A Cognac may only be soldy when its youngest eau-de-vie reaches a minimum of two and a half years old, as of the first day of October following the harvest of the grapes.
Only the years of storage in oak barrels count to determine its age.
Once transferred into glass, the Cognac stops maturing . It stands still.
V.S (for Very Special) , also called *** (or Three Stars) is a cognac which youngest eau-de-vie is at least two and a half years old.
V.S.O.P ( for Very Superior Old Pale) , also called Reserve, is a cognac which youngest eau-de-vie is between four and a half and six and a half years old.
XO (for Extra Old ) , Napoléon, also called Hors d'âge, is a cognac which youngest eau-de-vie is at least six and a half years old.
Most Cognac houses will use Cognacs much older than those required by law, allowing X.Os to reach a minimum of twenty years old, in order to reveal their very best.
Hine - Mariage by Hine
In 1791 young Thomas HINE left the family home in Dorset, England for Jarnac in France to learn the language. He probably would have eventually returned home. Fate, however, intervened when he fell in love with Françoise Elisabeth, daughter of a great cognac family. He married her in 1797 and patiently learnt the art of cognac making, which he was to elevate to its highest form of expression.
Hine - Antique XO Grande Champagne
Created in 1920 by Georges HINE
90 years later, the House of HINE reinterprets Antique, now an XO Premier Cru.
Blend of more than 40 cognacs exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne, the finest cru of the Cognac region.
All cognacs are aged for more than 10 years.
Hine - Homage - XO Fine Champagne
HOMAGE is the quintessence of Hine’s style, dating back to the foundation of the House in 1763. Homage is both exquisite and original. It is composed of Early Landed cognacs aged in the United Kingdom coming from the best “terroirs” in the most prestigious region: Grande Champagne together with some extra old cognacs matured in Jarnac.
Hine - Family Reserve - XO Grande Champagne
A venerable Grande Champagne from the HINE family’s private reserves, proudly and sparingly released in a strictly limited number of bottles each year to be enjoyed by connoisseurs of truly exceptional cognacs.
Hine - Mariage by Hine - Giftbox
In 1791 young Thomas HINE left the family home in Dorset, England for Jarnac in France to learn the language. He probably would have eventually returned home. Fate, however, intervened when he fell in love with Françoise Elisabeth, daughter of a great cognac family. He married her in 1797 and patiently learnt the art of cognac making, which he was to elevate to its highest form of expression.
Hine - Rare VSOP Fine Champagne
Blend of more than 25 Grande and Petite Champagne cognacs. The "classic" Hine.
Hine - Cigar Reserve
Bernard HINE & Nicholas Freeman, the late chairman of UK Havana cigar importers, Hunters & Frankau, combined their lifetime experience to produce this unique cognac, especially created for the cigar connoisseur.
Hine - Antique XO Fine Champagne
A blend of more than 40 cognacs drawn from both the Grande and Petite Champagne districts and aged for more than one generation.
ANTIQUE XO is the house’s flagship, first blended by Thomas George HINE in 1920.
Hine - Triomphe
Created in 1888 by Edouard HINE to celebrate the victory of man over the phylloxera disease, which completely eradicated French vineyards.
An exceptional blend of over 50 selected rare cognacs, coming exclusively from the Grande Champagne district.
