Prunier Petite Champagne Vintage 1989

Nose

Rich and layered, with orange, ripe pear and dried figs. Hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds are complemented by beeswax, polished wood, nutmeg and a subtle touch of rancio.

Palate

Powerful on arrival, yet soon becoming remarkably elegant. Orange peel, butterscotch and dark chocolate mingle with tobacco leaf, white truffle and roasted nuts. Pepper, waxy notes and firm but restrained oak provide structure and depth.

Finish

Long, spicy and lightly drying, with butterscotch, dark chocolate and orange liqueur. Nutmeg, pepper, tobacco and vanilla linger pleasantly.

The earliest traces of the Prunier family in the cognac trade date back to 1701. From 1769 onwards, eaux-de-vie were bottled and shipped under the family name in the town of Cognac. During the nineteenth century, Jean Prunier recognised the potential of railway transport and had a new family home and cellars built near the station in 1850. This historic site remains at the heart of Prunier today. The house later passed to the Burnez family through family ties, and they continue its traditions as an independent company.

Prunier is a cognac house and négociant-éleveur rather than a vineyard estate relying solely on its own grapes. It selects eaux-de-vie from winegrowers and distillers across several crus before overseeing their further maturation, blending and bottling. Alongside classic cognacs such as VS, VSOP and XO, Prunier is particularly renowned for its rare vintage releases. Since 1995, Stéphane Burnez has selected old eaux-de-vie from a single harvest and a single cru for this collection. They are often bottled at natural cask strength in editions of only a few hundred bottles. Prunier thus reveals the differences between Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois with remarkable clarity.