PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Blend N°2 is genuinely one of the more remarkable assemblies in Merlet's Sélection Saint Sauvant series — bottled in 2016, the result of what Cognac Expert calls "an expert and rigorous selection of Cognacs held within the family's select reserves." What makes this specific batch genuinely extraordinary is just how far back its components reach: the blend runs 30.4% ten-year-old Petite Champagne, 10.2% Grande Champagne, 10.7% Fins Bois from 2001, 10.2% Petite Champagne from 1993, 10.1% Fins Bois from 1992, and 4% Borderies from 1984, before drawing on genuinely ancient reserves — 8% from blended Petite Champagne dating to 1971 and 1973, and finally 3% from Fins Bois eaux-de-vie distilled all the way back in 1948. A full 12% of the blend is described simply as "very old" cognac. That's a genuinely rare depth of vintage stock for any Cognac at this level, drawn entirely from Distillerie Merlet & Fils's own private family reserves.
Distillerie Merlet & Fils has a traceable history dating to 1850, based just outside the village of Saint-Sauvant in the Saintonge region — the family originally worked as winegrowers, supplying grapes to other Cognac houses before eventually distilling under their own name. Today the estate is run by Gilles Merlet and his sons, Pierre and Luc, the fifth generation of Merlet distillers, who've built a reputation not only for quality Cognac but for an innovative range of other spirits sold around the world.
The official tasting notes describe the color as "orange brown," the nose "intense and complex, dominated by spices (vanilla, Sichuan pepper and cinnamon) and a slight hint of wood, followed by ripe fruits (apricot, candied orange) and some floral notes (jasmine)." The palate is "soft, round and finely wooded," with "notes of rancio charentais and dried apricots" emerging "in an elegant finish with vegetal notes (linden blossom)." As one retailer puts it, "for a Cognac of this exceptional quality, it is excellent value for money." This is genuinely rare, exceptionally patient Cognac — real depth spanning nearly seven decades of family reserves, in a single bottle.
Merlet Sélection Saint Sauvant Blend N°2 Cognac is produced by Distillerie Merlet & Fils, based just outside Saint-Sauvant in the Saintonge region of France, with a traceable family history dating to 1850. The estate is run by Gilles Merlet and his sons, Pierre and Luc, the fifth generation of Merlet distillers.
Bottled in 2016, this blend combines 30.4% ten-year-old Petite Champagne, 10.2% Grande Champagne, 10.7% Fins Bois (2001), 10.2% Petite Champagne (1993), 10.1% Fins Bois (1992), 4% Borderies (1984), 8% blended Petite Champagne (1971 and 1973), and 3% Fins Bois eaux-de-vie from 1948, alongside a 12% "very old" cognac component — the result of a rigorous selection process drawing on the family's own private reserves.
No formal numerical critic score is confirmed specifically for Blend N°2 at this time.
Merlet (official tasting note):
"Colour: Orange brown. Nose: Intense and complex, dominated by spices (vanilla, Sichuan pepper and cinnamon) and a slight hint of wood, followed by ripe fruits (apricot, candied orange) and some floral notes (jasmine). Palate: Soft, round and finely wooded. Notes of 'rancio charentais' and dried apricots come up in an elegant finish with vegetal notes (linden blossom)."
Cognac Expert (official product description):
"Merlet Sélection Saint Sauvant Blend No 2 Cognac is a cognac produced in limited edition batches with each series being unique. This, number 2 in the range, was bottled in 2016, the result of an expert and rigorous selection of Cognacs held within the family's select reserves. For a Cognac of this exceptional quality, it is excellent value for money. One for those that appreciate a prestigious Cognac."
Nose
Orange brown in color. Intense and complex, with vanilla, Sichuan pepper, and cinnamon spice leading, joined by a slight hint of wood, developing ripe apricot and candied orange, alongside jasmine.
Palate
Soft and round, finely wooded, delivering layered spice and ripe fruit character.
Finish
Elegant, closing with rancio charentais and dried apricot, alongside vegetal linden blossom notes — genuinely complex given the age spread of its components.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Cognac — Limited Edition, Batch-Numbered Blend |
| Bottled | 2016 |
| Blend Composition | Petite Champagne (10-yr, 1993, 1971/73), Grande Champagne, Fins Bois (2001, 1992, 1948), Borderies (1984), plus 12% "very old" cognac |
| Oldest Component | 1948 (Fins Bois) |
| Producer | Distillerie Merlet & Fils — Saint-Sauvant, Charente-Maritime, France |
| Family Generation | 5th — Gilles Merlet & sons Pierre and Luc |
| House History | Traceable to 1850 |
| Style / Identity | A genuinely rare, exceptionally deep blend — real value for a Cognac spanning nearly seven decades of reserves |
| Aromas & Flavors | Vanilla, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, apricot, candied orange, jasmine |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Best enjoyed neat, in a snifter, at room temperature.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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