Cognac. Simply superb. Every good bar should have this."

[If you want the complete story, with photos, go on over to http://www.violentfermentation.blogspot.com]

I really like Pierre Ferrand cognacs. I don't think, however, that I'd describe them as "entry level" - even their least expensive bottling.
I'd characterize them as aromatic, with musk and lots of flowers, and a very smooth finish. They are, because of their open character, very approachable.

John

And it is totally unlike all those “entry level” Cognacs you’ve had before.

Um, John: I agree. Ferrand's 'house cognac" is so far above and beyond most brand's house base as to be laughable.

When you consider that the only requirement for a VS grade is 2 years in cask...and VSOP is 4 years...

Ambre at 10 years is a totally different level of cognac. Even considering the price, with Ferrand Ambre you're getting a fully matured, fully mellowed, exquisitely balanced Grande Champagne Cognac---something I'd say is more in the warm zone than the fiery.

Put this up against Henessey and Remy and Martel----no, forget that: it would not be in any way a fair comparison.

Ferrand's Ambre is excellent and sells here for €34, which is about €5 more than the supermarket price for Rémy Martin's VSOP, to which it is vastly superior.

At Christmas 2008, Germaine gave a four pack of quarters of this one and one each of the 20, 30 and 40 year old Ferrand cognacs. It was a fascinating exercise comparing them but I am not sure that I did not prefer the Ambre to all the others. I need to try again .

The Pierre Ferrand Ambre was my gateway cognac, so to type. It was the first quality cognac I bought years ago and it made a clear and unmistakable distinction from the mass market cognacs which make me wonder why cognac has such cache, as the overwhelming proportion of cognacs available in the States are incredibly uninteresting to me. The Pierre Ferrand Ambre was well worth the small premium it required above the mass market brands when I first bought it (not sure if that gap is still similar). Also have very fond memories of the Pierre Ferrand Réserve, but I haven't had any of the other steps up the ladder, so I'm looking forward to Hoke's future posts. I recently introduced myself to the Delamain Delicate et Légère Cognac Grande Champagne -- and, woooo-weeee, I'd say the introduction went well, stunning stuff.

Due to some of the more stupid moments of my youth, I still can not drink most anything distilled. Gin is the only thing that does not induce the gag reflex. However, the Pierre Ferrand Ambre has almost made the breakthrough. The nose is wonderful and I pour me a small glass and will smell it over hours taking very small sips. It still has trouble going down but am making progress. Not sure that I would push the envelope for anything else but this is great stuff.

Keith, write ups on the Reserve, des Anges, and Ancestrale coming soon!

Delamain is another of my faves, by the way---excellent cognac. And since every cognac is essentially an individual entity, depending upon the particular blend of barrels and the Master Blender's sensibilities, Delamain and Ferrand are amazingly different from each other. Delamain is...perhaps...more ethereal, more aromatically aggressive (to me), where the Ferrand is more mellow, rounder...let's put it this way, Delamain might be a fire burning; Ferrand is more like the embers glowing.

Sorry about the youthful follies, Brian, and the aftermatch thereof. I have a few of my own; fortunately not crippling. There are times when just cradling and sipping the Ambre might be enough pleasure all by itself---but then my greedy appetite always asserts itself with "just one sip".

Then I find out that there's equal joy in the incredibly delicate, long and comortably warm finish of the Ferran----it just seems to go on forever. Or, until the next sip anyway.

I came to Pierre Ferrand late in life after many years of playing around with Hennessy, Martel, Remy and the like. Now I don't buy anything other than Pierre Ferrand. The Ambre is actually a bargain for what is in the bottle... and the higher levels are a touch of heaven.

Glenn

The Ambre is actually a bargain for what is in the bottle

This once again brings up the whole notion of QPR, Glenn. I agree with you: the Ferrand Ambre is a bargain, considering what you're getting. And I think the Ferrand folks clearly understand the strategy of using the Ambre as a "gateway" for the rest of their superb cognac line, and price it accordingly.

When you consider that a VS grade cognac need have only 2 years of barrel aging, a VSOP only 4, and a Napoleon or XO only 6 (which highest grade will change, by the way, in 2011, but not that remarkably), and that the Ambre is a minimum 10 year old blend, the price for Ambre is remarkably good.

"Standard Cognac", a blend from all over with limited aging, versus Ferrand, all Grande Champagne Cognac with 10 years aging? No contest, in terms of taste and overall quality, I'd say. And for perhaps a few additional bucks per bottle, as you say, a true bargain. Thus an exemplar of QPR.

As to the remainder of the line, and older Cognacs in general: I can understand that it is difficult for many people to ever convince themselves to try those higher designations, simply because they are of necessity very expensive. And when investment in a single bottle is that high, for most people it's a stretch. So, absent a bar/restaurant that offers a glass at a slightly less painful single-serving price for the experience of tasting (and usually, the revelation that follows), most people simply don't have the luxury of exposure to the older Cognacs. Shame too. As you say, they are remarkable.

I also love Pierre Ferrand and came to it from many of the same roads that people have taken. I've tried pretty much the whole range and as this is a sipper for me, the difference in price betweeen $40 to $200 is really rather negligabl, so I've settled happily at the Selections des Anges. Just a great cognac for this price.

Hoke, i look forward to more stuff on Pierre Ferrand. years ago someone from there gave a tasting of the whole line. i was taken especially by the selection des anges. that has now gone quite a bit over $100/bottle even in chicago. so the ambre now sounds like a good idea. on the other hand, i recently bought the last bottle at a store in chicago of a cognac that was said to be identical to pierre ferrand selection des anges under a second label. the idea was that this second label was going to disappear. the brand name is pierre de segonzac and it is labeled grande champagne 1er cru and even called selection des anges. it was about half what the ferrand sel. des anges cost.