Hine releases 30 year-old vintage Cognacs

Hine is releasing a pair of 30 year-old vintage Cognacs from the 1987 harvest, which was a year of extremes, according to Bernard Hine.

1987 in Cognac was characterised by a cold wet July followed by a prolonged hot sunny period

He recalls, “The winter of 1987 was very cold, it poured with rain after mid-summer making that July one of the wettest on record. In August we heaved a sigh of relief when the sun finally came out and a prolonged very hot, dry period lasted through until the end of September; perfect conditions for ripening the grapes ready for harvest.”

Although both Cognacs come from the same harvest, one has been matured at Hine’s cellars in Jarnac, and the other in the UK – the producer has maintained a tradition that dates back to the nineteenth century of ageing a proportion of its production in Bristol, calling these Cognacs ‘Early-Landed’.

The Bristol-matured Cognacs tend to age more slowly than those in the warmer and less humid conditions of the Cognac region in France. Bernard Hine records the difference in terms of taste between the 1987 Cognacs. “Our 1987 Jarnac matured has an orange marmalade nose developing into soft spices, vanilla, honey and gingerbread on the plate whilst the 1987 Early-Landed has a delicate nose of lime, citrus fruit and orange blossom with a fresh, citrus palate.”

Hine is a specialist in vintage Cognacs, which are released at a minimum age of 20 years, and in August last year, the house released one of the last remaining bottles of its 1916 vintage Cognac.

Decorated by artist James Viscardi, the bottles were for auctioned for a charity that supports disadvantaged youths called the Apprentices Auteuil Foundation

In the UK, Hine 1987 vintage Cognacs are available from BI Wines & Spirits, Berry Bros & Rudd and Amazon from £245 a bottle.