Tesseron Lot No. 29 XO Exception is one of the most revered cognacs in the world, a Grande Champagne blend drawn from the oldest and rarest stocks of the Tesseron family's cellars. Aged for at least three generations in Limousin oak, it is bottled at 40% ABV and has earned a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker.
The Tesseron family has built its reputation on patience. For generations it sold its cognacs to the great houses, quietly holding back its very oldest eaux-de-vie in its cellars, and only in recent decades has it released them under its own name. The XO Exception range is identified by lot numbers, and Lot No. 29 is the most celebrated of them. In reviewing it, Robert Parker noted that it comes entirely from 1929, though French law does not permit a vintage date on the label.
The cognac is made from Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard grapes grown in Grande Champagne, the premier cru at the heart of the Cognac region, prized for eaux-de-vie of great finesse and longevity. Decades in Limousin oak have given it a lustrous topaz colour and remarkable depth: layers of honey, figs, plums and exotic fruit on the nose, a palate of macerated dried fruit with mocha and cocoa, and a long, stylish finish of marmalade.
The decanter, with its gold collar and Lot No. 29 label, is presented in Tesseron's signature red-orange box, a fitting home for a cognac that many collectors regard as one of the finest ever bottled.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Layers of honey, figs, plums and exotic fruit laced with oak.
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Palate: Macerated dried fruit with hints of mocha and cocoa, refreshed by floral aromatics.
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Finish: Persistent and stylish, with marmalade notes emerging.
Specifications
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Producer: Tesseron
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Style: Grande Champagne Cognac, XO
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Expression / Batch: Lot No. 29 XO Exception
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Age: Aged for at least three generations
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Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Limousin oak casks
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Region: Grande Champagne, Cognac, France
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Serve Lot No. 29 neat in a tulip glass or small snifter at room temperature, and let it breathe for several minutes: very old cognac opens slowly, and the fruit and cocoa grow with time. No water or ice is needed. It is a perfect partner for dark chocolate, a fine cigar or simply quiet conversation, and an extraordinary gift for a connoisseur of rare cognac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Tesseron Lot No. 29 special?
It is drawn from Tesseron's oldest and rarest Grande Champagne stocks, aged for at least three generations, and scored 100 points by Robert Parker.
What grapes are used?
Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard from Grande Champagne.
What proof is it?
It is bottled at 40% ABV, or 80 proof.
Explore more in our Cognac collection.
