Petite Champagne Archives - More Drams, Less Drama

For the 7th dram and last of the first week of the Cognac Expert Advent Calendar, we now have a Lhéraud 1994 Vintage cognac, from the Petite Champagne cru. The Lhéraud family’s winemaking heritage spans centuries, beginning with Jean Lhéraud, the founder of the first Lhéraud distillery, around 1785. In 1860, Alexandre Lhéraud settled in the Petite Champagne region to serve the local château keeper (a chatelain) and was the first to plant vines in his garden. The legacy was carried forward and later entrusted to Andrée and Guy, the 8th generation in the Lhéraud family, around fifty years ago when they inherited the cognac estate.

At that time, challenges were abundant, but Andrée and Guy persevered with determination and hard work, focusing on crafting exceptional cognacs and gaining the recognition their products deserved. Their lives revolved around tireless participation in trade fairs and extensive travel to promote their cognacs across the globe. In 1970, the decision to establish the brand name ‘Cognac Lhéraud’ marked a turning point. Though the demanding travel schedule persisted, the brand’s growing reputation attracted global attention, solidifying Lhéraud Cognac’s place in the world of fine spirits (not only cognac but also armagnac and pineau).

Nowadays, their domain spreads over 100 hectares in the Petite Champagne region, and 35 hectares spread over Grande Champagne, Fins Bois and Bons Bois.

Now, time to see what they’re about: let’s review that Lhéraud 1994 Vintage cognac.

My fifth Cognac sample from the Cognac Expert Advent Calendar 2024 is a Fradon XO Petite Champagne Cognac. Fradon’s history starts under another name, as Henri Chainier pioneered the bottling and commercialisation of Pineau des Charentes in the 1930s, a local aperitif that people only enjoyed within families at the time. In the 1950s, his daughter Denise married Marc Fradon, and the domain changed name to Fradon. In 1989, their son Michel took over the estate, expanding direct sales and welcoming visitors to the domain. Today, Damien, Henri’s great-grandson, carries on the family tradition. Whilst they used mostly Ugni Blanc grapes, they introduced the Folle Blanche grape to their production in 2003. Despite its lower yield, susceptibility to rot, and challenging vinification, it delivers exceptional eaux-de-vie that are refined, delicate, and intensely aromatic. Fradon‘’’s domain extends over 40 ha in the Petite Champagne region.