Pineau des Charantes “Les Pierres Blanches” - Leyrat

Leyrat produces Single Estate Cognac from a 90-hectare vineyard particularly rich in limestone, located in hilly terrain in the Fins Bois. The property is family-owned, and Francis Abécassis, aided by his daughter Elodie, believes strongly in the influence of terroir in producing great Cognacs that are elegant and complex, characterized by floral notes. The maison uses only lightly toasted barrels and ages all its Cognacs well beyond the minimum required by the specifications. They are also bottled without boisé: an additive unfortunately used in many Cognacs. Boisé is made by boiling wood chips in water until a syrup is obtained. Some producers use this additive to make them look the more aged than they really are.

WHAT ARE SINGLE ESTATE COGNAC? Cognac production is more than 90 percent controlled by a group of large maisons. In order to produce the required quantities, the maisons purchase wine, grapes and Cognac from a considerable number of producers scattered throughout the Cognac territory. Single Estate Cognacs, on the other hand, follow every aspect of production. They take care of the vineyard, vinify the wine, distill it and age it. Their Cognacs are therefore never the result of blends of different terroirs, but a pure expression of the terroir from which they come