COGNAC ROULLET-FRANSAC JUST BOUGHT BY CHANGYU PIONEER WINE CO

Changyu Pioneer Wine Co Inc, more commonly recognized under Chateau Changyu or simply Changyu is the oldest and largest winery in China. In the past 10 years, it has developed an impressive number of partnerships with the most significant being with the French Castel group which dominates the French production of wines in volume.

Changyu Logo

Hence, this company has a very European style in everything it does: Chateau Castels and Chateau Moser are buildings constructed like European castles but using the most advanced production methods.

Personally, I was impressed the first time I saw a bottle of wine produced by Changyu as I could see a right the balance of things on it to make me feel comfortable and familiar with, and a touch of details just enough to remind me it was Chinese.

Changyu Pioneer Wines

The big news these past few days is that Changyu just purchased Roullet-Fransac, a small cognac negociant whose business was slowing down. These past 5 years, Georges Roullet had mentioned he was selling its business including the impressive property on the docks of Cognac, corner of rue Saulnier and Quai des Flamands, direct neighbor with the impressive headquarter of Cognac Hennessy.

A few months ago some Armenians almost made a deal but it fell apart and I knew that this business would go to an impressive and large Chinese wine & spirit business. It was obvious! Roullet-Fransac were savvy in getting the property from the Firino-Martell years back when this family passed the relay to Pernod-Ricard, and now the world economy is such than the Chinese are leading the expansion. Cognac has never really been totally French. Many cultures have influenced the advance and stability of Cognac/ cognac: the Dutch, the English, the Russians, the Japanese, the Rappers and now the Chinese.

The newspaper the Sud Ouest has had a poll where 90% of the people have voted that they were worried that this was going to be a loss more than a gain for cognac (www.sudouest.fr).

This news brings two things: (1) people including Chinese are investing in cognac, and (2) Hennessy might not be the biggest company in Cognac anymore but it could be Roullet-Fransac now!

CL WORLD BRANDS SELLS COGNAC HINE TO EDV SAS. WHAT HAPPENS TO DAVIDOFF & MONNET COGNACS?

2013 is  an important year for Hine:

(1)  Hine celebrates its 250th anniversary,

and (2) Hine was for sale and found a new owner.

It was in the air for the past  3 years as CL World Brands, which operates as a subsidiary of CL Financial, was going through some difficult times.

In 2009, Struggling Caribbean company CL Financial Limited came under the management of the Trinidad and Tobago government following a bail out.

Founded in 1763, Hine specialises in vintage Cognacs, which are released in limited quantities after a minimum ageing.

Hine Cognac, Product Portfolio 

In 1962, Hine was granted a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, as suppliers of Cognac. It is still the only Cognac house to this day. I see Hine as the most British brand of cognac. Although largest brands are pretty much all connected to this part of the world (i.e. including Ireland). That is Hennessey, Martell, Remy Martin, Courvoisier, Hine, Hardy, etc. Why so many Anglo-British brand?

Well, they historically were the largest consumers. And my personal take is they were the best businessmen too! Hence, the designation for cognac VS (very special), VSOP (very superior old pale), and XO (extra old). Originally, the designation were in French: fine cognac (=VS), vieille fine cognac (=VSOP), and Hors d'Age (=XO). But these designations did not mean much in the native languages of the majority of the consumers which explains why English designations became the norm. Some brands still uses the French designations. Comandon Cognac for instance uses both French and English, see below.

Comandon Cognac Very Superior Old Pale, Vieille Fine, VSOP

CL World Brands, which operates as a subsidiary of CL Financial, has completed the sale of Thomas Hine and Company Cognac house to EDV SAS for an undisclosed amount, estimated at 60 million of Euros according to the newspaper Charente Libre.

EDV SAS, a French firm, is managed by the descendants of the family behind wine trader and retailer Établissements Nicolas. So at the end, Hine can celebrate its 250th with a big Cocorricco, since the brand is back to French ownership!

Logo Magasin Nicolas

Commenting on the transaction, EDV SAS was quoted by guardian.co.tt as saying, "Our strategy is to pursue the development and outreach of the Hine brand, in preserving its exclusive positioning on the market and the exceptional quality of its products, as well as in perpetuating the traditional values of its founding family."

Something there is no doubt Bernard Hine is appreciating!

Nicolas is a reputable retailer of fine wine & spirits established in Paris since 1822. Hine will be a good asset to Nicolas and vice and versa.

Earlier this year, CL Financial sold Appleton rum to Campari (Italy) and Burn Stewart Distillers to Distell (South Africa).

Hine Cognac's product portfolio includes Hine Rare VSOP, Hine Antique XO, Hine Jarnac-matured Vintage Cognacs and Hine Early-Landed Vintage Cognacs with an annual turn over of 14 million euros.

However, one has to wonder what will happen to Cognac Davidoff, a licensed brand which Hine just recently acquired from Hennessy, and also Cognac Monnet which were additional brands which Hine owned!

Source: Spirits Drinks Business

Source Photos: www.hinecognac.com

COGNAC FOOD PAIRING WITH MAURICE HENNESSY AT LUCQUES IN THE USA (Los Angeles California)

Who said food cannot be paired with cognac?!

On October 2nd  Hennessy hosted a private dinner with Mr. Maurice Richard Hennessy at Lucques Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA. Guests entered into the rustic carriage house of the original Harold Lloyd estate and were greeted with a perfectly-concocted glass of the Hennessy “Apple Fiz”, which were passed out by several of Hennessy’s stunning samplers. Guests mingled with Mr. Hennessy and enjoyed passed appetizers created by Lucque’s executive chef, Chef Suzanne Goib. They were then seated and Mr. Maurice Hennessy began educating attendees on the many generations of history of Hennessy.

Karen Civil with Maurice Hennessy

Maurice proceeded to introduce the 18-carat and gold labeled bottle of the Hennessy Paradis Imperial designed by Stephanie Balini for a rare tasting of the higher-marqued cognac. Guests sampled the rare blended cognac and were educated on how to taste each of the notes that Paradis Imperial has to offer. They also enjoyed a lavish 3-course meal featuring: Braised Beef and Seelhead Salmon paired with Hennessy’s specialty mixed drinks like: The Hennessy Ginger, Hennessy Spice, and Hennessy Paradis Imperial. After raising a final toast, attendees noshed on a special dessert with a flourless chocolate torta which included roasted dates and was topped with a cup of espresso. 

Source Story and Photo: Karen Civil