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D’USSÉ Wikipedia Article Round 1 5/4/2012

D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac is a cognac aged and blended at the Chateau de Cognac S.A.S. in France. D’USSÉ officially launched in 2012 although the Chateau de Cognac has over 200 years of cognac making tradition. This blend is the vision of the Chateau’s Cellar Master, Michel Casavecchia. The spirit is a unique cognac that begins with distinguished intensity and finishes pleasantly smooth and balanced. D’USSÉ VSOP is a unique cognac aged for a minimum of 4-1/2 years, then aged in French Oak Casks within the humid and dry cellars of the Chateau for a perfect balance of flavor and finish. =Tasting notes= Nose: Starts with a bouquet of powerful aromas rich in woody notes that are then backed by touches of cinnamon and floral notes Palate: Gives a pleasantly intense “bite”, with hints of spices, almond and cinnamon Finish: Finishes unexpectedly and distinctively smooth, delivering subtle accents of honey and dried fruits Color: deep amber

The Symbol
D’USSÉ uses the Cross of Lorraine as their symbol. Throughout history it has served as a mark of distinction for noble men, a constant reminder of courage, honor and perseverance.

Cellar Master
Monsieur Michel Casavecchia has been curator to some of the world’s finest cognacs for more than 20 years. Born in Lorraine, in the eastern part of France, Michel inherited his father’s passion for cognac. He began his professional career in 1982, joining Bacardi in the early 1990s and then patiently learning his trade during long years spent with his predecessor, to develop the character that is essential for a Cellar Master.

The Process
= The Grapes = The chalky soil and cool maritime atmosphere of the Charente region play a role in growing the trebbiano |Ugni_blanc]]  grapes that make Cognac. The grapes produce a thin, but intensely flavored wine perfect for distillation and aging. The region itself is segmented into 6 growing regions or crus : Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and finally Bois Ordinaire. D’USSÉ is produced only from grapes of  Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois. = Fermentation and Distillation = The grapes that make cognacs are harvested and then quickly pressed into juice. The juice is fermented for only 2 to 3 weeks resulting in an acidic wine containing 7% to 8% alcohol. After this the wines that are used to make D’USSÉ are double distilled in a Charentais Alambic with the lees  which is an additional step that makes distillation a slower process. The result is eau de vie with about 70% alcohol. = French Oak Casks = The eaux-de-vie is then placed in French Oak Casks from the Tronçais. D’USSÉ is aged in a custom medium high toasting, ensuring that eaux-de-vie will develop well balanced and smooth aromas during the ageing period. = Aging = Unlike other Cognacs that are aged in climate controlled rooms, the eaux-de-vie used to make D’USSÉ is aged in the Chateau de Cognac where the unique aging conditions of the dry and humid cellars impart distinct flavors to the cognacs used to create D’USSÉ VSOP. The chateau’s humid cellars are located in the lower vaults, and are situated on the same level as the River Charente, with a relative humidity that reaches 90%. The walls are nearly 10-feet thick, enabling the temperature to remain constant at 15°C (59°F) throughout the year, lending a smooth and round balance that harmonizes the taste of D’USSÉ. The higher cellars of the Chateau rest well above the river, and are significantly drier. This causes the eau-de-vie to lose volume as well as alcohol content, creating a more complex taste profile with spicy and woody notes. Although D’USSÉ is aged in both the humid and dry cellars, the majority of its aging takes place in these drier cellars. Because of this, D’USSÉ receives a distinctive taste with intense aromas and a remarkably smooth finish unlike other cognacs. = Blending = As a true VSOP cognac, all of the eaux-de-vie used to make D’USSÉ are at least 4½ years old. The Cellar Master blends eau-de-vie of different ages and from different crus to create the final Cognac. Once the final blending has been completed, the resulting cognac is once again stored in old oak casks to mature before bottling. The result of this unique blend is a powerful, authentic Cognac that begins with distinguished “bite” and finishes pleasantly smooth and balanced.