Distiller Notes
2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Winner
Martell XO Cognac is a deep gold amber color. It is full and powerful with hints of almond and vanilla with a long finish.
Proof: 80
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
The opening whiffs find scents of pears, grapes, and mature oily, buttery, aromas; in the second sniffing round the spirit is pleasantly prickly with loads of character. Palate entry is sweeter and fruitier than the Cordon Bleu; round, luxurious and slightly coffee-like in its bittersweet approach at midpalate. Ends with an inoffensive little numbing sensation.
Range: 90-95
Widely regarded as the finest and most complex grape-based spirit in the world, Cognac follows rigorously strict production guidelines. It is made exclusively of wine—most commonly from Ugni Blanc—from the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions surrounding the town of Cognac in southwestern France. After a second distillation in antique copper pot stills (called charentais), the spirit is transferred to French oak barrels and aged a minimum of two years (VS). Cognac is classified by both age and region (Cru). The Grande Champagne Cru and Petite Champagne Cru, both having shallow limestone soils, are the most respected.