Pierre Ferrand - Cognac

Cognac Pierre Ferrand has released its special Memoire Vintage. Only a few bottles of each vintage – 1970, 1971, 1973 – will be released worldwide. These special Grande Champagne cognacs are bottled in a replica of the bottle used by Cognac Ferrand in 1900. The heavy glass bottle with a deep punt is etched with the words “Cognac Pierre Ferrand” and “Memoire”. A hand-written parchment label shows the vintage. Each small lot has been certified by a Huissier de Justice, the most respected level of authentication under French law. Each bottle is numbered and signed by the cellarmaster and comes in a dark mahogany box adorned with an etched brass plate. A certificate of authenticity accompanies each bottle.

Cognac Ferrand maintains stocks of vintage cognacs in bonded warehouses. These strategic stocks are normally used as part of the blends and are periodically tasted to evaluate their evolution. After a recent tasting, partners Alexandre Gabriel and Jean Dominique Andreu, together with their cellarmaster Patrick Giudicelli, deemed 5 casks of each of these three vintages worthy of bottling as a single vintage cognac. Grande Champagne cognacs usually reach their prime at around 30 – 50 years of age. When we tasted these three vintages we knew that we had three absolutely superlative, memorable cognacs.

VINTAGE DATING IN COGNAC

Until recently the only way to buy vintage dated cognac was to purchase “early landed” stock. This way young spirits, shipped in casks from Cognac and aged in England. For the consumer, it was important to know two things – was the spirit matured under optimum conditions and when was it bottled. (Cognac does not develop once it is placed in glass.)

In 1989, Cognac regulation has changed allowing Cognac to be vintage dated. In order to be eligible for this designation, the cognac must be stored away from other stocks under a double lock system (bonded warehouse). The proprietor can only enter accompanied by an official who holds the second key.
Cognac controlled in this way may then be issued a certificate proving the vintage date.