DUDOGNON RESERVE GRAND CHAMPAGNE COGNAC, France

The smoky opening surprised me, but it quickly gives way to a warm honey and sandalwood finish that lingers nicely. The ginger and nutmeg on the exhale add a lovely spicy complexity.

Poured a glass last night and was immediately struck by how the honey and sandalwood notes develop after just a few minutes in the glass. The golden color is beautiful, and that mild smoky opening gives way to something much warmer.

The ginger and nutmeg finish really lingers in a pleasant way, and the golden color is beautiful in the glass. It’s smooth enough to sip neat, which is exactly what I was hoping for.