Ambre

About this wine

Pierre Ferrand Ambre is drawn mainly from Ugni Blanc with a small portion of Colombard grapes, and the blend is sourced from the Grande Champagne cru. The nose shows ripe apricot and pear, with delicate floral hints of rose and violet and a subtle vanilla note from oak. On the palate the fruit continues as baked apple and stone fruit, supported by a light waxy texture and soft baking spice such as cinnamon. The spirit feels rounded and medium bodied, with gentle oak influence rather than heavy woodiness, reflecting extended aging of around ten years on average. The finish is clean and slightly bittersweet with a late almond or marzipan note that lingers.

About the grape

Ugni Blanc, known in Italy as Trebbiano, is the backbone of this Grande Champagne cognac, prized for its very high acidity and neutral character that make it ideal for double distillation and long aging, and Ferrand source these grapes from chalky Angeac parcels in Grande Champagne to capture precise acidity and minerality. Colombard plays a supporting role, a once more common brandy grape that contributes floral lift and aromatic intensity, and Ferrand uses a small percentage of Colombard from the same chalk rich soils to add perfume to the blend. Both grape varieties are fermented into low alcohol wines and double distilled slowly in small Charentais pot stills, and the resulting eaux de vie are aged in French Limousin oak barrels to integrate the varietal structure with oak derived notes while preserving the grape derived acidity and aromatics.

Quick facts

• 🥇 Ambre is Pierre Ferrand’s youngest house expression, blended to an average age of 10 years rather than a standard VS or VSOP label
• 🏵️ All of the eaux de vie for Ambre come from the Grande Champagne first cru, the chalky golden triangle around Angeac Champagne that producers prize for perfume and finesse
• 🍐 The blend leans on Ugni Blanc with a whisper of Colombard, a pairing that helps Ambre keep bright apricot and pear fruit notes even after oak aging
• 🥃 Pierre Ferrand uses small copper pot stills and relatively small oak casks in their process, which the house says preserves floral and citrus freshness in Ambre
• 🏆 Ambre has won multiple awards including a gold at the Cognac Masters and high scores from tasting institutes, which helped put this boutique house on many collectors’ radars

Palate profile

Producer

Pierre Ferrand traces its roots to a family estate in the Grande Champagne cru with records dating back to 1702, and it remained in the region for many generations. In 1989 Alexandre Gabriel acquired the house and revitalized production while preserving estate methods such as small copper pot distillation and long oak ageing. The company is headquartered at the 18th century Château de Bonbonnet near Ars and coowns the Logis d'Angeac vineyard in the heart of Grande Champagne. Under Gabriel the house revived historical formulas and also expanded into craft spirits, but it remains known for estate grown, Grande Champagne cognacs and artisanal blending practices.