Germain-Robin/Alambic

Germain-Robin, an alambic brandy distillery on the wild flower-covered sloped hills of Mendocino County, had a serendipitous beginning in 1981 when Ansley Coale, Jr., then a professor of ancient history at Berkeley, gave a lift to Frenchman Hubert Germain-Robin, a bearded stranger with a peace sign tattooed on the back of his right hand. Germain-Robin happened to be from a French cognac-making family, touring California to see if making great brandies here was a possibility and Coale was in the process of planting grapes on his 2,000-acre sheep ranch. A partnership was formed and the ranch became home to a distillery of fine California brandies, made from local wine grapes, including red wine grapes like Pinot Noir, giving it a distinct character. Germain-Robin now arguably makes the best brandy in the United States and one of the best in the world.

FINE
The younger (VSOP) brandies have wonderful Californian fruit overtones. The basic wines are Colombard and Chenin Blanc, with Gamay Beaujolais and Pinot Noir. Other varietals are used for complexity and balance. Pure and flavorful.

SHAREHOLDERS' BLEND
200 cases/year. The blend given to shareholders. Younger brandies selected for fragrance and delicacy are blended with older brandies distilled fro Pinot Noir, which gives the blend structure, depth, and a rich finish. Average age about 7 years. Amazingly smooth

SELECT BARREL XO
Astonishing quality in the classic XO tradition. Very deep and rich, with hints of vanilla and dark chocolate. Eleven years in small Limousin barrels, chosen from the brandies which are put aside for long aging. High proportion of brandies from Pinot Noir. The finish is astoundingly long and full.

SINGLE-BARREL BRANDIES
Limited release, two barrels/year. Brandy from a single varietal, unblended while aging. No caramel, no sugar, simply a pure essence of the original wine, brought ot bottling proof with rainwater. Pure, soft intensity.

OLD HAVANNA
Men's Journal called this "one of the world's best brandies",  and it is. Fewer than 200 cases/year. The blend originated during the  cigar craze, but don't be fooled: it surpasses XO quality, with a beautiful and  distinctive Californian fruitiness. Armagnac devotees will appreciate its full-bodied depth. Cigar lovers: Old Havana makes your best Cuban taste even  better.

GRAPPA OF ZINFADEL
One batch, about 45 cases/year. Whole-grape grappa distilled in a cognac still (elegance and delicacy) from very special grapes: 75-year-old high-bench vines, organically dry-farmed. Amazing intensity, without the usual grappa-kerosene overtones.