Cognac Reviews

Martell V.S. Review

October 9, 2024

Martell V.S.

Martell is a cognac house founded in 1715 by Jean Martell. Martell is located in Cognac, France on the Charente River.

Martell’s eaux-de-vie are aged in french oak from trees of the Tronçais style, with a fine grain that creates cognacs with lighter tannins and a delicate woody flavor. Martell also uses grapes for its eaux-de-vie from the exclusive and most prestigious Cognac appelations of Borderies, Petit Champagne and Grande Champagne.

Martell V.S. Review

We tasted Martell V.S. neat in a cognac snifter. Here is our review.

Price

Martell V.S is priced at around the same price as Courvoisier V.S. but is less expensive than Rémy Martin’s Petite Champagne V.S.and Hennessy’s V.S.

Alcohol: 40% (80 proof)

Age:Martell V.S. is crafted from eaux-de-vie from the Grande and Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois growing crus. It is aged at least two years in French Tronçais oak barrels.

The Bottle/Label

Martell V.S. in packaged in a Bordeaux style wine bottle with a medallion at the base of the neck featuring the 1715 family logo of Louis XIV and the words “Cognac Martell” embossed on it. The bottle neck also has engraved script that reads “A Martell”:

The Color

Golden copper.

The Nose (Nez)

Oak, vanilla, light citrus and honeysuckle.

Mouth (En Bouche)

Cinnamon, cardamon, cloves.

Finish

Medium length, lingering spice, citrus.

Overall

Martell V.S. is complex enough for an entry level sipping cognac. Its structure also works well as a cognac cocktail mixer. The lighter Martell V.S. style makes the cognac in cognac cocktails understated and allows the character of the other ingredients to share the flavor stage.

Awards:

2016 Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition