Hine Vintage Millésime 1982 Early Landed

From Jarnac to Bristol: Hine Millésime 1982 Early Landed Cognac

Hine Millésime 1982 Early Landed Cognac is a rich, earthy Cognac displaying a balanced palate. The harvest of 1982 produced an unusually large crop of outstanding wines - allowing plenty of eaux-de-vie to be distilled and sent across the English Channel to Bristol for aging. Here, the cold, humid cellars allow for a gentle maturation period, creating supple Cognacs that are then shipped back to France for bottling. 

Single vintages have been a signature of House of Hine for decades, creating a ‘liquid snapshot’ to capture the essence of a particular year. Not every year results in a vintage - the natural conditions have to be just right to create expressions worthy of bottling. Hine’s Early Landed vintages are unique in that they are aged outside of Cognac, in subtly different temperature and humidity conditions to those found in their Jarnac cellars. This cross-channel experiment seems to infuse the eaux-de-vie with a more subtle color and an inexplicable aroma of oranges. 

The history of Hine Cognac starts in the 18th Century, when a young man by the name of Thomas Hine from Dorset arrived in Jarnac to undertake administerial work for a Cognac producer. He soon fell in love with the proprietor’s daughter Françoise-Elisabeth and married into the family. Now the son-in-law of the owner, Thomas was able to take on a senior role and used his financial skills to make major changes, developing trade beyond France. In 1817, he officially changed the name of the company to Thomas Hine & Co. 

These days, the house of Hine focuses only on the Grande and Petite Champagne growing areas, overseeing 115 hectares of land by the village of Bonneuil. Vines of Ugni Blanc grapes cover the limestone-studded hills, drawing nutrients and water deep from the chalky soil even during the hottest summers. The terroir of Grande Champagne in particular allows Bernard Hine, the sixth generation to run the Hine family business, to select exceptional vintages to either be aged in France or England. While the decision to create Early Landed vintages may be unusual, it honors the history of this grand Cognac house and poignantly recalls the journey that young Thomas made over two centuries ago. 

Presentation of the Bottle

The Hine Millésime 1982 Early Landed Cognac is presented in a sleek, tall bottle with the Hine medallion stamped on the neck. The elegant box features the vintage prominently displayed on the front.

How to Enjoy Hine Millésime 1982 Early Landed Cognac

Sit back and relax; this is one to take your time with, perfect to end a meal or an evening with friends. Gently let the Cognac breathe in a tulip glass before taking a sip, tasting the results of a long-gone harvest.