Malternative Belgium Cognac #35 La Bonne Cause (Lot 71)

Malternative Belgium Cognac #35 La Bonne Cause (Lot 71)

Dieser Cognac wurde von André Bertandeau aus Ugni Blanc Trauben in Petite Champagne (Cognac), Frankreich hergestellt. Das Fass von Pieter und Ysatis aus den Kellern von Cognac Grosperrin ausgewählt.

Er reifte für 32 Jahre in einem Fass aus französischer Eiche und wurde 2023 (09/2023) von Malternative Belgium in Fassstärke mit 52.90% abgefüllt. Für die Destillation wurde eine Alambic Charentais (Pot Still) verwendet.

Malternative Belgium schreibt zum Cognac La Bonne Cause folgendes. "André Bertandeau's story is one with a dark side, but also a story of perseverance, cooperation and positivity. André was deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1942 at the age of twenty. He was "accidentally" on the wrong train from La Rochelle. Although he was supposed to work on a farm in Germany, he was instead transported through several camps, including Buchenwald and Dora. In Buchenwald he had to work with other prisoners in an underground quarry under miserable conditions, then in Dora where he did not see the light of day for 7 months and they built rockets (V1 & V2) for the Nazis. He had to do hard physical labor with hardly any food, endure severe torture and survived in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by disease and the death of many fellow prisoners. After two years of captivity he was liberated by the Russians in 1945.
He was highly respected in the region. Not only as a winemaker in Salignac-Sur-Charente, but he continued to work in the community to support families who lost loved ones during the war. Despite the physical scars of his time in the camps, Bertandeau told his story to young people to keep the memory alive. Throughout his life, he donated the meager profits from his small estate to charities (Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) and Action contre la Faim). André passed away in December 2016, leaving all his assets - real estate, vineyards and stock - to these NGOs to help people who suffered from the war and deportation. His donations were always discreet.

In May 2023, we (re)discovered this barrel in the beautiful cellars of Grosperrin. First selected for its superior qualities as a single cask - cask strength eau-de-vie, and upon learning the history and story behind this legacy of casks, deeply touched and emotional. Supporting small family producers, in whatever form and honoring history are values ​​that Malternative and Grosperrin share. Thank you Guilhem!

We ourselves also want to use André's legacy to contribute to supporting the efforts of several non-profit organizations. Organizations that are committed to our fellow human beings, who were confronted with e.g. war, poverty, bad luck, injustice or physical suffering. We will therefore donate a considerable amount of the realized turnover of this release to a good cause .     

Tasting notes:
Nose:  Beautifully polished wood, blood oranges, green tea, jasmine leaves, oven-baked bread with fresh plum jam. 
Taste: The fruit really comes into its own on the palate, nectarines, ripe mango and dried pineapple. Firm body.    
Finish:  Long finish with candied fruit repeating itself again and again. Also leather and wax. But also lots of herbs. All beautifully interwoven. 

Explanation of the label: 
La bonne cause. The good cause. We see soldier Bertandeau coming home. Home among the vineyards, home where you work for your family and community, in solidarity and in peace. We too will contribute to a few good causes."