WELCOME TO CONNOISSEURS!!!
You will find more information about our products we represent and sell as a merchant house and a trade agency exclusively in Asia.
On the other hand, please remember this comment of my grand-father Michel Firino-Martell(left) and my father Patrick Firino-Martell(right) who always said to me: "you don't drink the bottle you drink what is inside it, quality is the most important thing" and please always sip responsibly.
Yam Sing!!!
Michel Firino-Martell
Pascal Fillioux, head taster of Jean Fillioux cognac has decided to present his new baby "Vintage 1953" from his own treseary cellar. Of course, it is a limited edition.
Description and tasting notes:
"Perched on high to reach for the sky" could be the translation of words written below the majectic cockerel on the family's coat of arms. It is a fine, noble motto that defines our past, our history and our traditions. "Take the high ground to see far" would be fit "La Pouyade", our lovely state that has been in the family since 1894. It is a perched at the top of the hill where our handsome manor house overlooks our magnificient vineyard standing in the heart of the Grand Champagne Cognac.
If Cognac has a soul, that soul is to be found in La Pouyade, and it is mirrored in this Vintage 1953, "Jean Fillioux" has been carefully tucked away just the right amount of time in the peace and quiet of our dark, damp cellars.
Discover for yourself this old vintage 1953, you'll feel like entering an old stately home.
Bathed in a deep, amber-red glow, you'll hesitate, feel a thrill of emotion, and then detect a perfume of dried flowers, a glass of old sherry.
You'll step along a magnificient waxed parquet floor, sensing notes of old leather and incense. The rich aromas of gingerbread quince confit and toasted orange zest suddenly come to the fore. Hints of liquorice and sweet spices will linger in your memory after the door gently closes. "Welcome to the majectic, unique world of La Pouyade"
For me, one word will come to my mind "Perfection".
MFM
Cognac is running in his blood...Michel Firino-Martell
He got a pair of blue eyes, brown wavy hair, a handsome voice, a husky voice...with flow of words and style of graceful bearing that one would had thought he is a movie star from Hollywood. In fact, he is a typical French noble descent and the ninth generation of the famous Martell family.
Mr.Will Chan (W.C) :Can you tell us briefly your life experience?
Mr.Michel Firino-Martell (M.F-M): I was born a Martell as I am the ninth generation descendant of the family, I had my first taste of cognac at the age of eight. But, I didn't join the family business until 1994 that was after I graduated from my Business Administration. I was stationed in New York city and then later on in Miami and Chicago, responsible for the family business in Northern America and Latin America.
In 1988 my family business was sold to a Canadian wine and spirit company - Seagram as Seagram wanted to develop the Asia market they badly needed a well-known cognac. They have other business which involved with movies productions and recording and later on they had taken over the business of Universal and at the time my father, the eight generation of Martell was the chairman of the new Martell company.
In 2001 Seagram decided to sell Martell cognac to Pernod-Ricard so Martell was back to the hand of the French again...
In 2002 I decided to depart Pernod-Ricard when I was based in Asia. I worked in Singapore for two years then another two years in San Francisco. In 2005, with my inborn resources endowment from my family and the strong support and suggestion from few of my best friends, I started my own business and of course not under the name of Martell.
W.C: What are the biggest differences between Cognac and others spirits?
M.F-M: You really want to know the answer? Well, people can get very good brandy, but with making of cognac it has to be double distilled and then store in oak cask for minimum two and half years. The oak that made the cask had to be coming from a specific area otherwise the product cannot be called " Cognac". The name "Cognac" is legally protected and can only be produced in Cognac area, which is located at the south west of Paris three hours by TVG trains.
"VS" in cognac means "Very Special". In the past, England was the first country to import cognac from France. Perhaps, I have been talking too much about Cognac or may be I should be billing Pernod-Ricard...
W.C: What is Wines and Spirits mean to you?
