The House of Martell Cognac Tasting
As soon as I saw this event listed on the Tower Tasting Room website, I knew that I wanted to be front and center, ready to try these different Cognacs. I was at the bar Le Baudelaire during a summer trip to Paris when I first heard of the House of Martell. Le Baudelaire is a chic and elegant Champagne & Cognac bar located at the boutique hotel, Le Burgundy, in Paris’ 1st arrondissement. It was there that the bartender suggested the Martell Cordon Bleu and I’ve been a fan ever since.
The oldest of the Cognac houses started by Englishman Jean Martell in 1715 , Martell has maintained a tradition of fine Cognac making for over 300 years. It is the house with the largest allocation in the prestigious and highly sought-after Borderies subregion. Martell also prides itself in its use of tightly-grained French oak barrels, adding a level of distinction in balance and structure apart from other producers in the region.
After the opening reception of a Cognac-based cocktail and hors d’oeuvres, presenter Karim Lateef led the group in a conversation about the difference between brandy and Cognac (Cognac being a brandy made from the specific region of Cognac, France). We also had a fun “quiz-like” discussion on the aging of Cognac and also the growth areas called “Crus” which include the subregions of Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois. Cognacs produced by the Martell House are all blends of the different Crus.
The tasting featured…
Martell VS (‘Very Special’) Fine Cognac- aged on average for at least 2 years
Martell VSOP (‘Very Superior Old Pale’) Medallion – aged 6-12 years. This one bears a gold medallion engraved with the portrait of Louis XIV and commemorates the year 1715 – the birth of the House of Martell.
Martell XO (‘Extra Special’) Cordon Bleu- characterised by a predominance of eaux-de-vie from the Borderies subregion and is aged on average 10-25 years
Martell XO Supreme Cognac- aged 10-35 years with dominant characteristics of Grande and Petite Champagne
Our favorites were between the Cordon Bleu which was so beautiful and fragrant, and the Martell XO, an outstanding Cognac on its own, and paired with fine chocolates…superb. Bonne dégustation !
Martell Cognac
