Cigar Reserve (700 ml)

Thomas Hine arrived in Jarnac from Dorset in 1791 and built a house philosophy that Cognac is, above all, a great white wine — a conviction that shapes every production decision, including the deliberate choice to distil on the fine lees (sur lies) in traditional Charentais copper alembic pot stills, a signature that deposits pastry-like roundness into the base spirit before a single day in oak. Cigar Reserve draws from both Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus, whose rolling limestone-chalk valleys yield Ugni Blanc of high natural acidity and restrained sugar — the chalk subsoil acting as a slow-release moisture reservoir that keeps vines under measured stress, concentrating aromatic precursors without sacrificing the vivacity Hine prizes. Fermentation runs 7–9 days in temperature-controlled vats with native wild yeast, producing a dry base wine of ~7–8% ABV. Aging begins in new fine-grained French oak for initial tannin scaffolding, then transfers to seasoned refill casks to moderate extraction — a two-stage regime that builds structure without overwhelming the floral-fruit register. The Cigar Reserve is specifically assembled to carry the weight and aromatic persistence to hold its own against the ammonia and phenolic smoke of a lit cigar — an explicit structural brief that sets it apart from Hine's more delicate early-landed Bristol expressions. Bottled at 40% ABV; drinking window open now.