Rémy Martin


Rémy Martin is a French firm that primarily produces and sells cognac. Founded in 1724 and based in the commune of Cognac, it is one of the biggest cognac producers and is also part of the Comité Colbert, an association "to promote the concept of luxury." The brand specialises in Cognac Fine Champagne.

History

The name Rémy Martin comes from the name of the company founder, born in 1695 near Rouillac in southwestern France. A winegrower by trade, in 1724 he created a trading house of cognac. After his death in 1773, his grandson, also named Rémy, pursued the business. In 1841, Paul-Emile-Rémy Martin assumed control of the business and oversaw great growth. He added a logo to the bottles and cases, in the shape of a centaur, a mythological creature representing Sagittarius, Martin's own zodiac sign. The Rémy Martin brand uses a distinctive centaur logo and in China is also called réntóumă, literally "man-headed horse".
During the interwar period, André Renaud, a trained lawyer and merchant, who had been a partner in E. Rémy Martin & Co. since 1910, took the lead, and in 1927 launched the first VSOP Fine Champagne. Rémy Martin cognacs were then sold worldwide. After World War II, Rémy Martin continued its rise under André Hériard-Dubreuil, André Renaud's son-in-law. At the death of André Renaud in 1965, André Hériard-Dubreuil became president. His children gradually joined him, notably his daughter Dominique Hériard-Dubreuil who became general manager in 1988 and president two years later. In 1991, the House of Rémy Martin incorporated Rémy Cointreau into the family group.

Production

All Rémy Martin cognacs have the Cognac Fine Champagne appellation, meaning that they come exclusively from a blend of eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus, with at least 50% of Grande Champagne. Thanks to chalky soils, these eaux-de-vie have a great ageing potential and a particular aromatic intensity. Since 1948, under the leadership of André Renaud, Rémy Martin has made this exclusive choice. During the 1960s, l’Alliance Fine Champagne was created by André Hériard Dubreuil of the House of Rémy Martin. This cooperative brings together a thousand winegrowers from Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne and supplies almost 90% of the eaux-de-vie of the House. The Rémy Martin House markets more than 80% of the Fine Champagne cognacs.
Rémy Martin uses traditional distillation on the lees in small copper stills. Ageing takes place in oak barrels of the Limousin type, during which the alcohol evaporates and blackens the walls of the cellars. The eau-de-vie slowly evolves over time, punctuated by periods of rest and changes of barrel. The exchanges between the wood, oxygen and the eaux-de-vie are constant. Depending on which style is sought, cognac can age in young or old barrels, with a stronger or finer grain on the oak staves. Finally comes the blending of the different barrels to create a cognac.
The House’s current Cellar Master, Baptiste Loiseau, assumed the position in 2014 at the age of 34. He follows in the footsteps of André Renaud, André Giraud, Georges Clot, and Pierrette Trichet.

Bottlings

Rémy Martin VSOP

Created in 1927, Rémy Martin VSOP is the biggest selling VSOP cognac worldwide. The frosted bottle was introduced in 1972.

Rémy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish

Exclusive to European markets, VSOP Mature Cask Finish was created in 2011. Originating from the same terroirs of Grande and Petite Champagne, with the same specifications for distillation, after the final blending, this cognac spends another year in 20-year old oak barrels.

Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal

Launched in 1997 and named after the royal decree issued in 1738 when King Louis XV granted the Accord Royal to Rémy Martin in honor of his craftsmanship.

Rémy Martin CLUB

Exclusive to China, CLUB was created in 1986 and features an octagonal-shaped bottle. In 2015, Rémy Martin launched the CLUB Connected Bottle, the first NFC-enabled spirits bottle featuring high-security anti-counterfeiting measures.

Rémy Martin XO

Created by cellar master André Giraud in 1981, XO is a blend of up to 400 eaux-de-vie.

Rémy Martin Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau

A single barrel blend selected by the cellar master, with all eaux-de-vie being at least twenty years old.

Rémy Martin Centaure De Diamant

Sold at an elevated price point, Centaure de Diamant uses only eaux-de-vie from the finest 10% of those available to Rémy Martin.

Rémy Martin Cellar Master Selection

Exclusive to duty free locations, Cellar 16 and Cellar 28 are selected by the Cellar Master from aging cellars with unique characteristics.

Rémy Martin Louis XIII

Louis XIII cognac is produced and aged in thin walled oak barrels that are 100-150 years old and in the Grande Champagne region of Cognac.

Rémy Martin V

In 2010, Rémy Martin introduced its first clear spirit, Rémy Martin V, in the US. Rather than using the oak barrel aging process, the liquid undergoes a proprietary filtration process, giving it a transparent color and subtle taste with hints of pear and a fresh minty aftertaste. It is not a cognac, but an eau-de-vie de vin

Cultural references

The House of Rémy Martin partners with artists to represent its cognacs. These include Californian actor Jeremy Renner, Chinese actor and singer Huang Xiaoming, and Taiwanese mandopop singer Jolin Tsai. In 2008, the American photographer and director David LaChapelle created a bottle design. In 2013, Rémy Martin teamed up with American singer and producer Robin Thicke to launch a limited edition of VSOP. Rémy Martin can also be found in the world of rap, especially in America with Fetty Wap frequently mentioning the 1738 variety in his work. Pete Townshend of rock band the Who jokingly thanked Rémy Martin for saving his life "by making the bloody stuff so expensive" in the inner sleeve to his 1980 solo album Empty Glass. He also referred to the drink in the lyrics to his single "A Little Is Enough" by singing "I'm like a connoisseur of champagne cognac, the perfume nearly beats the taste." And he can also be seen drinking straight from a bottle of Rémy Martin in the music video to his song "Keep on Working". John Entwistle, who was also in the Who was known for his love of the drink, and included the V.S.O.P. grading on the album cover to his 1973 solo album Rigor Mortis Sets In, as an inscription on an outdoor grave's footstone which was either the front cover or the photo used on the inside of the gatefold depending on where the record was issued.

The Dynasty and the Chinese market

In 1980, at the beginning of the Chinese economic reform, Rémy Martin ventured into China with The Dynasty brand, the first foreign wine maker and the second joint-venture in all China.