Cognac Chabasse

From the son of a gabarier to a Cognac dynasty

The history of the house begins in 1818 in Saint-Jean-d'Angély, less than 40 kilometers from the city of Cognac. The founder was Jean-Baptiste Chabasse, son of a gabarier – those river boatmen who once transported wine down the Charente river on their barges. This proximity to the river and to trade gave rise to the family's first Cognac production.

In the early 20th century, Louis-Olivier Chabasse took over the house. He was well-traveled and gradually built up an international distribution network that made the family's Cognac known beyond the borders of France. However, the phylloxera crisis later forced the family to sell their vineyards; until the 1990s, Chabasse operated primarily as a Cognac merchant without its own vines. Only after that did they buy back land, including the Saint-Robert estate in Saint-Bris-des-Bois in 2011. Today, René-Luc Chabasse, heir to the family's oenological knowledge, continues to lead the house.

One winery, one cellar, one family

What distinguishes Chabasse from many larger Cognac houses is the complete control over its own production chain: the family manages every step from vineyard work to bottling in complete autonomy. The basis for this is a contiguous estate of 60 hectares that extends over the two crus of Fins Bois and Borderies. From the winemaker to the cellar master, a well-coordinated team works to preserve the house's characteristic style – modernity meets respect for tradition here.

The company headquarters is located in a historic property in the middle of Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Contemporary design meets antique pieces there, while the distillates are allowed to mature in peace in the cellars below.

Two terroirs, one unmistakable style

The character of Chabasse Cognacs arises from the interplay of two sites: grapes from the Fins Bois provide round, soft brandies, while the Borderies contribute more gentle, floral distillates, which then flow into the blends. This interplay results in Cognacs that range from the young VSOP with four to five years of barrel aging to the XO with 18 to 20 years – in between are other quality levels and occasionally rare vintage bottlings.

The house is recognizable from the outside by its bottles: René-Luc Chabasse chose the Romanesque round arch of Saintonge architecture as a recurring design element – a silent sign of the house's regional roots. Drinking temperature: best served slightly tempered in a nosing glass, neat, or as a base for a classic Cognac cocktail.