Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
NOSE-ABLES AN ELEGANT NEW FRENCH WINE & SPIRITS PORTFOLIO SPORTS A FAMED FAMILY NAME Drinking with the Rockefellers story and photo by Richard Carleton Hacker O ne of the world's most easily recognizable names is that of Rockefeller. And yet, this well-known American industrial family began in France, as Roquefeuille. Thus, it's hardly surprising that one of the newest and most elegant French wine and spirit brands is Rockefeller, imported from France by the Vintage Rockefeller Wine & Spirits Group (www.vintagerockefeller.com). Befitting the name, all Rockefeller products are meticulously handcrafted in Cognac. This includes the micro-distilled Empire Rockefeller Vodka (SRP $29.95), with its distinctive elongated frosted Art Deco bottle. Made with organically-grown French winter wheat and limestone-filtered spring water from the Champagne region, this is the only vodka distilled six times in copper pot stills. Then it is enhanced by proprietary charcoal filtration. The result is a smooth, crystalline spirit, with a hint of spice. The F. Rockefeller & Sons 2004 Vintage Brut Champagne ($49.95) is composed of 57% Chardonnay and 43% Pinot Noir, a blend that results in a gentle, yeasty character caressed with hazelnuts and a delicate stream of bubbles threading through its golden straw color. Reflecting the Rockefellers' 17th-century French winemaking skills, the labels bear the family crest. This same fleur-de-lis is also found on bottles of Signature Rockefeller Cognac: a VS ($41.95), VSOP ($53.95) and XO ($84.95), all distilled by the same fifth-generation family. The VS is a blend from Fins Bois and Borderies, while the VSOP—with rich textures of chocolate and dark cherries—is from a mixture of wines from Fins Bois, Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne and tastes more like an XO than a VSOP. The XO, with its caramelized peaches and candied fruit, is a meaty assemblage of 20-year-old eaux de vie. For more information contact Steve@ VintageRockefeller.com; (516) 662-5509. 50 / the tasting panel / october 2013 TP1013_034-65.indd 50 9/23/13 10:33 PM Tou