After celebrating 300 years of cognac-making, Maison Martell proudly introduces the Martell Single Cru collection – paying homage to the four unique grand crus of the Cognac region. This marks the first time in the Maison’s long standing history that it is offering cognac crafted using eaux-de-vie from a single cru.
Crafted by Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud, the collection comprises only eaux-de-vie that offers the most precise personality, aroma, ageing potential and authentic expression of the terroir it represents. The process is so rigorous that Valtaud retains fewer than 400 of the 11,000 eaux-de-vie available to him in the Maison’s reserves. It is categorised into three editions, ranging from the core Discovery Edition to a selection of rare and extra-rare vintages.
“Ever since the days of Jean Martell, the ethos of Maison Martell has been to express the best of the Cognac terroir. With Martell Single Cru, a rare and prestigious collection which represents less than 1% of Martell cognacs, my aim was to reveal the richness and diversity of the very finest crus. My hope is that this aromatic exploration of the Cognac region will speak to adventurous cognac drinkers, opening their minds and palates to new tastes, and enabling them to build their own personal collection – one which reflects their preferences and the pleasure of discovery,” Valtaud said.
Ahead, get to know the four grand crus of Cognac and the three editions in Martell’s Single Cru Collection.
Discovery Edition: The main crus
The Discovery Edition presents an introduction to the three main crus of the Cognac region: Fin Bois, Borderies and Petite Champagne. Each cru has a distinct taste and aromatic profile owing to its geographic location, soil composition, climate and exposure. Specifically, the Martell Single Cru Fins Bois offers lush notes of juicy fruits on the palate.
On the other hand, the Martell Single Cru Petite Champagne has an intense, spicy character with hints of warm spices and nuts. Martell Borderies has sweet fruit and subtle floral notes that leave a full, lasting impression. As the Borderies cru is considered the rarest of the three crus, there are a limited number of bottles available.
Price:
- Martell Single Cru Fins Bois & Martell Single Cru Petite Champagne – RM580 per bottle
- Martell Borderies – RM620 per bottle
Aged Edition: The most prestigious crus
Next, there’s the Martell Single Cru Aged Edition, featuring eaux-de-vie from the two most exclusive Cognac terroirs: Borderies and Grand Champagne. The former has a luscious, fruity richness that attains a strong ageing potential, hence its release in the form of an XXO. Meanwhile, the latter is enriched with notes of nuts and dried fruit with overtones of wood, achieving the perfect balance between power and fruitiness in an XO release.
Price:
- Martell Single Cru XO Grande Champagne – RM1,440
- Martell Single Cru XXO Borderies – RM2,830
Vintage Edition: The most exceptional expressions
Lastly, the Vintage Edition is reserved for exceptional cognacs that represent a single eau-de-vie sourced from a single terroir in a single year. This is carefully selected by the Cellar Master, who determines the defining point at which an eau-de-vie is ready to reveal its finest, purest and rarest qualities. A new cognac will be added to the Vintage Edition each year, starting with the Martell Single Cru Borderies 1999.
Due to its challenging climate, this year brought lower volumes at harvest, but higher quality and rarity. The resulting eau-de-vie was then transferred into fine-grained oak barrels and aged for 23 years to attain its aromatic plenitude. Representing the purest expression of the best of Borderies that particular year, the Martell Single Cru Borderies 1999 offers notes of candied fruit, linden blossom, and vibrant citrus with a smooth, rich, and fruity palate.
Price: RM10,800 (limited quantities)
For more information on the Martell Single Cru collection, visit Martell Malaysia’s official website.