Expert: Paul Wagner - 9/29/2009

Question
This unopened bottle of cognac has three stars on the top label. the second label in the middle says Hennessy and the main label says JA & HENNESSY & Co COGNAC. The back label is all in french. I can not find a date on it anywhere. The front label in very small letters reads registered at stationers hall. Can you help me or give me any info or its value. Thank you

Answer
Hi Al
 Hennessy is a well-known and respected produced of Cognac--brandy made in the southwest of France near Bordeaux.  Because Cognac is a distlled and blended product, it is not vintage dated---every bottle will combine various barrel lots to achieve the house style and combination of fruit, oak, smoothness and complexity.  Your bottle is in the middle of the Hennessy portfolio, and should be very nice to drink.

Distilled spirits like this do not improve in the bottle the way some fine wines do--the alcohol level is too high.  So your bottle is quite good to drink, but won't be much different, in either flavor or value, from a current bottling.  I would estimate its value at around $50.

Sorry I don't have more exciting news for you,

Paul Wagner