Camus 11 Through the Grapevine

Review by: Raygun

A quick note before anything else for the sake of transparency. This review was done with an industry sample provided free of charge, with no expectations beyond drinking them. As always, I do my best to provide my unbiased opinion, and readers can decide how they want to take this review. For more information, see our Ethics & Transparency statement.

Through the Grapevine is a series of single cask cognacs from La Maison du Whisky. Mostly showcasing small producers in the various sub-regions. All bottled with no additives or coloring. This bottle of Camus came from vineyards on the Ile de Ré, a small island off the west coast in the Cognac region. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Camus

Bottler: La Maison du Whisky 

Region/style: Bois Ordinaires Cognac 

ABV: 49%

Age: 11 years. Bottled in 2021.

Color: 1.1 burnished. Natural color and no additives.

Nose: Very fresh and fruity, which is not strange given the age. Peach, pear, and apricot. Some herbal touches as well.     

Palate: Ile de Ré cognacs are said to be a bit salty from the sea air, and I pick up some of that. Salted butter, some pastry flavor, and gooseberries now along with pears. Drier than I expected from the nose, with a nice crispness. 

Finish: Falls a bit flat here. Pear and pastry, like a pear tart. Bit of gooseberry. Not that much else going on. 

Conclusion: Probably the youngest Cognac I’ve had, and…I see why they’re often aged longer. It’s a little simple and tastes underripe in a certain way. The nose and palate were reasonably promising, but the finish couldn’t keep up. It’s fine; certainly drinkable. Can’t touch the complexity of the older stuff though.

Score: 72

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent brandy worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by Raygun

Unknown's avatar

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

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