Hine Rare Fine Champagne VSOP: Bottle Review

Hine Rare Fine Champagne is a VSOP Cognac of the highest quality. This Cognac is a rich but at the same time extremely gentle drink made up of a blend of twenty-five different Cognacs from the Grande and the Petite Champagne. It constitutes 40% of Petite Champagne and 60% of Grande Champagne blends.

The bottle with its wooden cap is a distinguished bottle bearing the logo of the Hine estate.

Hine VSOP (pic Fortinbras)

The youngest one of the eaux-de-vie in the Hine Rare VSOP Cognac is about six years old, but others reach up to twelve years. The average eau-de-vie is aged for about eight years.

The tasting notes for the Hine Rare Fine Champagne are:

The eye: golden and amber hue.
The nose: pleasant, light floral scents of Jasmine, which turns complex with spicy and fruity notes. Slight hints of orange, pale sultanas, chocolate and pears.
The taste: full in flavor and extremely smooth for a VSOP. The molasses and dried fruit aromas have a rum barrel note. A round entry leads to a fruity/sweet medium-bodied of toffee, autumn fruits, and gingery spices.
The finish: It finishes with a drying wave of charred wood, oak, pepper and dried fruit. The Cognac is perfectly balanced with a good grapey character. The full flavor remains on the palate for a very long time.
Blend: 60% Grande Champagne, 40% Petite Champagne.
Age: ranges from 4 to 12 years, with an average of 8 years.
Price: € 35,-/ € 40,-

Hine VSOP (pic fortinbras)

Producer: Hine
ABV:   40%
Country of Origin: France
Region: Cognac

International Review of Spirits Award: Silver Medal

Our verdict: Hine Rare Fine Champagne VSOP is well structured and has been very skillfully blended. It has all the traditional finesse of a Cognac created by Thomas Hine.

We have noted the following US importer for this spirit:

Todhunter Imports
222 Lakeview Ave Suite #1500
West Palm Beach FL 33401
Ph. (561) 837-6300
Fax (561)832-4556
www.todhunter.com