True elegance lies in perfect balance
IN the English language, if someone were to improve over time, people say that the person “ages like fine wine”. No doubt, the idea that wine is referenced to measure a person’s worth goes to show the deep respect it has gained throughout the millennia.
When wine is distilled and aged further, it becomes brandy and one of the more famous one is the cognac, which gets its name from the region in France that has become famed for its production.
Known for elegance and sophistication, Martell cognacs are made using fine-grained oak barrels and double distillation of clear wines, without sediments, which marks a signature of the fine Martell taste.
The Martell name was the oldest of the great cognac houses, which was founded by Jean Martell in 1715 at the height of French art de vivre, when gastronomy, taste and craftsmanship were celebrated and enjoyed with style. These three form the pillars of the House of Martell since and today remain intrinsic to the Martell vision.
The house unveiled its new product, the Martell MVSOP Aged In Red Barrels, at the Copper Mansion in Petaling Jaya on June 20.
Among those present at the launch and food pairing event were Martell’s cellar master Christophe Valtaud and heritage director Jacques Menier.
Also present were the brand’s managing director Sebastien Mouquet and Pernod Ricard Malaysia marketing director Emmanuel Dokhelar.
This new Martell MVSOP Aged In Red Barrels carries a heightened feature that gives a pivotal experience to the discerning connoisseur.
Unlike others, the uniqueness here is the full ageing of the eaux de vie, the distilled wine, in only red barrels.
Known as futs roux, owing to the reddish tinge of their wood, these precious barrels were used to mature cognacs to the perfect
stage of maturation for both the oak and the eaux de vie, allowing for an ideal balance exchange between the two.
Typically crafted from woods between 180 and 200 years old, these casks are characterised by finer, less pronounced tannins, which respects the delicacy of Martell’s clear wines.
As a consequence, the aromas that develop are more subtle, more generous and more refined.
For the new MVSOP Aged in Red Barrel, it creates the perfect balance between fruity and spicy woody notes that comes from the time it spends in the Red Barrels.
Martell VSOP Aged In Red Barrels pairs extremely well with food due to its finesse, rich fruity notes and delicate aromas.
Not only does it match well with European delicacies, but it also pairs perfectly with Asian dishes.
When presented with a host of tantalising Chinese cuisine during lunch, the Martell VSOP Aged In Red Barrels engages with a palatable vigour, presenting a perfect balance in tasting notes.
Being aged in red fine-grained oak barrels unfurls coppery tones, the bouquet is round and fresh, reflective of intense fruity notes and aromas of fresh yellow stone fruits, like cherry plum and baby Reine-claude, gently coated by subtle mellowed woody notes.
In motion, the power of its aromas grow and gain depth, with fleshier fruits, such as apricots or vine peaches chiming in. The fruity flavours are marvellously enhanced by delicate notes of sweet spices.
Martell has produced, exported, and marketed cognacs since the early 1700s, which are recognised worldwide for its outstanding quality and finesse, obtained by exploring the “Borderies” cru, rarest parcel in the cognac vineyard, though double distillation of exclusively clear wines and by ageing its eaux de vie in fine-grained oak barrels.
Martell’s vast portfolio of cognacs includes Martell NCF, VSOP, Cordon Bleu, XO, Chanteloup Perspective and L’OR de Jean Martell.