Steeped in tradition, Cognac Prunier is a family-run firm with cellars in the heart of the town of Cognac. The house does not own its own vineyards; instead, they buy the eaux-de-vie directly from supplying vine growers and distillers each year, and then carry out the aging process in their own cellars. Sisters Claire and Alice Burnez are now taking the helm of the house, with their father Stéphane still by their side providing valuable support, skill, and insight.
Claire and Alice wanted to update the range – the design, packaging, and blends – to give them a modern touch and to put their own fingerprints on the range, while steadfastly respecting the traditions and values of the house. Some of the classic Cognacs are newly blended: VSOP Grande Champagne, XO, and 20 Year. Additionally, two new products have been introduced to the range: Horizon and Singularite.
This is quintessential Cognac of the highest quality. Must taste Cognacs!
Visit Prunier: 30 Rue Léonce Laval ,16100 Cognac
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Cognac has its Big four houses, the pillars for the spirit category which are present in every corner of the world. But if we ignore those houses, we are left with a multitude of small producers – negociants and grower-distillers – which form an elite and ultra qualitative tier of Cognac house. Cognac Prunier sits firmly atop this special tier of historical, authentic, immensely qualitative Cognac houses. For me personally, I consider Prunier to be an iconic and a benchmark negociant house, one which many others can be judged against. So it’s true that I carry my own positive bias heading into this kind of bottle review article.
The current cellar master of the house of Prunier: Stephane Burnez is the 5th generation to take the reigns at Prunier and has been enhancing the family traditions for more than 20 years now. With a vision to continue Prunier’s heritage into the generation (the 6th soon to follow), he strives to replenish the Prunier cellars with yet more beautifully aged eau-de-vie that will be ready, in turn, for the next family members. In doing so, he envisions his future ancestors enjoying the Cognac in the same way that he and his family are appreciating those that were stored for them by previous generations of the Prunier family.
I hope to get back to the philosophy and style of the 19th century by 2060, where older Cognacs, more vintages and a better notion of terroir and grape variety stands strong.
While preparing Maison Prunier for its future, Stephane focuses his attention on the art of tasting. As with each final product, comes a story to tell, and for Stephane – this comes with a tasting. By regularly tasting his vintage Cognacs, he actively searches for a balance between natural sweetness alongside the typicity of a vintage year and terroir. When each of the components combine in harmony – he can judge if the Cognac is ready to be bottled.
His top Cognac pick, if stuck on a desert island with just one glass and one bottle to hand – you ask?
It has to be… Prunier 20 Years Old Vintage as it is best enjoyed neat or with mineral water and the pleasure will be preserved for a long time.
For five generations, each with the same passion for Cognac, Maison Prunier has preserved the memory of its industry’s trade, for over two centuries. From stocking, aging, blending and bottling, for 250 years the house of Prunier celebrates only the very best eaux-de-vie on the market and has been optimizing its quality with esteemed savoir-faire artisanal craftsmanship. It’s no surprise Prunier has been the leader of the Chinese market for the past 30 years.
The Cognac house Prunier dates back to 1665, when Jean Prunier, a renowned Cognac expert from the area of La Rochelle, began producing wine and brandy. He began shipping his products around the world in the early 1700s, and Cognac Prunier was born. His son, Gabriel Prunier took over the company after Jean’s death in 1732, followed by his grandson, also called Jean Prunier. Another family member, Francois Prunier, acquired vineyards in the Cognac district around St-Jean-d’Angély. It was him and another Jean Prunier who finalized the firm's move to the town of Cognac itself in the early 1800’s. This third Jean Prunier had three sons, Alphonse, Marcel and Gaston, each who of course followed in the family tradition.
Alphonse took over the firm, Marcel worked in Europe as a representative of the company and Gaston moved to Australia where he set up an antipodean branch of Cognac Prunier in Melbourne. When Alphonse died in 1918 he left no direct descendent. So his widow called on her nephew, Jean Burnez, to take over the management of the company. Next, Jean’s son Claude Burnez (1927-2011) succeeded his father as head of the company before handing over management to his wife Susan Burnez in 1987. Since 2009, Claude’s son Stéphane Burnez has ensured the continuity in this family Cognac company with the help from his daughter Alice, who joined in 2016.
Today, Cognac Prunier has now entered its 6th generation and is still housed in the same medieval house in Cognac that it has been for the past two centuries. It is still a family run business which is at present headed by Claude Burnez’s son, Stéphane Burnez who took over in 2009. The 6th generation of the family to join the house of Prunier are Stephane’s daughters Alice and Claire who joined forces with their father in 2016. The company produces a wide range of Cognacs, along with various other brandies. However, the house of Prunier takes great care in remaining true to the age-old traditions of Cognac and brandy production, therefore they take pride in producing a wide variety of aged products – ranging from 2 year old Cognac to much older XO blends.
The sisters Alice and Claire Burnez mark the 6th generation of the famous Cognac house Prunier, taking over from their father the subtle blend of the past and the present looking towards the future. Both agree the way of working has changed from that one of their father.
As you’d expect in such a history rich family business both have always been allowed to taste wines and spirits at family dinners and parties to grow into the business.
It is a part of our family life before it is a product for our work.
Respect.
One simple one that embodies Prunier’’s core ethos. Without paying respect to the land, the history and the people who work hard to produce fine quality Cognac as well as the customers who in turn work hard to enjoy said Cognac – the brand and the Cognac industry in general, simply wouldn't exist.
Did you know that the Prunier brand logo wasn’t always an illustration of the Lieutenant's house? Back when the brand was owned by the Prunier family, rather fittingly illustrated a Prunier tree. However, when Jean Burnez (Stephane Burnez’s grandfather) took over from his aunt he re-branded the house of Prunier with the image of its new estate and headquarters: Maison de la Lieutenance.
Since Prunier was already known for its collection of old Cognacs, the Lieutenant’s house seemed to represent the brand well as it is the oldest house in Cognac and has been registered as a French historical monument since 1933.
Not only does Prunier produce Cognac, but because of its innovative buying process, the company is able to also produce authentic Armagnac (from the Gascony region of France) and Calvados (from Normandy) as well.
They also produce liqueurs that embody the luxury of Cognac but with a twist. One such is an orange liqueur that was originally produced by the cellar master more for fun than for business. But once tasted and widely appreciated, it was agreed to produce ‘Liqueur d'Orange au Cognac’ for the market – and is enjoyed as a digestive liqueur at the end of a meal.
© photos Martin DEJOIE / Les Editions d'Autils
© photos Fabrice Schick / Photographie Extramuros
