During the Easter holiday getaway in the Charente-Maritime office of France, we visited the city of Cognac, France and did a cognac tasting tour. Cognac producers, for example, Hennessy (LVMH), Martell (Pernod Ricard), and Rémy Martin have their cognac production base in this city.
The historic household of Rémy Martin is a vacationer site in the city. But sad to say, the home was less than renovation and planning for the future 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the condition, we went to its shop upcoming door to invest in cognac as prepared.
There, we received a opportunity to join a cognac tasting tour. The a person-tour was not absolutely free, but it was the only English tour of the week throughout the off-year. In advance of we resolved what to get, we would like to know the magic formula of this high quality spirit and therefore joined the tour.
To get a specific insight into the cognac field, you can be part of the Cognac masterclass & tasting tour, whose information is independent of any brands and producers. It also takes extended, and of class, you will be in a position to style diverse kinds of cognac.
Record of Rémy Martin
Our tour guidebook was a youthful French girl who spoke best English. She gave us a temporary introduction to cognac history. The name Rémy Martin came from the firm founder, but his grandson, also named Rémy, made the symbol and brought the spirit well known throughout the world. Rémy Martin has a frequent identify in China, réntóumă (人头马), basically translated as
a person-headed horse. The Rémy Martin emblem combines a creature from Greek mythology, which has the upper system of a human and the decreased entire body and legs of a horse, and the zodiac indication of Rémy Martin. So, the Chinese translation is pretty near to what the brand is.
Cognac manufacturing
Cognac production follows a stringent course of action. Grape harvest time, the size of the fermentation system, distillation techniques, and the point out-of-artwork blending system are unique to cognac creation. In the course of the entire output approach, extra than 70 parameters will impact the style and the top quality excellent of cognac.
Grapes
Only grape varieties from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne cognac regions are applied for the cognac. The cognac region has all the aspects to mature the best grapes, chalky soil, a microclimate indirectly affected by the ocean. The chalk layer is deeper in the Grande Champagne region than in the Petite Champagne location. The sample chalk levels in the introduction area display us the variation.
Fermentation
Following the grapes are pressed, yeasts are added to the juice. This procedure converts the fruit sugar into alcohol, and no other additive is added. The consequence of the fermentation is a white wine with about 7 to 8% alcohol and substantial acidity.
Distillation
Cognac distillation is carried out in a two-phase process. We saw a historically formed Charentais copper pot with its swan’s neck, cooler, and condensing coil. The wine is converted into vapour and subsequently condensed again to the liquid variety, called eaux-de-vie.
Immediately after the 1st distillation, only the initial and the final component of eaux-de-vie will go by the second distillation procedure. The final result of the 2nd distillation is called eaux-de-vie, a colourless spirit of about 70% alcohol.
Ageing
We entered a significant cellar exactly where many oak casks are saved. Website visitors are not authorized to choose any images in this location due to the liquor written content in the air. The cognac interacts with the oak casks and evaporates about 3% each individual 12 months. The volume of liquid is composed on each barrel and differs from barrel to barrel.
Mixing
Cognac is the result of blending distinctive ages of eaux-de-vie. The blender, also called the cellar master, is the a person who requires the most considerable care of the blending. In Remy Martin, it takes at minimum seven years to discover by doing to come to be a cellar grasp. The cellar learn blends different eaux de vie so that each and every product, for case in point, the X.O edition, has usually had the similar aromas and flavours over the decades. Since eaux-de-vie is also created from many vineyards, blending eaux-de-vie is a hugely expert craft similar to the Grasp Nose of a perfume factory.
The mixing course of action has been getting location progressively around the several years. And, eaux-de-vie is moved from cask to cask and mixed. I started to think if there was any way to re-generate this approach working with modern technological innovation, and the reply would be no. The whole production process makes sure that the sensitive wine spirit is usually at the premium amount.
Tasting
In a sample space, tables have been established up for the cognac tasting. Our French tour guideline launched a cocktail manufactured of X.O cognac. It was a fantastic way to eat the cognac.
Now, it’s the spotlight of the tour, Rémy Martin VSOP tasting. Following the instruction, I gently rotated the glass and noticed the clarity of this spirit. Then, I lifted the glass to my nose and attempted to expose floral notes as instructed. At last, I savoured the cognac and felt its flavours encourage my flavor buds. To incorporate the ripe fruit and delicate notes of cognac, I ate numerous pure black candies with fatty and bitter flavours put on a smaller plate.
What we purchased just after the Cognac Tasting Tour
Our tour guidebook launched us the Remy Martin Club, a new manufacturer of Rémy Martin bought to the Asian marketplaces only. It has a toasted almond take note and flavours of, for illustration, dried fig and apricot. It is ideal for pairing with flavourful food items.
We purchased Rémy Martin Tercet and Remy Martin Club considering that it is only out there in Asian marketplaces. And, of class, the quality X.O edition as effectively. The shop only sells pure cognac goods and a number of limited editions.
Tips for Cognac Tasting Tour
If you strategy to do a cognac tasting tour, I advise you guide on the internet to stay clear of disappointment and have a English-speaking tour guideline.
You will not be able to generate just after tasting a number of cognacs considering the fact that the alcoholic beverages handle is limited in France. In addition to that, the city of Cognac is really scenic and has various appealing web sites to supply. So it’s greater to remain in Cognac for a night or two.
Hotels these types of as Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa and Château Pellisson are just in the town centre and inside of strolling distance to the Remy Martin home.
