Château de Montifaud Cognac

Château Montifaud is an independent, family-owned Cognac producer that was founded way back in 1866. While Jesse James was robbing banks, a dynasty was being established in Cognac which is now into its sixth generation, with husband and wife Laurent and Elodie Vallet running. Laurent worked for a decade to learn the art of distillation from his father, Michel. The chalky Petite Champagne sub-region is where the family specialises, with 120 of the 130 hectares of vines they own residing, with Ugni Blanc as the predominant grape grown. Château Montifaud also has three ha split between Colombard, Folle Blanche, Cabernet, and Merlot. They employ an artisanal method of soft pressing and distillation in three pot stills, while they include more lees (sediment) than most producers, and also make a point of diluting with distilled water extremely slowly, all to preserve flavour. The family also has a tradition of setting aside newly distilled spirit when each new generation starts. This has given them a considerable stock of old vintage cognac. Château Montifaud also makes the local apéritif, Pineau des Charentes, as well as grape-based Osmoz gin.