M.F-M: Cognac is running in my blood...Ok, I am not going to talk about cognac anymore, my wife and I moved in Bordeaux. In fact, my daughter was born in Bordeaux. The decision of having my own wine business is a correct one because the wine business is on the growth; if i give you a figure you must be saying that I am ridicules - but if you look at the visitors at this Vinexpo Hong Kong and most of them are speaking Mandarin and they are from major cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen but the fact there is a lot of them coming from Wuxi, Chungking, Dalian and Wuhan. I can see the way how the wine business going in the future as before it will only be business in the special economic zone and big cities but now even with the inland cities in China. The whole wine business is growing and overall in big demand especially to red wines and beside that Champagne but not really hard spirits anymore.
W.C: If you are to leave the wines and spirits business, what will you do next?
M.F-M: Actor...I love acting but I think it is too late now...Do you know Alain Delon, my father knew him as my father used to be the sponsor for the film festival in Cognac every year and there was always an award for action movie that Alain was invited in. But, personally I would prefer Jean-Paul Belmondo and Sophie Marceau, she is not only a beauty but a style of typical French lady. In someway, I also like Catherine Deneuve she is very accomplished woman, just like Cognac...She is totally different to Sophie Marceau. Sophie Marceau is a beautiful woman, a goddess like Angelina Jolie. What else I can tell you, I also like Jacky Chan and I love martial arts. People like us that traveling to places need to know how to protect ourselves, of course Hong Kong is a very safe place. I learned boxing for five years and also Chinese martial arts but now I am learning Krav-Maga, it is a martial art training for the elite soldiers from Israel. The people in our trade have to entertain and eat very often so I have to keep fit, if not my wife will kick me out of the door!
Finally, we are getting some attention for our Jean Fillioux cognac (100% Grande Champagne cognac) and for their prestigious two wooden box: The collection and the Signature (see above) in Hong Kong Daily News in July Daily issue. This cognac is available in the market at Ponti Food & Wine Cellar shop (HK Central).
Santé!
Harvested and distilled in 1991, this cognac was aged in french recent loose grain oak casks, in a cool damp cellar.
Fresh and net on the nose with light notes of mint, then some aromas of dried flowers, lime tree flower, cut hay. Appetizingnotes of compote of ripe fruits, peach, apricot, toffee. Livelyon the palate, at first fresh spices, coriander, green pepper, clove.
Then rich and unctuous with its notes of brioche, “baba au rhum”, toasted coffee, licorice. Round and soft long finish.
Our recommandation don't wait too long to taste and buy it due to a small volume, you won't regret it.
If you want to orders, please do contact us by email at contact@elite-selection.com.
(My friend Airey Wong on the left side, behind her Jean Fillioux cognac Vintage 1990)
After this enormous show as Vinexpo Asia, the next day I had the chance to give a seminar regarding Cognac which is my roots and where my family is coming from to Hong Kong journalists and Ponti Food & Wine Cellar staff.
Seminar or product training about cognac is always for me a great joy to share what makes cognac so different compared to other brandies.
Jean Fillioux Cognac Vintage 1990, Cep D'Or, Très Vieux and Réserve Familiale
But, remember this Cognac is the best brandy in the world that money can buy, Yam Sing! MFM
For an event like this, a Wine & Spirits fair of this scale, it was most important to show you we were reliable in this huge market like Asia. That's why we've decided to have a booth with our exclusive brands in Asia such as J-De Telmont champagne, Cuvelier Wines, Gelas armagnac, Jean Fillioux Cognac and Michel Couvreur whisky.
You will see our booth below divided into 4 sections.
-Cuvelier Wines & Grands Crus Classes Counter-
- J-De Telmont Champagne counter -
-Gélas Armagnac Counter-
On the front side of the booth was J-De Telmont champagne counter, then left side Gelas armagnac counter, right side Cuvelier wines counter and in the middle our VIP lounge where it was displayed Jean Fillioux cognac and Michel Couvreur Whisky.
- Jean Fillioux Cognac & Michel couvreur Whisky -
For us, we can admit this Vinexpo Asia HK was the most intense by number of visitors and business activities since the organization decided it will take place in Hong Kong. Of course, we were exhausted after these 3 days in a roll. Thanks again to all friends, chateaux owners and clients who visited us during the show.
