Cognac Ragnaud-Sabourin: Built-in Character

Every consumer may not be familiar with the Cognac Ragnaud-Sabourin (http://www.ragnaud-sabourin.com). However, this is a reference in the Cognac region. Kind of the cognac that a cognac producer would be drinking.  The company was founded in 1850 but it is only after WWII that this cognac house started producing its own bottled cognacs. This cognac house has deep roots in the cognac with predecessors who played major roles in the history of the cognac region, such as Gaston Briand, who was president of the growers association in the late 1900s. Now the house is in the hand of Annie Sabourin who at more than 70 years of age is still managing the company with her son Olivier.
The company in recent years had to be reorganized in needs of adaptation to changes: new master cellar (Pascal Dagnaud replaced Daniel Dudognon), change of long-term distributors, ... negotiating with large distributors to weather the storm. This cognac house specificity are:
(1) to produce Grande Champagne cognacs aged over the legal standards,
(2) to not blend the vintages,
(3) to use many authorized grape varietals beyond the common 'Ugni Blanc' but also the Colombard or the Folle Blanche,  and far more uncommon varietals such as the Balzac Blanc, the Blanc Ramé, the Bouilleaux, the Chalosse, or the Jurancon.
(4) they produce vintage cognacs,
(5) and Single Estate cognacs.
The Cognac Ragnaud-Sabourin are very hard to find, less than 40,000 bottles per year, produced in a 33 hectars estate near Ambleville, one may rediscover this brand as it has been recently re-design and repackaged by Alexandra Chassant from COCCINUS in Jarnac.
Cognac Ragnaud-Sabourin are available for sale at the Cognatheque in downtown Cognac city, France www.cognatheque.com.

Ragnaud-Sabourin Cognacs

Cognac Ragnaud-Sabourin

Source Photos: www.ragnaud-sabourin.com
N.B. grape varietals authorized in the production of cognac are:
Le Balzac Blanc & Noir, Blanc-Rame, Bouilleaud, Chalosse, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Jurancon, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Rabier, Petit Noir, and Ugni Blanc.

Cognac is all about Diversity and not about Stereotyping

This year I posted a blog on chocolate and cognac. Not everyone likes chocolate and not everyone likes cognac. However, how could it be? There are many kinds of chocolate: dark, dark and bitter, with nuts, black, milk, white, with fillings, hard, creamy, ... Same thing for cognac. There are younger and older cognacs, very fruity, very aromatic, one dimensional, multi-dimensional, light and darker, intense or light, bold or smooth, ... so many kinds that if someone does not like them it just means they just do not know about it enough to know that there is a style that would fit their tastes.

In this following video I show what I mean by not knowing. There is nothing wrong in getting a high or a low rating. What is wrong is to let ignorants rate you and give them the time of the day. But I respect freedom of speech. [Cognac CAMUS is a very admirable cognac house!]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkx1rDVrxo&w=560&h=315]

What is up with Cognac and Beer? Happy Father's Day Moment

Beer and Cognac are very much different things.
In fact, one may simplify by explaining that a whisky is a beer that is distilled and a cognac is a wine that is distilled.
The cognac connoisseurs may not like this idea as they may see this as a marketing gimmick to use cognac to increase prices and/or prestige. It may also be a way to democratize the cognac which is somewhat of an elitists spirit. In my opinion if it tastes good and it positively talks about cognac it is OK.

So what beer and cognac have in common? They have in common to be alcoholic beverages, and now to be associated in making cognac-beer drinks. Let me explain.

Essentially, there are 2 directions:

1) A Blending of Beer and Cognac.
The example is XO Beer which is a beer made in the city of Cognac and also using 2,5% of Cognac XO to blend for 2 weeks to create a higher alcoholic beverage. Well, it was much higher when originally 8% now it is 5,9% ALC/Vol..

XO Beer Bottle with Cognac XO Blending

2) Aged in Cognac Barrels
A good exemple is Mikkeller Black Hole American Stout with is a beer made in denmark and aged in cognac barrels. This brewery is known to age their beers in barrels and they had made a previous attempt with Scotch too. This beer is highly rated and it receives many supporting on the internet.

