Hine launches 1975 vintage Cognac for €3,500
The House of Hine has released a 1975 vintage Cognac, presented within a French porcelain decanter and valued at €3,500 ($US4,056).
Hine 1975 is the first opus in a new collection of vintages from the Cognac house, which has a history that spans more than 260 years. Only 450 bottles of the Cognac are available.
The vintage Cognac was drawn from a single plot in the heart of Grande Champagne in 1975, and then aged for five decades in Hine’s fine-grain toasted oak barrels.
The year 1975 is known for being an exceptional climatic year for growing grapes in the French region, as well as a year of significant social and cultural progress. Hine noted that this inspired the creation of its 1975 bottling.
Hine’s cellar master, Paul Szersnovicz, said the year “fostered the perfect ripening of the grapes and produced an eaux-de-vie of rare quality, both powerful and elegantly aromatic”.
“This remarkable year can be summed up in one word: balance. A summer of moderate yet consistent warmth encouraged an ideal concentration of sugars in the grapes,” he said.
“Steady hydration throughout the growing season supported optimal development of both the vines and the fruit. The harvested grapes were rich in sugar while retaining their remarkable acidity. This perfect duality , essential for crafting an exceptional Cognac, yielded a wine of great finesse.
“The distillation of the wine revealed the full character of this Cognac, producing an eaux-de- vie of exceptional depth and distinction. Hine 1975 harmoniously combines roundness, intensity and complexity. In my view, it undoubtedly stands among the greatest Cognacs of the 20th century.”
The Cognac’s tasting notes bring candied fruits to the nose, with roasted pineapple and baked apple, which are enhanced with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. On the palate, drinkers will find similar flavours, plus nuances of liquorice and gentle spices.
The liquid is housed in a porcelain decanter created by Bernardaud, a French porcelain manufacturer.
The bottle is topped by a stopper inspired by Hine’s historical style, and features a design from French illustrator Manon Briquet de Valon. For the design, De Valon created five panels, each based around a theme: the House of Hine, women, innovation and architecture, culture, and sport.
De Valon will reinterpret the design each year for every new vintage in the collection.
The Cognac can also be purchased in a gift set, of which there are 50 available for €6,200 (US$7,185). The set includes two bespoke glasses, a coaster, and porcelain trays, set upon a carved wooden base by Robin Françoise.
Earlier this year, Per Even Allaire, sales director at Hine, spoke to The Spirits Business about the challenges surrounding the Cognac category.
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