Warm Regards. MFM
(left to right: Pong, Olivier, Michel, Paul, Club Owner, Bertrand and Celine)
Since early May, there is the first signature lounge of De Telmont champagne in Hong Kong Island. On May 26th, we've stopped by to celebrate this opening of the first Champagne Bar.
(Left to right: Garry, Pong, Club Owner)
Great night and warm welcome, where De Telmont champagne was the only drink and champagne served that night. At the end, we opened a 1735 OR Vintage 1999 which is very unique for its taste and rare due to the small quantity produced every good vintage and aged in oak casks.
I am very proud to announce you I was inducted at La Commanderie du Bon Temps Medoc et Graves, Sauternes et Barsac as "Commandeur d'Honneur" by Mr. Emmanuel Cruse (owner of Ch. D'Issan in Margaux estate and Chief Master of La Commanderie du Bon Temps) and by Mr. Olivier Cuvelier (co-owner of Chateau Leoville-Poyferre St-Julien estate and president of H.Cuvelier & Fils) at The Commanderie Dinner during Vinexpo Hong Kong on May 25th in Grand Hyatt hotel.
The dinner was excellent with a great selection of wines from Bordeaux. We were seated at Chateau Leoville-Poyferre table with Didier Cuvelier, Didier's brother Olivier and his wife Stéphanie.
(from left to right: Olivier Cuvelier, Fion Tam and Michel F-Martell)
What a great souvenir! After this wonderful week of En-Primeurs 2009 with private visit & tasting the best vintage of this century, we wanted to thank our Asian friends who responded to our invitation in Bordeaux by a private dinner on Thursday, April 1st at The Regent Hotel.
My wife "Sylvie" and myself (left side) invited Philippe Gélas (owner of Gelas Armagnac, second right side) and Bertrand Lhopital (owner of J-De Telmont champagne, first right side) to share a fantastic and enjoyable moment.
We were last week-end (March19-21) in Champagne. To really get into champagne world, Bertrand (owner of De Telmont house) decided to organize for us a total visit of his region where he grew up.
In the morning, after a magnificient dinner the day before with my wife and friends we had the exciting moment to taste 3 different Grand Couronnement Cuvée from 1999-1996-1990 vintages.
For De Telmont house, the best expression of chardonnay is always coming from Avize and Chouilly villages.
In a way, they are the best two terroirs and the best chardonnay you can get from "Cotes des Blancs". This cuvée is always 100% chardonnay.
1- Grand Couronnement 1999-12°C a) Color: light yellow b) First and second nose: fine with ageing hints, then really elegant with some freshness. c) Mouth: nice maturation, excellent blend of terroirs (60% Avize and 40% Chouilly), pleasant with a light acidity. d) Suggestion : good for aperitive and will go nicely on a carpaccio of sea scallops...
2- Grand Couronnement 1996- 12°C a) Color: light gold b) First and second nose: good balance, discret with a certain complexity c) Mouth: rancio, walnut, nuts, butter and hints of wood and vanilla d) suggestion: good for an entree such as goose liver...
3- Grand Couronnement 1990- 12°C a) Color: deep gold b) First and second nose: good acidity, very elegant and well-done c) Mouth: roasted, rancio, hints of cacao and coffee with a very light menthol finish d) Suggestion: will go very well with a "creme brulée"
To finish this tasting, I will tell you these 3 vintages of Chardonnay were incredible and let you think that you can always combine your champagne with any dishes that you like to share with your friends!!!
Remember everybody has its own perception how to enjoy a champagne...and best thing is to respect it.
We are very pleased to anounce De Telmont champagne Grand Vintage has been chosen by Capital Magazine for their February issue.
De Telmont Grand Vintage Brut
a) Grape variety: 40% Chardonnay, 20% pinot Noir and 40% Menier.
b) Tasting: fine bubbles, a good mousse and an unbroken string of bubbles.
