Origin and production
Gautier XO Gold & Blue is a blend of mature eaux-de-vie drawn from several Cognac crus, with components aged for up to 35 years. Long maturation in French oak brings the spirit's floral and fruit character into harmony with toast, spice and the rounded texture expected of an XO.
The Cognac rests in Maison Gautier's cellars inside an eighteenth-century watermill in Aigre, directly above the River Osme. The naturally humid environment slows evaporation and encourages a supple, measured style of maturation, one of the defining features of the house.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep antique gold with amber highlights and a clear, polished brilliance.
Nose
Orange blossom and candied peel are layered with toasted oak, cinnamon, dried apricot and a gentle suggestion of vanilla and cigar box.
Palate
Full-bodied yet remarkably smooth, with dried fruit, honey and vanilla supported by warm spice and finely integrated oak. The texture is round and harmonious, leading to a long finish of candied orange, cinnamon and polished wood.
Serving suggestions
Serve neat in a tulip-shaped glass and allow a few minutes for the aromas to open. A drop of still water can reveal further floral detail; dark chocolate, toasted walnuts or a mature hard cheese make restrained accompaniments.
Background story
Maison Gautier traces its roots to the seventeenth century and received a royal warrant to produce Cognac in 1755. More than ten generations built the house in Aigre, where its unusual riverside cellars earned the town the nickname the Little Venice of Charente.
The name Gold & Blue joins the warmth of the Cognac sun with the blue of the Osme River beneath the cellars. It is an apt summary of the blend: mature richness shaped by the cool humidity of water, presented in one of Gautier's most composed and contemplative expressions.