Mikkeller Beer Black Hole Aged in Cognac Barrels

 As an example, I am posting this video with a timely of HAPPY FATHER'S DAY MOMENT, you will understand in the middle of the video.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkwhDuJSc-g&w=420&h=315]

Cognac Baron Otard Launches Vintage Cognacs

Cognac Baron Otard Vintage 1972

Cognac Baron Otard has released a Vintage Cognac, Vintage 1972, vintage meaning made from a single year harvest. This 1972 comes from a single region or more precisely 'terroir', the Petite Champagne appellation in the heart of the Cognac region.

Aged for over 40 years, only 2,500 bottles will be available worldwide. Single cognacs are becoming big ideas of the moment. Single harvest, single cru, single vineyards, single distillery, cask strength, ... and recently the first Single Barrel Selection from a cognac house (see, Comandon Single Barrel Cognac selection).

These single products from Cognac are certainly made for the experts and connoisseurs, but it is keeping and renewing everyone interests for the product category by reviving old ideas and keeping the curiosity alive.

“The launch of the Baron Otard Vintage 1972 is one of a series of exciting new initiatives we have for the year ahead,” said Philippe Jouhaud, sales & marketing director for Baron Otard at Bacardi. “We have established a strong momentum for the brand in Travel Retail following the very successful launch of the rarest ever Baron Otard Cognac, Fortis et Fidelis, last year and the introduction of a completely new and very distinctive look for the Baron Otard portfolio.”

The Vintage 1972 is a rich amber hue, with a nose of warm apricot and prune giving way to notes of candied oranges and spicy sandalwood. The Baron Otard Vintage 1972 Cognac will be shipped directly from Baron Otard‟s Chateau de Cognac in France.

Source: www.luxury-insider.com

Source: www.just-drinks.com

Source: Moodie Report

Elegant Courvoisier XO Ad - Video in Chinese

Courvoisier XO ad for the Chinese market with the theme of a horseman "Napoleon like" who is changing places with a modern business like man. 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jPEEMxjzXU&w=420&h=315]

Cordon Bleu 100th Anniversary (1912-2012) Celebrated in Monaco Hotel de Paris

This past 25th March 2012, Martell officially revealed a special edition Cordon Bleu bottle to commemorate its hundred years anniversary of Cordon Bleu cognac brand.

The story goes that the first bottle was launched in Monte Carlo/ Monaco back in 1912. To mark the tribute, Martell had colored its bottle in blue with silver lining, using the iconic House’s colors.

Cordon Bleu 100th Anniversary in Monaco 2012 Blue Bottle by Blog Noble & Royal

Martell organized this celebration in the emblematic Hôtel de Paris in Monaco, house of the famous Louis XV restaurant, one of the many three-starred restaurants by French chef Alain Ducasse.

The entire façade of the Hôtel de Paris was graced with a light blue color, with a statement of the anniversary 1912-2012, and Cordon Bleu, Eternal Discovery since 1912.

Hotel de Paris in Monaco with Cordon Bleu Celebration 2012 by Moodie Report

For many people, Martell Cordon Bleu is the reference of a very good cognac, and it may be also for some people the cognac that has interested them into learning and discovering more about cognac. Lionel Breton, CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, welcomed the guests from all over the world, but starting with the most local guest of honor, H.S.H. Prince Albert II  and H.S.H. Princesss Charlène, and H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover.  Other famous people included the actress Juliette Binoche as well as four Chinese personalities the actresses Li Bingbing and Chen Shu, the pianist Zhao Yin, and the top model Whang Haizhen.

The guests were served dinner in the Empire salon in Hôtel de Paris for the grand gala in honour of Cordon Bleu. The evening ended with a serenade by Irish jazz songstress Imelda May.

http://www.martell.com/ 

blog.nobleandroyal.com

moodiereport.com

Quick Video Visit of Baron Otard Cognac House in Cognac

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsxYQbkifYw&w=560&h=315]