All through the Easter vacation in the Charente-Maritime division of France, we visited the city of Cognac, France and did a cognac tasting tour. Cognac producers, for instance, Hennessy (LVMH), Martell (Pernod Ricard), and Rémy Martin have their cognac creation base in this town.
The historic residence of Rémy Martin is a vacationer internet site in the town. But sadly, the household was below renovation and preparing for the upcoming 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the scenario, we went to its store upcoming door to buy cognac as planned.
There, we obtained a opportunity to sign up for a cognac tasting tour. The just one-tour was not absolutely free, but it was the only English tour of the week for the duration of the off-time. Prior to we determined what to buy, we would like to know the top secret of this high quality spirit and thus joined the tour.
To get a specific perception into the cognac marketplace, you can sign up for the Cognac masterclass & tasting tour, whose material is impartial of any brand names and producers. It also will take extended, and of training course, you will be capable to style distinct kinds of cognac.
Historical past of Rémy Martin
Our tour manual was a young French lady who spoke ideal English. She gave us a quick introduction to cognac heritage. The identify Rémy Martin came from the company founder, but his grandson, also referred to as Rémy, developed the logo and brought the spirit famed worldwide. Rémy Martin has a common title in China, réntóumă (人头马), literally translated as
a man-headed horse. The Rémy Martin symbol brings together a creature from Greek mythology, which has the higher physique of a human and the decreased entire body and legs of a horse, and the zodiac sign of Rémy Martin. So, the Chinese translation is rather shut to what the symbol is.
Cognac manufacturing
Cognac generation follows a demanding system. Grape harvest time, the length of the fermentation course of action, distillation solutions, and the condition-of-art blending approach are distinctive to cognac creation. Through the total manufacturing method, much more than 70 parameters will impact the style and the high quality good quality of cognac.
Grapes
Only grape types from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne cognac areas are employed for the cognac. The cognac region has all the elements to expand the finest grapes, chalky soil, a microclimate indirectly influenced by the ocean. The chalk layer is further in the Grande Champagne location than in the Petite Champagne region. The sample chalk layers in the introduction room demonstrate us the variation.
Fermentation
Following the grapes are pressed, yeasts are added to the juice. This process converts the fruit sugar into liquor, and no other additive is included. The final result of the fermentation is a white wine with about 7 to 8% alcoholic beverages and significant acidity.
Distillation
Cognac distillation is executed in a two-stage method. We noticed a typically 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.
Right after the initially distillation, only the 1st and the previous aspect of eaux-de-vie will go by means of the next distillation course of action. The final result of the next distillation is called eaux-de-vie, a colourless spirit of about 70% alcoholic beverages.
Aging
We entered a substantial cellar where by numerous oak casks are saved. Readers are not authorized to get any pics in this space because of to the alcohol information in the air. The cognac interacts with the oak casks and evaporates about 3% each and every 12 months. The quantity of liquid is written on each barrel and differs from barrel to barrel.
Blending
Cognac is the end result of blending different ages of eaux-de-vie. The blender, also named the cellar learn, is the just one who usually takes the most sizeable care of the mixing. In Remy Martin, it requires at least seven a long time to learn by executing to turn out to be a cellar learn. The cellar master blends different eaux de vie so that each product, for example, the X.O model, has usually had the very same aromas and flavours above the several years. Since eaux-de-vie is also manufactured from various vineyards, blending eaux-de-vie is a highly competent craft equivalent to the Learn Nose of a perfume factory.
The blending course of action has been having location steadily in excess of the years. And, eaux-de-vie is moved from cask to cask and combined. I began to think if there was any way to re-produce this procedure employing modern-day technological know-how, and the remedy would be no. The complete output system ensures that the fragile wine spirit is always at the high quality amount.
Tasting
In a sample room, tables had been established up for the cognac tasting. Our French tour guideline released a cocktail manufactured of X.O cognac. It was a amazing way to eat the cognac.
Now, it is the highlight of the tour, Rémy Martin VSOP tasting. Adhering to the instruction, I carefully rotated the glass and observed the clarity of this spirit. Then, I lifted the glass to my nose and tried using to reveal floral notes as instructed. Eventually, I savoured the cognac and felt its flavours promote my taste buds. To mix the ripe fruit and delicate notes of cognac, I ate numerous pure black chocolates with fatty and bitter flavours put on a small plate.
What we acquired soon after the Cognac Tasting Tour
Our tour guide launched us the Remy Martin Club, a new manufacturer of Rémy Martin offered to the Asian markets only. It has a toasted almond notice and flavours of, for illustration, dried fig and apricot. It is excellent for pairing with flavourful foodstuff.
We acquired Rémy Martin Tercet and Remy Martin Club because it is only out there in Asian marketplaces. And, of system, the top quality X.O model as perfectly. The shop only sells pure cognac merchandise and numerous limited editions.
Recommendations for Cognac Tasting Tour
If you strategy to do a cognac tasting tour, I advise you guide online to steer clear of disappointment and have a English-talking tour guide.
You won’t be capable to generate right after tasting numerous cognacs given that the alcohol manage is limited in France. In addition to that, the town of Cognac is quite scenic and has a number of intriguing web-sites to supply. So it’s improved to stay in Cognac for a night time or two.
Accommodations this kind of as Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa and Château Pellisson are just in the town centre and in strolling distance to the Remy Martin residence.
