April 29, 2024

Launch of Martell Single Cru

Maison Martell has introduced the Martell Single Cru collection in Malaysia, a significant milestone in Maison Martell’s history spanning over 300 years in that—for the first time—every cognac in the collection is crafted with eaux-de-vie sourced from a single terroir.

Crafted by Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud, the Martell Single Cru Collection is rare, comprised only eaux-de-vie that can give the most precise personality, aroma, and ageing potential, and most authentic expression of each terroir; a process so rigorous that Valtaud retains fewer than 400 of the 11,000 eaux-de-vie available to him in the Martell reserves.

Structured in three ascending editions, right up to a selection of rare or extra-rare vintages, The Martell Single Cru Collection will be enriched over time, with each new release representing a fresh discovery of the House’s terroirs, an exploration of new taste sensations.

The Discovery Edition Offers an ideal introduction to the specificity of the terroirs of Cognac. Each of the three cognacs is sourced from one of the three main Cognac crus: Fin Bois, Borderies and Petite Champagne.

Martell Single Cru Fins Bois invigorates the senses with lush, juicy fruit, for a vibrant, fragrant sensation on the palate, Martell Single Cru Petite Champagne is intense and spicy, bursting with warm spices and rich nuts, while Martell Borderies rolls over the tongue with sweet fruit and subtle florals, leaving a delicious impression of fullness.

Martell Cellar Master, Christophe Valtaud has crafted three cognacs from eaux-de-vie sourced from a single cru in order to reveal the authentic taste and unique personality of each. Due to the rarity of the Borderies cru, the Martell Borderies is more exclusive within the Discovery Edition. This translates into a limited number of bottles released compared to the Martell Single Cru Fins Bois and Petite Champagne.

The exploration continues with the Martell Single Cru Aged Edition, featuring eaux-de-vie from the two most exclusive Cognac terroirs, Borderies and Grande Champagne, which were singled out by Jean Martell himself as early as the 18th century. For the Aged Edition, Christophe Valtaud has made a precise selection of eaux-de-vie which not only express the essence of each prestigious terroir, but are also remarkable for their age. An eau-de-vie evolves throughout the ageing process, and these two cognacs have benefited from many years of ageing to develop new organoleptic properties, attaining an aromatic richness that is exceptional in the case of an XO, and reaches a form of plenitude for an XXO.

Martell Single Cru XO Grande Champagne is enriched with notes of nuts and dried fruit, as well as overtones of wood, reaching a perfect balance between power and fruitiness.

Martell Single Cru XXO Borderies demonstrates incomparable richness and fullness, overflowing with luscious fruity notes.

With the Vintage Edition, the exploration of Maison Martell’s terroirs reaches its culmination. This exceptional cognac represents the encounter between a terroir and a year, with its specific climatic conditions – a rare event, in that it only happens once.

To start, for the Vintage Edition, Valtaud selected a remarkable Borderies eau-de-vie from the Gallienne estate, the emblematic vineyard of the Martell family. It was produced in 1999, a challenging year in terms of climate, which resulted in lower volumes at harvest, but increased the quality and rarity of the grapes. In February 2000, immediately after distillation, the eau-de-vie was transferred to fine-grained oak barrels, ageing for 23 years to attain its aromatic plenitude.

Martell Single Cru Borderies 1999 offers a complete organoleptic experience, representing the purest expression of the best of the Borderies terroir in that particular year. With characteristic notes of candied fruit, linden blossom, and vibrant citrus, it demonstrates an extraordinary smoothness, with a rich, fruity dimension palate.

The Vintage Edition is presented in a precious, numbered bottle and it will be released in exceptionally limited quantities — representing the very last barrels of these rare eaux-de-vie for collectors.

The personality of a cognac is shaped by the terroir which produces its eaux-de-vie. Each cru is associated with a distinct aromatic profile and a specific ageing potential, linked to factors including its geographical situation, its soil, climate and exposure, as well as the quality of its grapes. In order to respect the authentic expression of the different crus, Maison Martell distils only clear wines and ages its eaux-de-vie exclusively in barrels of fine-grained oak, thus minimising the impact of lees and wood.

Moreover, eaux-de-vie from these four finest terroirs in the Cognac region are aged separately in the Martell cellars. It is this unrivalled and uncompromising savoir-faire which attains its purest expression with the Martell Single Cru collection.

●Fins Bois: With its reddish clay and limestone soils, is known for its light, airy eaux-de-vie with anaromatic profile of fresh fruit, in particular pear and peach.

●Petite Champagne: With greyish and chalky soils, produces fine eaux-de-vie which offers structure and length on the palate. They are distinguished by notes of nuts, red and dried fruit.

●Borderies: The signature cru of Maison Martell since 1715, produces subtle, elegant eaux-de-vie with luscious aromas of flowers and candied fruit.

●Grande Champagne: With chalk and limestone soils, is renowned for the aromatic richness of its eaux-de-vie, which are characterised by notes of pepper, nuts and red fruit, as well as their excellent potential forageing.

The launch event was held at The Chamber Starhill, KL with ambassador Eloi Parent who regaled the media with Single Cru stories. The Martell Single Cru Discovery Edition and the Aged Edition is now available in Malaysia nationwide. The Vintage Edition will be released with limited units via Martell’s Prestige Manager.