Jean Luc Pasquet Rateau Family Batch R20.11 Limited Edition - 700 ml

This rare, single-distiller French grape brandy originates from Charente in southwestern France, bottled by Maison Jean-Luc Pasquet as part of their limited-edition collaborative release series. Sourced from the cellars of the Rateau family, long-time grape growers and distillers in the Petite Champagne sub-region (Second Cru de Cognac), Batch R20.11 represents a hyper-specific snapshot of smallholder distillation. Composed of mature eaux-de-vie harvested and distilled by the Rateau family, the spirit rested in French oak casks before being selected and hand-bottled by Jean and Amy Pasquet. Bottled at its natural, un-reduced cask strength of 99.2 proof (49.6% ABV) in a limited allocation run, this release is non-chill filtered and crafted without added sugar, caramel, or oak extracts (boisé).

Spirit Description

This limited release presents a warm amber-topaz color with copper reflections and slow, heavy legs in the glass. On the nose, it is expressive, rich, and deeply aromatic, opening with lifted aromas of dried apricot, yellow plum, candied orange peel, and fresh honey, underlaid by classic rancio accents of soft leather, toasted hazelnuts, cedar wood, and light tobacco leaf. On the palate, the 49.6% ABV natural cask strength provides a full-bodied, rich, and oily mouthfeel. It delivers an immediate wave of dark caramel, poached pear, and orange marmalade before shifting into vibrant mid-palate notes of sweet baking spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), gentle oak tannins, and the characteristic chalky mineral backbone of the Petite Champagne terroir. The higher proof carries the mature fruit and wood interaction with remarkable weight and clarity. The finish is long, warm, and lingering, leaving trailing impressions of dark cocoa, toasted almonds, dried stone fruit, and a soft wood spice.

Accolades

Jean-Luc Pasquet’s independent bottling series—including the Rateau Family collaborations—holds exceptional acclaim among Cognac purists, spirits journalists, and master sommeliers. Frequently earning top marks on specialist platforms like WhiskyFun and Distiller, critics consistently praise the Pasquet family for shining a light on single-estate growers in Petite Champagne whose stocks rarely see single-cask recognition. Reviewers highlight how bottling the Rateau distillate at natural barrel strength (49.6% ABV) preserves the unvarnished texture and authentic fruit purity often stripped away by industrial-scale blending houses.