Prunier 1979 Vintage Petite Champagne Cognac

Prunier 1979 Vintage: a Treasure From Petite Champagne

The Prunier 1979 Vintage Petite Champagne Cognac is an excellent example of a wonderful harvest from the smaller of the two Champagne growing regions. The House of Prunier are truly masters of vintage Cognac, and this well-matured example is no exception. Bottled at a cask strength of 54.1% and without any additives, it shows exceptionally complex and powerful aromas -  truly a delight for anyone who enjoys the finer things in life.

The Ugni Blanc grapes used for this Cognac were harvested upon the mixed, chalky soils of the Petite Champagne terroir in 1979 and bottled in 2006. This region is famous for producing well-balanced eaux-de-vie with elegant floral notes. A warm growing season during the summer of 1979 provided a significant crop of healthy grapes, and although it rained throughout the harvest season, sugar and acid levels remained excellent, giving great character and length to the wines. This is a limited release of only 372 bottles.

Unlike larger Cognac houses, Maison Prunier do not grow their own grapes; they specialize in buying eaux-de-vie directly from growers and distillers. This way they can select the most exceptional and unusual vintages to age in their humid cellars by the river Charente. Today the company is run by the Burnez family, thanks to Jean Burnez who took over when his aunt’s husband Alphone Prunier passed away without any descendants. Under the watchful eye of Jean’s children, we hope to see many more exceptional vintages from this grand Cognac house for years to come. 

Presentation of the Bottle

This vintage Cognac is presented in a traditional wax-sealed bottle and a wooden gift box. The intricate, classic label neatly identifies the individual bottle number - one of only a few hundred units. 

The bottles used for Prunier vintages have been inspired by a hand-blown bottle used in the 19th Century by the family of Prunier’s manager Claude Burnez. The original bottle contained air bubbles in the glass, which are emulated today by manually injecting air into the glass. It may be a time-consuming process, but the result is truly stunning.

How to Enjoy Prunier 1979 Vintage Petite Champagne Cognac

This outstanding vintage Cognac is one for the tulip glass. Prunier has left it at cask strength, allowing the drinker to make a choice between drinking it neat or adding a dash of water to lower the alcohol percentage. During the summer months, a cube of ice is also suitable. This is an ideal digestif.