Monnet V.S.O.P. Grande Fine Cognac Vintage Bottle France 70 cl 40%

On the back label sits a small hand-coloured map of the Cognac region, split into its six districts, and a signature that looks like something a grandfather would have signed under an old promissory note. It is the kind of bottle that still carries a faint scent of another era the moment you pick it up.

The Expert's Description

Monnet Grande Fine Cognac V.S.O.P. is a French Cognac matured in Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The house of Monnet was founded in 1838 by a group of winegrowers in the Cognac region, and the Monnet name arrived in 1897, when Jean-Gabriel Monnet took charge and chose a golden salamander as his emblem – the creature said, in legend, to survive the flames, much like a cognac's heart cut survives the heat of distillation. This bottle's label still carries that salamander alongside the words "Fondée 1838".

What makes this particular bottle interesting is the German importer's name printed on the back label: Weinbrennerei Scharlachberg of Bingen am Rhein. In 1960, Scharlachberg bought a majority stake in J.G. Monnet, and this bottle dates from the period when the German distillery brought Monnet's cognac to the German market under the words "Französisches Erzeugnis". Labels like this went out of production long ago, making the bottle as much a piece of trading history as a cognac.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced vanilla and dried fruit, with a hint of leather and a touch of honey behind it.

Palate

Rich and rounded, with nougat, toasted nuts and a warm sweetness reminiscent of caramelised sugar.

Finish

Long and soft, with a dry, oaky finish and a last trace of honey.

Specifications

Name: Monnet Grande Fine Cognac V.S.O.P.
Distillery: J.G. Monnet & Co.
Region/Country: Cognac, France
Type: French Cognac VSOP
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Limousin oak casks, France

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Round · Oaky · Honeyed

Did You Know?

The salamander on the label is no accident. King Francis I of France, born in the town of Cognac in 1494, used a fire-breathing salamander as his own personal emblem, and Monnet borrowed the symbol when the house chose its emblem in 1838.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Monnet Grande Fine Cognac V.S.O.P.

What makes this bottle a collector's item?

It carries a discontinued label from the period after 1960, when the German distillery Weinbrennerei Scharlachberg took a majority stake in J.G. Monnet and handled importing the cognac to the German market. That label style and that piece of trading history no longer exist, and the bottle is today sold mainly to collectors of vintage cognac rather than for drinking.

Can you still drink an old Monnet V.S.O.P. like this one?

Cognac doesn't change in the bottle the way wine does, so the contents are generally stable as long as the seal has held. Fill level and cork condition should always be checked closely before opening a bottle of this age.

What does V.S.O.P. mean on a cognac?

V.S.O.P. stands for Very Superior Old Pale, one of cognac's official age designations, requiring the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend to have rested on oak for at least four years. That places this cognac a step above the younger VS category.

Why does the bottle carry a salamander on its label?

The salamander has been Monnet's emblem since 1838, borrowed from King Francis I of France, who used the creature as his own personal coat of arms. The king was born in the town of Cognac, tying the symbol closely to both the town and the house.

Which glass suits a cognac like this best?

A cognac glass with a wide bowl and short stem lets the aromas open up, while still letting you warm the drink gently in your hand. See our range of cognac glasses.

How should a bottle like this be stored?

Upright, cool and dark, away from temperature swings – unlike wine, cognac gains nothing from lying down, since the high alcohol content can break down the cork over time. A cabinet or display case out of direct sunlight is ideal.

What food pairs well with J.G. Monnet & Co.'s cognac?

The house style has been described as "sunshine in a glass" – warm, fruity and clearly vanilla-led, which suits dark chocolate, toasted nuts or an espresso after dinner.