A buttery, brioche note can be discerned in the initial nose. When swirled, the nose is more developed and present, with almond and toasted bread notes and hints of aniseed, cinnamon and spices.
The attack is strong and sumptuously fresh, with an elegant subtlety. It has a good length in the mouth, when almond and spice (cinnamon) notes return with a hint of aniseed. A beautiful harmony!
c) Suggestion: This is a champagne for grand occasions, delightful as an aperitif and at the end of the meal.
We are pleased to show that Esquire Magazine have decided to feature De Telmont Champagne -Grand Rose for Valentine's day!
Grand Rose- Brut
a) Variety of grapes: 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir thus 15% are reserve wines.
b) Tasting: -The color is raspberry pink with light salmon reflections. Nice, long-tasting mousse with fine bubbles. - The initial nose reveals citrus fruit notes (grapefruit and lemon). - When swirled, berry notes emerge (strawberry, raspberry and grape), with cherry eventually dominating. - In the mouth, the taste buds really explode as if biting into a Morello cherry. There is a good attack with remarkable subtlety and an extraordinarily long finish.
c) Suggestion: A champagne for aperitifs, first courses and above all romantic moment!
Indeed, Armagnac is a pure and refined spirits that pleasure will convince you to buy.
In the link, you'll see a video of Philippe Gélas, owner of Gélas house, explaining you what are the characteristics of his Armagnac and what makes his Armagnacs from Bas-Armagnac region the most recognized and undeniable the best you can find on the market nowadays!
Also, Gelas house is only house of Armagnac who can offer you the largest selection of vintages in stock from 1875 until today . During the video, you will see him inside of one of his cellars, tasting with his master blender Dominique (on the left at the beginning) one this magnificient Armagnac direct from the oak cask.
Philippe, we're listening. Please log on to the link below to enter to this great world:
Early this February, I was in Champagne region. Bertrand, the owner of champagne house, prepared two surprises for me.
First surprise was at the end of the morning, we've tasted a vintage 1998 Brut. It was amazing and fantastic with a lot of freshness and a long finish. That was the first vintage that Bertrand made and we can in a way said a new style of J. De Telmont started.
In the afternoon that was the second, we did a comparison tasting between the two top cuvée prestige of J. De Telmont: a) O.R. 1735 Brut 2000 Nose: toasted, woody, brioche flavor. Mouth: complexity, round, long finish.
It tastes like a wine if you decanted it will be even better. My advice: 15 minutes in a ice bucket just before pouring and it will go very well on seafood.
b) Consecration Brut 2000 Nose: light and discrete. Mouth: fresh, elegant with a great finesse. My advice: it will be a great combination with white meat.
We are very pleased to announce that Cuvelier properties wines (Ch. Leoville-Poyferre, Ch. Moulin Riche, Pavillon-Poyferre and Ch. Le Crock, La Croix St-Estephe) and De Telmont champagne are getting more and more popular in Mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong markets.
Indeed, you will see below during the Wine & Gourmet Fair in Macau this year, Olivier Cuvelier (left, President H. Cuvelier & Fils negociant) with a bottle of Chateau Le Crock (Cru Bourgeois, St-Estèphe) and Bertrand Lhopital (right, Owner, De Telmont champagne house) with a bottle of OR 1735 (100% Chardonnay).
Cheers and Our best wishes for this New Year Coming!!!
MFM
We are honoured to announce De Telmont champagne are getting more and more recognized as a best boutique quality champagne in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China markets.
You will find below our editorial part in Esquire magazine December 2009 issue, Bertrand Lhopital (left) and Michel F-Martell (Right).
The best brandy that money can buy is for sure Cognac! It is our pleasure to announce Jean Fillioux cognac received the Silver Medal for its category "Très Vieux" in IWSC 2009 in London.
However, please see below all our awards and International press comments about Jean Fillioux:
LA POUYADE : Recommended by Cognac magazine ( edited by the famous Whisky magazine)- December 2008. One of the youngest tasted cognacs and the alone to be “ highly recommended”.
