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The Sayat Nova collection is produced by the Yeghvard Wine and Brandy Factory, one of the largest producers in Armenia, which has a strong position in the CIS markets. The owner of the trademark and the distributor of EUKZ products in Russia is the Yerevan Brandy House. In addition to the Sayat Nova line, the plant produces cognacs of other brands: Yeghvard, Arai, Patriarch Noy.
Historical reference. The Yeghvard Wine and Brandy Factory was founded in the city of Yeghvard in 1966. For the production of cognacs, only their own raw materials are used here: EUKZ vineyards occupy vast areas in the Ararat Valley. Distillates are produced from local varieties of white grapes: Kangun, Mskhali, Banants, Garandmak, Chilar, Voskehat. It is allowed to add only one variety of culture, which is not autochthonous, but grows in the Caucasus.
Distillation shops, aging cellars, bottling line are equipped with modern equipment, which makes EUKZ a full-cycle enterprise. The plant also organizes its own cooperage production, which provides for the demand for barrels from the wood of hundred-year-old Caucasian oaks. The company is especially proud of its solid stocks of spirits aged 20-30 years.
Many cognac producers in Armenia came under French control, and the Yeghvard distillery preferred not to abandon its own historical roots. When creating blends, they try to avoid blending vintages, even if the barrels with wine material for them came from the same region. The speed of maturation is not affected by adding additional oak staves to the barrel, and caramel is not added to the spirits to give them a richer color and aroma. The decrease in the alcohol degree of aged distillates occurs naturally, as the so-called “angels’ share” evaporates.
As a result, the finished product has the qualities that are characteristic of Armenian cognac: velvety taste with chocolate-oak tones, persistent aroma that develops in the glass. The original design of the bottle was developed for the Sayat Nova collection: it is made of highly transparent glass and, thanks to the recess in the back, fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The logo of the Yerevan Brandy House is applied on the butt.
The creation of the Sayat Nova line in 2009 became an example of thoughtful branding. The masters of the plant were inspired by the creativity and scale of the personality of the outstanding ashug who lived in the XNUMXth century. On the labels of the series, Sayat Nova is depicted with a saz, a musical instrument that accompanied the performance of improvisational poets. Winemakers have found much in common in two creative processes: working on a poem and creating a blend with a complex bouquet. A successful product always has a legend that impresses the buyer. In this case, this is the fate of the poet Harutyun Sayadyan, who is still popular in the Transcaucasus to this day. Building an associative array with the works of the classic, the company invites the Russian consumer to taste Armenian poetry.
Awards
Tasting competition at the international exhibition “Prodexpo”, Moscow:
- 2002 – Gold medal (“Yegvard” 5 years).
International tasting competition of wines and spirits “Grand Collections”, Moscow:
- 2010 – gold medals in the De Luxe segment (“Sayat-Nova” 20 years old), in the Premium segment (“Sayat-Nova” 10 years old, “Sayat-Nova” 15 years old), in the Standart segment (“Sayat-Nova” 5 years old) , “Sayat-Nova” 7 years).
International competition of wines and spirits Vinnaya Karta Open:
- 2004 – Silver medal (“Patriarch Noah” 20 years old);
- 2006 – Silver medal (“Urartu is 15 years old”).
Exhibition “Drinks and production technologies”:
- 2001 – Gold medal (“Arai”, 10 years old).
Types
* Sayat Nova 3, 40% **
The youngest ordinary cognac in the brand line. The aroma expresses tones of sweet spices, yellow fruits and rosehip petals. Taste with resinous-vanilla notes of oak barrels and a soft aftertaste. The drink goes well with coffee and can serve as a base for creating the popular Side Car cocktail.
* Sayat Nova 4, 40% **
A typical Armenian cognac, made according to the classical technology of assembling spirits aged in oak barrels. The drink is quite extractive for its age. In the bouquet, caramel-creamy tones and shades of oak are most pronounced, nuances of vanilla and flowers are easily guessed. As it develops, the taste is enriched with woody and peppery-spicy notes.
* Sayat Nova 5, 40% **
Cognac soft, silky, enveloping in taste. The volume of the bouquet is given by notes of spices, shading the overall fruity-chocolate range. Aftertaste with powerful tones of prunes, pine nuts, complemented by nuances of pipe tobacco, beeswax and suede. The drink is universal in terms of serving: it will not outshine the meal, but on the contrary, it will emphasize the gastronomic merits of the dishes.
Sayat Nova 6 years, 40%
Vintage cognac – well-coordinated, harmonious, developing in a glass. When the sniffer rotates, the drink is saturated with oxygen, and its aromatics show new facets. It has notes of dried fruits, fig chutney, nuts in honey, orange peel. A bright vanilla hue on the palate is complemented by tones of white cherries and chocolate pudding.
Sayat Nova 7 years, 40%
Aged cognac golden amber color, with hints of dark copper and mahogany. In the bouquet, a rich fruity taste with notes of ripe peach and walnuts ends with a long “silky” aftertaste, typical for Armenian cognacs. The drink is ideal for special and solemn occasions, it is best opened neat or with a little water.
Sayat Nova 10 years Premium, 40%
The minimum age of cognac distillates included in the blend is 10 years. The taste of this aged cognac is characterized by astringency, which is appreciated by connoisseurs and aesthetes. Bouquet with tones of quince, saffiano leather and nutmeg in the background. The aftertaste is long, with hints of raisins, plum jam, caramel, later echoes of a woody-balsamic theme and a slight bitterness of dark chocolate are added.
Sayat Nova 20 years Premium, 40%
The blend includes at least 20-year-old spirits of the highest quality produced at the factory itself. The drink has a thick aroma with a leading bouquet of juicy dried fruits – figs, dried apricots, candied quince. After the cognac breathes in the glass, notes of ground coriander, sandalwood, sweet clover honey, vanilla are revealed. The taste is not alcoholic, with a chocolate-nut dominant and light nuances of cloves and cinnamon.
