Maison Martell revealed its outstanding new cognac, Martell Chanteloup XXO, during a dazzling event at the historic Petit Palais. This exceptional experience was appropriate for what is a landmark launch, not only for Maison Martell, the oldest of the great cognac houses and the global leader in prestige cognacs, but also for the world of cognac as a whole, since Martell Chanteloup XXO initiates an entirely new category.
More than 100 guests travelled from 10 different countries to witness the unveiling of Martell Chanteloup XXO, an exceptional blend of 450 very old eaux-de-vie drawn from the four finest terroirs in the Cognac region. A supreme demonstration of the Martell art of blending, passed on through 300 years and nine generations of Cellar Masters, Martell Chanteloup XXO is accompanied by the Martell Chanteloup XXO Masterpiece. This exquisitely crafted, made-to-order trunk is the centrepiece of an entire bespoke experience designed to bring cognac lovers closer to the creative process. Both were presented during a gala dinner orchestrated by Michelin three-star chef Guy Savoy, who worked for several months with Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud to create dishes that would enhance the uniquely rich and complex aromas of Martell Chanteloup XXO.
Martell Chanteloup XXO and the Martell Chanteloup XXO Masterpiece were revealed as part of a breath-taking trampoline performance created exclusively for Maison Martell by acrobat and choreographer Yoann Bourgeois. Initially concealed under silk veils, the trunk was gradually uncovered as, with each perfectly controlled jump, Yoann Bourgeois lifted off the veils one by one. At last, at the climax of his performance, the Martell Chanteloup XXO Masterpiece and the exceptional cognac inside were dramatically revealed to the amazed and delighted audience.
With the unveiling of Martell Chanteloup XXO, Maison Martell demonstrates not only its savoir-faire and mastery of the art of blending, but also the spirit of audacity and innovation that are the legacy of its founder Jean Martell.
More about the dinner
Guests were welcomed into the magnificently decorated gallery of the Petit Palais for the gala dinner, where – in a brief introduction – Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud described how he and Guy Savoy worked together to create a harmony of aromas and flavours gradually leading up to the revelation of Martell Chanteloup XXO. The starter and first course – crab and avocado with a citrus-fruit jelly and timut pepper, followed by a carpaccio of ceps with woodland flavours – were thus accompanied by two vintage eaux-de-vie, each expressing a facet of the cognac. The first, a 1977 Borderies, represented the terroir which has been the signature of Maison Martell since it was founded, while the second, a 1958 Grande Champagne, was drawn from the prestigious cru where Christophe Valtaud was born and raised, the son and grandson of winegrowers.
The anticipation inside the Petit Palais was almost tangible as Martell Chanteloup XXO was served for the first time, with its rich aromatic facets complemented to perfection by Guy Savoy’s succulent guinea fowl in three ways, followed by oolong tea sorbet with a spiced custard cream, and – to finish – chocolate fondant with praline, chicory and Havana leaves.
About Guy Savoy
Born in Nevers in 1953, Guy Savoy was raised in the town of Bourgoin-Jallieu, not far from Lyon. At the age of 15, he decided he would be “a chef… or nothing at all”, and embarked on apprenticeships first with Louis Marchand, a chocolate-maker in his hometown, and subsequently with famous restaurateurs the Troisgros brothers. He opened the Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris when he was just 27 and quickly established a reputation for world-leading cuisine, winning two Michelin stars in 1985 and a third in 2002. Guy Savoy oversees three further restaurants in Paris, and in 2006 opened a second Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas. In 2015, his signature restaurant moved to the historic Monnaie de Paris by the River Seine, and in 2019 was named World’s Best Restaurant by La Liste for the third year running.
About Yoann Bourgeois
Born in the Jura region in 1981, acrobat, choreographer and theatre director Yoann Bourgeois discovered the lure of the stage in primary school. He trained in circus techniques at France’s Centre National des Arts du Cirque, as well as in contemporary dance at the Centre National de Danse Contemporaine. Fascinated by the point of equilibrium – as when a ball thrown into the air has reached its highest point but not yet begun to descend – he achieved international recognition with Fugue / Trampoline. This piece, which he has adapted and performed in numerous prestigious locations around the world, has become a reference for a new generation of artists working at the crossroads of several disciplines.
About Maison Martell
Maison Martell, the oldest of the great cognac houses, was founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, a native of Jersey. For three centuries, Martell has produced, exported and marketed cognacs which are recognized worldwide for their outstanding quality. The identity of Maison Martell is founded on three key notions: elegance, complexity and harmony. Maison Martell was established during the golden age of French art de vivre, when gastronomy, oenology and craftsmanship attained great heights of refinement. These became the three pillars of the House and remain intrinsic to its vision 300 years later.
