Dimitre I.

25 reviews · avg 81/100

Martell is my favorite of the big four cognac houses and Cordon Bleu is the reason for that.
Nose: lively and assertive. Autumn orchards, dark fruit, red apple, and plums. Nutty: almond paste. With time, coco powder and cinnamon bark notes develop in the background. Very complex nose.
Palate: smooth, viscous, and full bodied. Palate starts rather sweet, but mid-palate, the sweetness is balanced perfectly by spices and light oak. Delicate and elegant palate. The signature Borderies character of fruitiness and earthiness are present in spades here, for my delight. Leather flavors in the background.
Finish: long. Plums, cinnamon bark, and spices. Light oak.
Overall: Pricy but worth it. XO quality at Napoleon price. If you are set on spending big bucks on one of the big cognac names, this is it. I prefer Cordon Bleu to the more expensive Martell XO, which is also very good.