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Martell auctions one-of-a-kind 72YO Cognac
Pernod Ricard-owned Martell has teamed up with Christie’s to auction its only bottle of a 72-year-old Cognac.
The ‘one-of-a-kind’ Cognac, 72 Year Old Grande Champagne, was developed by Martell’s cellar master Christophe Valtaud, and will be subject to bids on the auction house’s Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online sale from 22 November to 6 December.
At 72-years-old, the Cognac is one of the brand’s oldest expressions, having spent seven decades in Martell’s cellars. It was first stored at Port du Lys, before the eau-de-vie was then moved to other cellars, and finally rested in the Jean Martell Celler, which is reserved for the house’s oldest and rarest eau-de-vie.
The brand said that once the eau-de-vie was considered perfect, its ageing process was halted and it was moved from oak barrels to demijohns, which are traditional glass flasks that protect eau-de-vie from contacting air and preserve their qualities for years to come.
Valtaud noted that the Cognac was chosen at this age due to it being one of the rarest the house has, and because the style and flavours are “so singular”.
The expression has also been produced in collaboration with French luxury glass maker Baccarat, which saw 16 artisans create a single crystal decanter with gold accents, and a motif of intertwined vine leaves and shoots. It also features a crystal stopper engraved with Martell’s coat of arms, hand-painted in gold. The decanter took Baccarat six days to complete.
The decanter is then encased in an entirely hand-crafted wooden box, embellished with gold-tone marquetry of grapevines, while the central oval medallion has the name of the Cognac.
Valtaud continued: “This collaboration with Christie’s and Baccarat once again illustrates Maison Martell’s capacity to elevate Cognac to a luxury product that responds to the needs of a demanding clientele of collectors and connoisseurs.”
A partnership between leaders in luxury
At a dinner hosted in London last night (6 November) to celebrate the partnership between Martell, Christie’s and Baccarat, Valtaud explained that as a pioneer for the category, and one of Cognac’s oldest houses: “you have time to buy, select and produce an amazing collection of Cognac, and I can tell you that we have the world’s most important of Cognacs. That is the history of Martell.
“The auction will be just one single Cognac, one single decanter, created by Baccarat, for one single consumer. It is not a limited edition Cognac, it is a unique Cognac. This is the first time we are doing something like this, but this is also the beginning of a story, and it was logical for us to collaborate with one of the world’s most famous wine and spirits auctions in Christie’s.
“So here is only one bottle – if you broke the bottle, it would be a disaster,” he warned. “This is the scarcity of this Cognac. It is truly a once-in-a-life time opportunity that won’t happen again.”
As the expression was born from a single eau-de-vie from a single cru from Grande Champagne – one of Cognac’s six different growing areas known for long ageing – its profile is said to be representative of the area’s terroir.
However, Valtuad noted that the taste is completely different compared to a classic Grand Champagne. “Grand Champagne is normally not floral like this, when I say floral, its white floral, like Acacia and a touch of orange blossom. If you taste it, you will discover the uniqueness through notes of tobacco leaves, tart citrus and white cedar.”
On the auction, Tim Triptree MW, Christie’s international director of wines & spirits said: “Christie’s Wines and Spirits department is delighted to offer this rare and exceptional Martell 72 Years Old Grande Champagne Cognac as a highlight of our online fortified wines spirits sale running from 22 November – 6 December in London.
“As the oldest of the great Cognac houses, Maison Martell’s distinction is unparalleled. We look forward to presenting this unique bottle, meticulously crafted by the world-renowned Cristallerie Baccarat in a handmade crystal decanter, to our collectors worldwide.”
Also speaking to guests at the dinner in London last night, Triptree added: “We’re undoubtedly leaders both in our respective fields, we’ve been going since 1766, so Martell just has the edge at 1715, but we are delighted for the auction. Hopefully we can open up these amazing Cognacs, and offer them to collectors and connoisseurs, and aficionados of luxury around the world.
“It will be in our finest and rarest online spirits, and the project will be the highlight of our online sale.”
Along with the Cognac, the successful bidder will be welcomed by Valtaud and Martell to visit Maison Martell in Cognac, which includes a exclusive tasting masterclass with Valtaud, followed by a gastronomic experience co-created with three-Michelin-starred chef Alexandre Mazzia, and a one-night stay at Château de Chanteloup, the historic home of the Martell family.
In other Martell news, earlier this month the brand launched its Defy Expectations campaign to spotlight its Blue Swift expression in the US.
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