Malternative Belgium Cognac #51 La Souveraine (Lot 76)
Dieser Cognac wurde von Laurichesse aus Ugni Blanc Trauben in Grande Champagne, Frankreich hergestellt.
Er reifte für 49 Jahre in einem Fass aus französischer Eiche und wurde 2026 (04/2026) von Malternative Belgium in Fassstärke mit 45,1% abgefüllt. Für die Destillation wurde eine Alambic Charentais (Pot Still) verwendet.
Pieter von Malternative Belgium schreibt zum La Souveraine: "As the only independent bottler in the world with access to the Laurichesse cellar in Segonzac, we selected in February 2026 our 6th Laurichesse cognac, from cask no. 215, Grande Champagne, bottled in 2026 at 45.1% natural cask strength. This selection did not come about by chance, but from years of trust, friendship and shared passion with Olivier and Léa, the owners of Maison Laurichesse.
As with all our cognacs, we also had this bottle extensively analyzed in the lab, because transparency is just as important to us as emotion. The obscuration of 0.67 is low (and well below the conformity criterion of ≤4): this means that the difference between the actual (measured after distillation) and apparent alcohol percentage (measured directly via density) remains extremely limited, and that we can assume no additives were used. The dry extract of 2.8 g/L indicates a rather pure, not overloaded structure. Dry extract is the amount of non-volatile substance that remains after evaporation. In cognac this can come, among other things, from: wood components, acids, mineral/fraction components. It is not a direct aroma meter, but it is important for mouthfeel; roundness; texture; impression of substance; length. For fruit expression we mainly look at esters: ethyl acetate 117.0 g/hL AA, isoamyl acetate 0.6 g/hL AA and C8+C10+C12 esters 22.8 g/hL AA. These values show a controlled and precise fruit base. With 812.0 g/hL AA volatile congeners, well above the cognac requirement of >200, the analysis confirms a full-fledged, aromatically developed distillate.
About the producer:
Olivier Laurichesse and Léa are both from Segonzac, this is where their roots lie. Olivier comes from a family with a long history in viticulture and cognac distillation. Olivier continued his studies in wine and oenology and gained his first work experience in Alsace and Médoc and returned to his "own terroir" in 2003. In 2015, Olivier started independently with 40 ha of vineyards located in Verrières and Angeac-Champagne located in the Grande Champagne, the first cru of the cognac region. Léa obtained a bachelor's degree in wine and spirit trading in 2008 and then went on to do a 3-month internship in New York America for an importer-distributor of spirits. She then resumed her studies at university and in 2010 she met Olivier.
In 2018, a marriage and 3 children later, they launched "laurichesse cognac" together to promote the barrels of cognac that Olivier's father, Guy Laurichesse, distilled in the 1970s (on a small 12 hl alambic). They also now distil cognac themselves from their own vineyards. Guy had handed over the keys to his chai, a hidden cellar at the back of the garden of his residence in Segonzac, to his son in 2018. What makes this cognac unique is that it is a single cask and has not been blended over the years. Very unique spirits that were never commercialized and that only waited for the next generation to convince the enthusiasts of its great qualities and aromas. Grande Champagne cognac at its peak!
In the late summer of 2021, during a cognac trip, we went to pick up our daily fresh bread at the bakery on the square in Segonzac. This beautiful municipality is our regular base when we are in France. Here we were pointed out that the neighbor across the street also had a cognac house. For real? Many times we passed this little square without realizing that behind that brown gate a treasure of sublime cognac was hidden. We got in touch and a first visit followed in December 2021. The sweet and down-to-earth owners Olivier and Léa introduced us to their family business. We are very grateful and proud to have this exclusif collaboration!
Tasting-notes:
Nose: A cognac that draws you in! First quince, apricots and white peach, then more exotic layers emerges: lychee, pomelo, yuzu, and a touch of guava. Beneath that lie acacia blossom, beeswax, almond skin, blond tobacco, old cedarwood and dried citrus zest. Everything remains bright and transparent. This is not a cognac with make-up; this is pure Grande Champagne, beautiful fruitiness with a velvety finesse.
Taste: Silky and refined, yet with tremendous depth, carried by its cask strength. Sun-ripened peaches, orange and candied lemon form the base. Then come bergamot, lychee, ripe pineapple and mirabelle. The flavour remains elegant and extremely exciting. The wood is extremely well balanced: cedar, almond, light vanilla and dried tea. The fruitiness is exotic.
Finish: Long and noble. Citrus zest, overripe pear, peaches and apricots, yuzu, almond, beeswax and cedarwood linger beautifully. The finish is extremely pure, exotic and stylish. Me like!
Label explanation:
The artwork of La Souveraine shows the lioness in profile: calm, focused, and fully in control. She doesn’t need to roar to show her strength. Her gaze is determined, almost meditative. This is not an image of aggression, but of inner authority. The lioness symbolizes the more subtle, yet perhaps even more impressive form of power: the power of self-control. She is vigilant, noble, and precise. Her beauty lies in her serenity. The open space around the animal is at least as important. That emptiness gives room to breathe. It lets the lioness speak without excess. This fits perfectly with the character of this cognac. The labels of #51 and #52 together form a royal diptych. Together they tell the story of a Grande Champagne duo that is connected not only by age, origin, and producer, but also by character. The lioness and the lion are not coincidental symbols; they also appear in the official Laurichesse logo!"
