Q&A: Wine & Food Questions
camus napoleon cognac
i have a bottle of an unopened cognac. from 1977 camus napoleon cognac, w/ the original box and seal.
i was wondering how much the bottle is worth. my mother purchased it from lisbon portugal in the 70s.
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
It is difficult to find, without considerable research, the current value of the Camus Vintage Cognac 1977, if this is in fact the one you have. This vintage is not listed on the Camus site dedicated to their speciality products (rarissimesbycamus.com) but others are, so they may provide a reference point.
You can currently find some of Camus Cognacs in retail distribution in the U.S., such as the Napoleon Rare Old Cognac for about $70 for a 750 ml bottle. Clearly, an older vintage no longer on offer would have a much higher value, although the price would be governed by scarcity and reputation rather than by, as with wine, the specific vintage and its evolution in bottle.
My suggestion, when you have only one bottle, is to find a special occasion to share it with family or friends. Luckily, with Cognac, an opened bottle will last quite a long time!
About The Expert
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with Europe's leader in direct sales of fine wines to consumers. Previously, he served as senior executive of Frederick Wildman & Sons, traveling regularly around the world to visit wineries and taste the new vintage from barrel. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993.
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