About the Producer
Germian-Robin is one of the original craft distilleries in the United States and produced one of the first high-end American brandies. The distillery was founded in 1982 by Ansley Coale, a history professor and rancher, and Hubert Germian-Robin, descendant of a small Cognac producing family, in Ukiah, CA. Apparently there was at some point a falling out between the two founders and Coale left the partnership. The brand was purchased by E&J Gallo in 2017 which revamped the product line a few years ago.
I’ve always enjoyed Germain-Robin’s brandies, they are generally done in a Cognac style but made using CA ingredients which keeps it a bit interesting. A little pricier than they should be though.
This bottle reviewed here was a single barrel pick done by the Loch and Key society, a whiskey club in MA, that predates the sale to Gallo.
Details
• 43% abv
• Double distilled in alembic pot stills
• Batch 2012F Barrel 125
• Aged in toasted french oak casks.
• Not clear on this specific blend but GR is known for using California wine grapes including Pinot Noir, Riesling, Viognier, Colmbard, and Semillon.
• Regular Alembic Reserve blend is ~6yrs old so this is probably about the same.
• Got for ~$50 several years ago.
Nose
Oak and fruitiness. Red wine and traces of mango. Light butterscotch sweetness and cinnamon. Medium intensity and excellent balance. Good Complexity.
Palate
Medium amount of cinnamon spice and oak. More red wine and a little tannic. Light caramel, only a little sweetness. Again excellent balance. Medium weight and an excellent velvety texture. A bit oily. Really like it.
Finish
Medium and oaky. Good amount of cinnamon and more tannic red wine
Rating: 6
Overall: I really like this, what sticks out to me is the excellent balance and good texture. The flavors aren’t very intense or too complex but it all really comes together well. I will they did more 43% bottlings instead of the normal 40%.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect
Leave a Reply