Cognac Voyer Lot 90 / Lot 19.20 (Malternative Belgium)

François Voyer is one of the stronholds of Malternative Belgium. After some pretty excellent Lot 77, Lot 71 and my favourite Lot 48, there are two brand-new releases coming out today.

 

Cognac François Voyer Lot 90 ‘L’âge de ma femme’ – Grande Champagne (47,8%, Malternative Belgium 2024, 402 btl.)

Nose: quinces and apricots, honeysuckle and bananas, as well as tangerines and papaya. Then the typical floral hints, like orange blossoms and jasmine. A little vetiver perhaps. Subtle green tea leaves and a whiff of sandalwood underneath, with some dark honey. Beautiful freshness and fruitiness.

Mouth: a lovely sweet and sour balance, showing plenty of fruits again. Banana cake, peach, mango, melon, some litchi… Also bergamot and more honey. Beautiful rancio. In second row there are mildly gritty herbs and some eucalyptus, adding depth and power.

Finish: really long, still full of exuberant fruits, with mint and herbal honey.

We tend to think of the 1990s as yesterday, but this is pretty brilliant. Right on the crossroads of elegance and richness. Great value for money too – a cognac of around 35 years for € 180 is a good deal. Cheers to Ysatis! Available from Malternative Belgium from today.

 

Cognac François Voyer Lot 19.20 ‘Temps Magique’ – Grande Champagne (43,8%, Malternative Belgium 2024, 42 btl.)

Nose: a lot more complexity. Leathery notes stand out, as well as a worn waxy layer. Tobacco leaves and walnut husks. Then shy fruits come out, mostly dried figs with hints of nectarine and tangerine peels on the side. It becomes brighter after a while in the glass, with floral honey and more wood polish. Far away there’s also a nice hint of a dusty cellar.

Mouth: quite velvety, with firm rancio notes now, moving back and forth between fruity acidity, polished oak and herbal notes. Hints of bergamots, pineapple and tangerine, as well as dried cranberries and aniseed. Cigar leaves and sandalwood, along with some chestnut honey in the end. Always an earthy undertone and mint.

Finish: not extremely long, but fading graciously on honey and dried fruits, as well as mint and tobacco.

A timeless cognac really. More complex than the Lot 90 and a total joy to sip. Incredible freshness after all these years. Also available from today, but very limited of course. Score: 92/100