Martell unveils new Réserve du Château series

Cognac house Maison Martell has revealed the first bottling in its new Réserve du Château collection: L’Or de Jean Martell – Réserve du Château de Chanteloup.

The Cognac was crafted by Martell’s cellar master, Christophe Valtaud, who brought the liquid to life by blending more than 1,400 eaux-de-vie from the four terroirs in the Cognac region. It was aged in the Martell family’s Château de Chanteloup.

Each eaux-de-vie was selected and aged in barrels made from 300-year-old French oak from the forests of Forêt de la Braconne, Foret de Bercé and Forêt de la Braconne.

“When you hold a bottle of L’Or de Jean Martell – Réserve du Château de Chanteloup, you have in your hands a real treasure; a Cognac that represents a quest for excellence spanning 300 years,” Valtaud said.

Réserve du Château de Chanteloup’s notes are described by the brand as featuring ‘iris, wild carnation and honeysuckle’ that ‘merge into sweet, rich aromas of red and black fruit, cherry and blackcurrant’, which are then heightened by a hint of spice.

As the Cognac evolves, aromas of ‘earth’ and ‘rancio’ are said to come to the fore, while ‘fragrant notes of sandalwood and cedar recall the casks made of 300-year-old French oak in which the Cognac rests’.

The liquid is presented in a decanter designed by crystal maker Maison Baccarat – intended to evoke a single drop of the Cognac.

The luxury add-ons continue, as the decanter itself is housed inside a wooden box that contains two stoppers, and a product booklet that tells the liquid’s story.

There will be just 1,000 decanters of the Cognac available globally and it will go on sale in January 2024 for an RRP of €6,900 (US$7,427) from selected luxury retailers.

The collection will be an annual release that pays homage to the brand’s heritage – dating back to 1715 – with the brand partnering with a different French château each year, where the liquid’s maturation will be completed.

Martell is the one of the world’s best selling Cognacs. Its owner, Pernod Ricard, reported a 10% growth for the brand in fiscal 2023.