J.P Chenet wine house was established in 1984. Unique bottle with a crooked neck named ‘Josephine’ was designed by Joseph Helfrich. It was so difficult to produce at the beginning so it was needed to create a totally own production line for the bottle. JP Chenet produces different wines and sparkling wines in France. 

Brandy production started in 2009. Grapes of it come from Cognac parish and southern France. Grapes are pressed into juice and fermented at 3 weeks. It is distilled twice in a pot still. Matured during a year in 600 liters or bigger oak vats. After a year different distillates are blended and diluted to bottle strength, 36%. Price for a 50cl bottle is around 9€.

Nose has baked apples and a flowery aroma. Taste has a bunch of sweet apple, cinnamon and a bit of raisin. Burn is mild and the aftertaste has baked apples on the beginning, until it turns rather bitter. It certainly is a young brandy. But anyway, it also feels ready so maturing some more years might not make it any better. When older brandies can have masculine feeling with a leather aroma, JP Chenet is more feminine, which is underlined by smooth flowery and sweetness. Would be nice to know where the strong baked apple aroma comes from. Have there been added some apple brandy or just artificial aromas. Anyway, JP Chenet XO is very accessible, light, sweet and smooth brandy which is very easy and comfortable to sip neat.

78/100