Master Pretender – Spiritus Rex Pinot Meunier

It is time for another excellent and exclusive eau de vie from Pinot Meunier grapes. Although this one is distilled from grapes, it is not a brandy, but rather barrel aged grape eau de vie. Nevertheless, I decided to come up with a Harvard variation for it.

Matthias Sievert harvests this special Pinot Meunier grapes from the renown Stählemühle. Yet, it takes a few years until enough grapes are distilled and put in a barrel. In this case, Matthias blended the distillate of grapes from 1016, 2017 and 2018 in a Limousin oak cask. After more than three years he bottled the Pinot Meunier at an ABV of 42 %.

Grapes, grass and grape marc

Even with the first sip, the Spiritus Rex Pinot Meunier is very approachable. You get slightly sweet grape notes in addition with some grassy and oak spice flavours. Yet, after a while a certain grape marc characteristic develops and adds more and more complexity.

A Harvard variation

I know, the Pinot Noir is not a brandy, but I thought a brandy cocktail would be an excellent base for a cocktail with it. So, I used the Harvard cocktail as a base. Yet, I split the base between the Spiritus Rex and a grape marc spirit distilled by Cazottes. The Eau de Vie de Marc uses the Ceps Centenaires La Mémé wine from Gramenon as a base.

*Mix 50 % Mancino Vermouth Rosso, 40 % Yzaguierre Reserve and 10 % Mancino Chinato.

The drinks starts with clear grape notes, just before the grassiness of the Eau de Vie de Marc kicks in. The vermouth balances the spirits quite well. Furthermore, the bitters perfectly accentuate the flavours of the drink.

*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. The eau de vie was provided by Spiritus Rex.