{"product_id":"merlet-selection-saint-sauvant-cognac-750ml","title":"Merlet Sélection Saint Sauvant Cognac Blend N°2 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBlend 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 \u0026amp; Fils's own private family reserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eDistillerie Merlet \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMerlet Sélection Saint Sauvant Blend N°2 Cognac is produced by Distillerie Merlet \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBottled 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eNo formal numerical critic score is confirmed specifically for Blend N°2 at this time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMerlet (official tasting note):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"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).\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCognac Expert (official product description):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"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.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrange 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSoft and round, finely wooded, delivering layered spice and ripe fruit character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElegant, closing with rancio charentais and dried apricot, alongside vegetal linden blossom notes — genuinely complex given the age spread of its components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCognac — Limited Edition, Batch-Numbered Blend\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottled\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2016\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlend Composition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePetite Champagne (10-yr, 1993, 1971\/73), Grande Champagne, Fins Bois (2001, 1992, 1948), Borderies (1984), plus 12% \"very old\" cognac\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOldest Component\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1948 (Fins Bois)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistillerie Merlet \u0026amp; Fils — Saint-Sauvant, Charente-Maritime, France\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily Generation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5th — Gilles Merlet \u0026amp; sons Pierre and Luc\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHouse History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTraceable to 1850\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA genuinely rare, exceptionally deep blend — real value for a Cognac spanning nearly seven decades of reserves\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVanilla, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, apricot, candied orange, jasmine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark chocolate desserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAged, nutty cheeses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDried fruit and nut boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpiced desserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBest enjoyed neat, in a snifter, at room temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45277977444418,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/37D6D2AD-7011-4D4C-A2AE-B9A1CCD1DDDA_1_201_a.jpg?v=1790476190","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/merlet-selection-saint-sauvant-cognac-750ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}