Frapin cognac: a guide to alcohol
About the Frapin brand
House Frapin is one of the oldest houses in France. Moreover, it is a source of pride for French patriots, as the founders of the house were indigenous French, unlike most other old cognac houses.
It is produced by the cognac house of the same name, Frapin, which is the largest landowner in Grand Champagne: the manufacturer currently owns 300 hectares of land in Grand Champagne. 200 hectares of land are planted with Uni Blanc grapes - the most popular grape variety for cognac production.
The brand officially holds the "title" of Premier Grand Cru du Cognac. Frapin's vineyards are located on chalky soils - a typical situation for Grand Champagne, a sub-region that got its name because of the similarity of its soils to those of the Champagne region (near the city of Reims in northern France).
The Frapin farm produces a wide range of cognacs - from the simplest VS to XO and millesimals. The oldest Frapin cognac is a "vintage" (relatively speaking) of 1888, the blend of which includes, however, even older spirits.
The wine is distilled in 4 own distilleries using 6 copper stills, and the raw materials that are distilled are not removed from the lees, and they contain a certain amount of grape vine. The resulting alcohol acquires the extraordinary softness that is so characteristic of Frapin cognacs.
Frapin never sells its own cognac spirits to other producers. Possible surpluses are simply sent to the cellars for long-term storage and are later used in the blending of new cognac varieties.
Olivier Polt, the chief blending master of the Frapin cognac house, moves barrels from the cellar floor to the top of the cellar about once a year to improve the quality of the spirits produced. Such a periodic change in ripening conditions significantly increases the originality of the company's final products.
It is interesting that 20 hereditary generations of distillers have changed, and Frappin still remains a family business
The history of Frapin cognac
Initially, the Frapins were engaged in the cultivation of grapes; cognac as a drink in the XIII century, by the way, did not exist at all. Subsequently, the Frapins began to distill wine and make brandy.
Years passed, generation after generation followed, increasing the overall well-being of the family. In 1696, one of the descendants, Pierre Frappin, who had long held the position of court pharmacist at the court of King Louis XIV, received a royal award. For his long and impeccable service, the King of France presented his worthy servant with the Chateau de Fontpino along with 300 hectares of beautiful land in the Grand Champagne region. Such a worthy gift helped the Frapen cognac business become even more successful.
In fact, until the XIX century, the family business practiced only the production and sale of cognac spirits. However, in 1859, a descendant and full namesake of Pierre Frappin registered an enterprise that began to produce ready-made cognac.
A huge collection of home spirits and many years of experience led to the fact that by the end of the XIX century the company became the owner of four gold medals received at the world cognac exhibitions in Berlin, New Orleans and Paris.
In the XX century, the cognac business of the Frappin family was transferred as a wedding gift to the Cuentro family. This procedure took place immediately after the marriage of Max Cuentro and Geneviève Frappin.
Types of cognac Frapin
Vzboltai recommends visiting the official website, where all the current types are presented: https://www.cognac-frapin.com/en/our-cognacs/
Cognac serving temperature +20 °C.
Frapin 1270
The oldest spirit: 6 years
Cognac is yellow-gold in color. The taste of the cognac is round, refined, balanced, with elegant hints of vanilla and toast, smoothly turning into a long aftertaste.
Alcohol attracts with a rich aroma, in which you can feel shades of linden blossom, spring flowers, grapevine, citrus and tropical fruits, vanilla.
Suitable as a digestif, also goes well with cigars and coffee.
Frapin VSOP
The brand is aged: 10 years.
The oldest alcohol: 12 years.
Cognac of golden amber color. It has a rich flavor with pleasant hints of flowers, vanilla, dried fruits, spices and a refined, long aftertaste. It has a complex, elegant aroma with floral tones and a light vanilla note.
Frapin XO VIP
The oldest spirit: 25 years.
The oldest spirit: 35 years.
Cognac the color of old gold. It has a round, rich taste with a refined, long aftertaste. Has a rich aroma with hints of spices and white flowers.
Excellent digestif, goes well with a cigar.
Frapin Extra
Aging: 50 years.
Acacia-colored cognac with light copper reflections. It has a wonderful rounded taste - concentrated and complex, with a persistent long aftertaste that captivates with its magnificent elegance and incredible subtlety.
The aroma is exceptional, balanced with spicy notes of vanilla, notes of candied fruits (peaches, apricots, pink grapefruit, quince) and delicate flowers.
Plume Frapin
Aging: 60 years.
Cognac of noble amber color. The taste is powerful, complex, luxurious, with fruity and oak hints and a long aftertaste. The fragrance captivates with a beautiful combination of notes of candied fruit (orange, apricot, fig), liquorice and oak.
Interesting facts about Frapin cognac
The royal lily sign, which still adorns all Frapin cognac bottles to this day, was presented by King Louis XVI of France to his loyal vassal Pierre Frapin. This sign, characterizing loyalty and reliability, can also be seen on the coat of arms of the Frapin family.
There are many famous people among the members of the family: suffice it to mention the son of Anne-Catherine Frapin - the humanist writer François Rabelais, author of the literary encyclopedia of European Renaissance customs.
All Frapin wine cellars have their own unique names that reflect their peculiarities or historical events.
The Frapin cellars contain a collection of unique spirits. Some of them are about 500 years old. This collection is one of the rarest and most expensive collections in the world.
Frapin's cellars, where cognacs are matured and aged, were designed by Gustave Effel, who was one of the best designers of such structures in the 19th century.
The Frapin House paid tribute to the great ancestor by releasing one of the most expensive cognacs in the world in honor of his 500th birthday. The drink is placed in a crystal decanter by Baccarat, decorated with golden images of Renaissance symbols.
Like some other cognac houses, Frapin is expanding its business through diversification and in 2004 created a collection of selective perfumes. The key notes of the brand's perfumes - dried fruits, spices, spices, wood resin, leather - show a clear family resemblance to the bouquet of an expensive exclusive cognac.
Update: 24.10.2021
Category: Brandy and Cognac