François Voyer Lot 89/92 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. François Voyer has been making Cognac since the 1870s, though only started bottling their own in the 1960s. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.

Distillery: François Voyer

Bottler: La Maison du Whisky 

Region/style: Grande Champagne Cognac 

ABV: 43.5%

Age: 27+ years. Produced in 1989 and 1992 and bottled in 2019

Color: 1.6 mahogany. Natural color and no additives.

Nose: More oak than the Merlet I just tried. Burnt orange, wax, grapes, and old furniture. Gummi candies.       

Palate: Caramel chews, orange, anise, and nutmeg. Apricots and strawberries. Has a nice zip to it, even with the oak. Apple and rosehip tea. Nice balance of fruit and oak. Drinks very easily.    

Finish: Caramel, orange, toffee, and there’s the anise and nutmeg. A nice progression from the palate. Oaky, but not too much. Again well balanced. Good length.      

Conclusion: Another winner. More oak and less floral than the Merlet, but excellent in a different way. A little more typical of Cognac. Not lacking in power even at a low ABV, yet has subtlety, too. Strong on the finish, which is often a weakness for something at this ABV. Just great stuff. 

Score: 91

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.

Leave a comment