The approach of 2025 has seen many new könig releases, many of which specifically mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year celebration as the Year of the Horse. Some of them are great, but one of the best expressions quietly arrived this fall, a 50-year-old 1975 from the venerable cognac house Heine.
The House of Hine was founded in Jarnick, France in 1763 by Thomas Hine, an Englishman who moved to France to learn how to make cognac. Today, the core lineup consists of VSOP, “rare”, and XO expressions, and from there the portfolio moves into more limited single estate and vintage bottlings, some of which are aged for decades. Such is the case with Hain 1975, a vintage release of Grand Champagne Eau DVD overseen by a single plot, overseen by Cellar Master Paul Cesarsnowicz, who says that year yielded one of the greatest cognac vintages of the 20th century. “The exceptional climate conditions fostered grapes of perfect balance and aromatic depth, resulting in an eau de dy of exceptional quality,” he said in a statement. “This remarkable year can be summed up in one word: balance. A summer of moderate but consistent warmth encouraged an ideal concentration of sugars in the grapes. Steady hydration throughout the growing season supported optimal development of both grapes and fruit. The harvested grapes were rich in sugar while retaining their remarkable acidity.”
The cognac was aged for 50 years in the Haincellar in lightly toasted French oak barrels before bottling, and the resulting liquid is fantastic. The palate moves toward the drier end of the spectrum, with flavors like oak, spice, and a bit of mint. But it’s balanced with ripe and dry stone and some sweet notes of tropical fruit, along with a hint of vanilla and maple.
The Hein 1975 decanter was designed by French artist Manon Brackett de Wallin in partnership with the porcelain house Bernardaud. As mentioned earlier, this is the first in a series of vintages that Hine will release, and each subsequent bottle will also be designed by Braquet de Vallon. Only 500 detectors were produced, which can be purchased in one of two formats. Timeless Poetry (SRP, 5,500) comes in a presentation box designed by Atelier Krynog (450 of them available). If you’re looking to splurge a little, the timeless ritual version (SRP $10,100) comes with two crystal tasting glasses, a Bernardaud porcelain tray and coasters, and a wooden base designed by artist Robin Francois (only 50 of these are available). You can find Hein 1975 at retailers like Auster Wines, and the rest of the collection is available on websites like Reserve Bar.
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