Guide Hachette 2010.
Guide Gault & Millau 2010 – « coup de cœur – love at first sight ».
NAPOLEON : Cognac guide – Axel and Bibiana Behrendt “ An amazingly forthright cognac with a buttery, oily aroma
( walnuts, marzipan) offset by slight yeasty notes; explodes on the tongue with vanilla, caramel, nuts and spicy notes. Very long finish”.
CEP D’OR : recommended by the famous French economic magazine LE POINT – November 2005
Cognac Guide – Axel and Bibiana Behrendt. “An altogether delightful experience”
STAR GOURMET : recommended by the famous French economic magazine LE POINT-december 2008“cognac with a great personality, we can recognize through the usual finesse of the Jean Fillioux eaux de vie”.
TRES VIEUX :
“ The Brandy of the year” – Spirit Journal - USA ( Paul Pacult is the most famous spirit journalist in USA) – 1998.
“The Ten best brandy I’ve tasted : 1991-2000” – Spirit Journal –USA ( Paul Pacult)
The very famous english magazineDECANTER has chosen our quality XO Imperial ( Très Vieux) for “The Decanter Vintage Dinner” – November 2001.
Cognac guide –Axel and Bibiana Behrendt “ Very full, noble cognac”.
Recommended by the famous culinaryfrench magazine Cuisine et Vins de France “ some great bottles”. January 2005
“10 Cognacs that you should know about” highest Recommendation – Wine Enthusiast –USA ( Paul Pacult) – April 2007
Recommended by the famous culinary French magazine REGAL – March 2009
NUMBER 1 in the famous german magazine Der Feinschmecker – January 2009
IWSC ( International Wine & Spirit Competition) – London 2009 – Silver medal.
Guide Hachette 2010 *
Guide Gault & Millau 2010 – “Coup de Coeur” ( Love at first sight)
CIGAR CLUB
Recommended by the famous French cigar magazine CLUB CIGARE – December 2000
Recommended by the famous german magazine VINUM – 1998 ( we have launched this cognac in 1997)
Recommended by the famous French magazine – La Revue du Vin de France – January 1999 “The only one in its Cognac & Cigar category worthy of a grand Puro, Bravo!”.
Trophy of the packaging in 1998
EXPERT COLLECTION – (XO Grande Reserve - Spéciale Amateur 44%)
Spirit Journal – USA(Paul Pacult) Superb - highly recommended « in a word, scrumptious » -september 2004
RESERVE FAMILIALE
Cognac Guide – Axel and Bibiana Behrendt “Noble distillate”
Wine Enthusiast –USA (Paul Pacult) – august 2001 – the Reserve Familiale has been classified in the category “Superb – Highly recommended”.
HAVANA CLUB – Cuba in February 25th 2005 – “The Britain’s Bjorn Eriksson, cigar sommelier of Claridge’s Bar in London, today snapped up the title of Habanosommelier 2005. His combination of a Trinidad Robusto Extra Cigar and a Jean Fillioux Reserve Familiale Cognac earned him an outstanding 94% scored in the competition from the international panel of judges”.
Recommended by the famous French magazine Club Cigare – Reserve Familiale has been tasted with a Cohiba Sublimes
“ the combination of these two monsters is a true feast for the palate”.
In december 2006/January 2007, the very famous French wines and spirits magazine La Revue du Vin deFrance, after a tasting with the big cognac houses, the middle size and the small one has declared our Reserve Familiale, was the best cognac in the category Extra.
As everybody knows, in Champagne region the harvest already started. So, just to refresh you memory and to give you a little appetite, we do invite you to visualize the video of our exclusive house of champagne in Asia "De Telmont house" located in Damery and owned by Bertrand Lhopital, 4th Generation of Lhopital Family. Santé! MFM
Hello there! I know it has been a long time. We just want to share with you our Chee-Tea White and Black Liquor is now listed since few months at Sky Connection in all duty-free chains in Hong Kong.
