Martell Noblige (700 ml) Year of the Horse (Limited Edition)

Founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, the house made one defining terroir bet that no rival has replicated: locking up 50–60% of the entire Borderies cru's annual output — the smallest of Cognac's six crus — whose silica-clay soils yield an unmistakably floral, candied-fruit character that Grande Champagne-dominant houses simply cannot source. Noblige draws from this Borderies core, supplemented by Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois, blending across 100+ eaux-de-vie to build layered complexity. The distillate is produced at the Gallienne Distillery in the heart of Borderies from clear, lees-free Ugni Blanc wine — a practice unique among the major houses — then double-distilled in copper alambic Charentais stills without Chauffe-vins pre-heaters, following the proprietary 'Martell Curve' for hourly temperature control. Aging proceeds exclusively in fine-grained cecillus (Tronçais-style) French oak, lightly toasted for a minimum 17–20 minutes, combining new casks for spice and tannin with older 'red' barrels for fruit-forward development. The special feature here is the Year of the Horse limited-edition packaging — a collectible release that wraps the house's signature Borderies-led blend in a culturally specific presentation unavailable in the standard range. As a non-vintage blend, Noblige is built for consistency and immediate accessibility, with the Borderies silica-clay signature — violet florals, candied pear, and a smooth, relatively light-bodied texture — fully integrated at 40% ABV.