Mercier Cognac RARE VENERABLE 50yrs GC CARAFE 42% 700ml

Normandin Mercier

Normandin-Mercier Cognac 'Rare' 50yrs Grand Champagne 42% 700ml CARAFE

Style Cognac > Grande Champagne
Producer Normandin Mercier
Origin Cognac (Dompierre-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle — Atlantic coast ageing)
Bottle 700ml
$634 / btl
6 pack mixed six eligible

Build a mixed six around the bottle. Free Australia-wide delivery from $250.

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Open this first

What it tastes like.

An exceptional cognac, patience and years have allowed this first crus to attain smoothness and concentrate its aromas such as orange peel. It expresses the full elegance and long finish of the Grande Champagne. Created solely from Eaux-de-vie from the premier cru of the Cognac region, Grande Champagne.
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\nAs one would expect from such a well-aged Cognac, it's seductively dark on the eye. The precious liquid boasts the wonderful notes of ranico that only occurs after many years aging in oak barrels. This is a Cognac that delights on all levels; The decanter presentation is simple and classic, and if you've not yet discovered the delights of the house of Normandin Mercier, then the very first sip is sure to turn you into a fan. Elegant and classic, this Cognac will appeal to anyone who loves the finer things in life.
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\nTasting Notes:
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\nEye: Deep golden, well-aged colour
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\nNose: Delicious notes of rancio and orange peel
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\nPalate: Powerful, well-rounded, with exceptionally good length of finish

The house

About Normandin Mercier.

Cognac (Dompierre-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle ·Est. 1872

Cognac Normandin-Mercier was founded in 1872 by Jules Normandin in La Rochelle, with financial backing from his wife Justine Mercier — the surname pair gave the house its compound name. Five generations later, the great-great-grandson Edouard Normandin runs the operation. The cellars sit at Château La Péraudière in Dompierre-sur-Mer near La Rochelle — a 17th-century building once used by François I as a hunting lodge — where Atlantic-coast humidity creates an ageing environment distinct from the inland Cognac houses.

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At the table

How to pour it.

  • Temperature

    8°C · ice bucket 20 min before pouring

  • Glassware

    White-wine glass or tulip flute (skip the narrow flute — it suppresses aroma).

Bottle questions

Before you open it.

A few practical answers for storage, delivery, and choosing the right bottle.

How should I store it before opening?

Keep it somewhere cool, dark, and steady. Wine prefers cellar temperature; spirits are happier away from heat and direct sunlight.

How long will it keep once opened?

Wine changes quickly after opening; spirits and liqueurs generally hold longer if capped tightly and kept out of heat. If it is a special bottle, ask before opening and the team can give product-specific guidance.

Can I ask for a similar bottle?

Yes. Contact Caravan with this bottle name and the occasion; the team can suggest a close match, a safer gift, or a step up or down in price.

How is it packed for delivery?

Orders are packed in bottle-safe cartons. If anything arrives damaged or looks wrong, contact the team with your order number and a photo so they can sort the next step.

What about hot weather shipping?

The team avoids making one-size-fits-all promises around heat and carrier timing. For heat-sensitive or cellar bottles, contact Caravan before ordering and they can advise the safest dispatch window.

Need a specific answer for this bottle? The Caravan team can help with drinking windows, substitutions, and delivery timing.

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Mercier Cognac RARE VENERABLE 50yrs GC CARAFE 42% 700ml
Producer visit

Why Caravan backs Normandin Mercier

Cognac (Dompierre-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle — Atlantic coast ageing)

Jules Normandin established the Cognac house in 1872 in La Rochelle, with his wife Justine Mercier providing the founding capital — Jules added her family name onto the labels in recognition. The Normandin-Mercier business has remained family-owned across five generations, with Edouard Normandin (Jules's great-great-grandson) now running the operation. The house is among the small number of Cognac producers that have remained continuously family-owned since the nineteenth century, with no acquisition by the broader Cognac négociant industry.

The Normandin-Mercier cellars are housed in Château La Péraudière, a 17th-century building in Dompierre-sur-Mer, just outside La Rochelle. The location is unusual for a Cognac house — most cellars sit inland in the Cognac town itself or in the Charente villages — and the maritime humidity from the Atlantic coast creates an ageing environment distinct from inland conditions. The house concentrates on Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne sub-appellation eaux-de-vie. The blend ratio is unusual: 90% Ugni Blanc, 10% Colombard and Folle Blanche, where most Cognac houses work close to 98% Ugni Blanc.

The current range covers VSOP (7 yrs Petite Champagne), Vieille Fine Champagne (15 yrs), XO (30 yrs Grande Champagne), Rare (50 yrs Grande Champagne), and the rare Très Vieille (100yrs+ stock from 1880–1914). Single-vintage releases — including the 1976 Petite Champagne Limited Batch — appear periodically. Beyond Cognac, the house produces Pineau des Charentes (the regional Cognac-and-grape-must aperitif) in Blanc and Rosé.

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