Rémy Martin Cognac yesterday hosted the global media unveiling of its new expression, Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau, the first in a new collection of limited edition Fine Champagne Cognac from the house.
As we reported in May, the line was made available initially through DFS at Singapore Changi Airport at a recommended retail price of US$400. From 1 June distribution was extended to DFS stores at Hong Kong International, Los Angeles International, New York JFK and San Francisco airports. From the end of October distribution will be widened to certain domestic markets.
The new expression, of which just 7,000 bottles were created, is significant in that it is the first to be created by Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, who was appointed to the role in 2014 at the age of 34.
He selected one cask for the inaugural Carte Blanche Edition from the Gensac-la-Pallue cellar (one of 29 Rémy Martin cellars).
Around 50 media guests from around the world, including The Moodie Davitt Report, were invited to the cellar – which is not open to the public – for a special tasting on Tuesday.
There, an emotional Baptiste Loiseau spoke of the responsibility of taking the values of the House of Rémy Martin into the next generation, and the honour of having its traditions passed on to him by previous Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet and her predecessors.
“I wanted to show the true sense of Fine Champagne when I was given ‘carte blanche’ by the company to reveal its treasures,” he said. “I tasted every eau-de-vie that had been set aside by previous cellar masters for their ageing potential. One day here at Gensac-la-Pallue I found something very precious and decided to reveal it at the percentage proof at which it appeared naturally in the cask. It is very special, with the youngest eau-de-vie at 20 years and others in the blend above that.
“It is a question of time and the transmission of values from previous generations. What moved me was that it possessed the style of the house. It is harmonious, rich, intense and has extraordinary length.”
Rémy Martin Executive Brand Director Augustin Depardon talks about the role of duty free for the Cognac brand as it rolls out the new Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau expression |
As the company also noted, the site of the cellar was noteworthy for other reasons too: the village of Gensac-la-Pallue was the home of André Renault, who helped to revive the fortunes of the house – and who was the grandfather of Rémy-Cointreau President Dominique Hériard-Dubreuil.
Loiseau confirmed that further expressions of Carte Blanche would appear in future, though no timing has yet been decided.
He told The Moodie Davitt Report: “It is about when the time is right and the blend is right. I am already looking and have some ideas, having tasted all of the eau-de-vie that we hold in the search for the first expression. It should offer something different. That could mean it contains stocks that are younger than 20 years and it could be from other cellars.”
*The Carte Blanche programme continues on Wednesday. We’ll soon bring you a full report on our visit to Cognac, including interviews with Rémy Martin Executive Brand Director Augustin Depardon and with Baptiste Loiseau.
