According to one legend, Pineau des Charentes is not only the fruit of the vine, but also of luck. In 1589, when Henry IV came to the throne of France, a grower in Charentes, during the harvest, accidentally tipped grape must into a barrel containing cognac eau de vie. He subsequently stored the barrel away in the cellars of the lord of the manor. A few years later, as a result of a bumper harvest, he found himself short of a barrel. Much to his surprise, he found that the precious barrel contained a marvelous brew, limpid and as full of sunshine as the land of Charentes.
The Pineau of Charentes was born.
Pineau des Charentes is regulated by an AOC or Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée which maintains the high quality of the product.
The cognac eau de vie and the grape must have to come from the same estate.
The Pineau itself must be between 16% and 22% alcohol.
The final product may only be sold after it has been given the seal of approval by an official tasting panel
This five year old Pineau is a perfect example of how Pineau des Charentes should taste! Enjoy it as an aperitif chilled, on the rocks, mixed with a bit of tonic water or have some fun experimenting with it behind the bar. It also goes well with foie gras, blue cheese or with almost any dessert.
This traditional French aperitif wine is a blend of freshly pressed grapes and some young Normandin-Mercier cognac. Ageing four years in oak barrels helps to marry and mature the fresh fruit flavors making a soft blend that is ready to be enjoyed chilled as an aperitif, or as a dessert wine. The Rouge Pineau goes well with red berry fruit tart or chocolate cake. Fruitier than the white with a greedy note of pits of cherry.
92 points
"The aroma is relatively restrained, with nuanced wafts of blackberry and dried cherry. The palate echoes those dark berry notes, but overall is relatively dry, finishing with herbaceous hints of dried sage and thyme. A hint of dried cherry returns on the drying exhale."
Wine Enthusiast, 2018
