Tesseron Cognac: Blending Tradition and Modernity Since 1905

The Tesseron family has been producing exceptional cognac since 1905 when Abel Tesseron founded Maison Abel Tesseron. Abel’s vision was to build up a stock of eaux-de-vie that he carefully conserved in a twelfth-century cellar. He relied on two separate estates, one situated in Grande Champagne and the other in Petite Champagne, to distill, age and blend his exceptional eaux-de-vie. Since 2018, Noé Tesseron, Alfred’s son, has contributed his skills to the family legacy, bringing a more modern vision and new impetus into the house.

Today, Tesseron cognacs are made from the two most prestigious appellations in the cognac region: Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. The Maison has 40 hectares of vines located in these regions. Grande Champagne is renowned for producing the best cognacs in the region due to its limestone soils. It takes many years for the cognacs to develop their legendary silky texture. The longer they age, the greater the expression of their aromas and the smoother their texture. Petite Champagne soils are mostly made up of limestone and clay. The cognacs produced from this terroir bring freshness of taste and a silky finish to the final blend.

Tesseron cognac is one of the last cognac houses to still use the three Charentais grape varietals: Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard. Ugni Blanc is the main variety used in all the blends, forming the backbone of all great cognac. The two other rare varieties, Folle Blanche and Colombard, have almost disappeared from the region due to being difficult to grow and producing only modest yields. With their finesse and complexity, they add an extra dimension to the final blend.

Grapes are harvested in the early autumn and fermented to make a low strength, acidic wine of around 9% volume. The distillery of the Tesseron cognac house has remained the central element of a historic property in which the family house merges with numerous old cellars. Tesseron cognacs undergo a double distillation known as a ‘repasse’ in Charente copper ‘pot’ stills, which are heated by a naked flame. Only the ‘heart’ of the distillation is kept for the aging of the cognac. All the eaux-de-vie are distilled on lees, which enhances their complexity. This method produces a more sophisticated cognac that displays greater body and power, elegance, added length of flavor on the palate, and superb finesse. Each stage of the distillation process is subject to a stringent tasting by the cellarmaster.

Tesseron cognacs have come a long way since 1905. Today, the range has been enhanced by a wide selection of infinitely rare and personalized compositions, all of them created with the utmost care and attention. The Tesseron family has been able to maintain their legacy by blending traditional techniques with modern vision. Noé Tesseron’s contribution has allowed the brand to reach new heights, creating the most subtle and complex cognacs yet.

The Tesseron family’s commitment to quality is unwavering, and their cognacs are a testament to that. The use of the two most prestigious appellations in the cognac region, the three Charentais grape varietals, and their unique distillation process have created some of the finest cognacs in the world. With over a century of experience, the Tesseron family has set a standard for cognac that is hard to match. Each bottle of Tesseron cognac is a piece of history, made with passion and dedication to the craft.