| 29/05/99 |
L&L Master Blenders, a Jean-Paul Lafragette
& Kobrand Corporation company, has purchased property formerly known as Restaurant Val
de Charente on the river Charente in Cognac, next to the L&L Cognac House
Distillery. The purpose is to create a show room for their products (expected
opening September 99) and a private dinning facilities. In addition, after two years of
successful tasting of X.O. Beer, L&L is ready to fully launch X.O.
Beer as signified by their recent purchase of a foreign brewery. With over 6 million
bottles sold recently, L&L product line that comprises Alizé Long Drink
Cognac, Les Crus du Cognac and Cognac Lafragette
in addition to X.O. Beer is poised for further gains.Their recent world-wide (excluding
North America and Caribbean) distribution contract with Hennessy for
Alizé augments their overall sales strategy. And, when asked about their potential
interest in buying A. Hardy, it was dismissed with a French shrug
and a comment of "What a silly rumor". Visit L&L at VINEXPO Hall
1, allée B, stand 280. |
| 29/05/99 |
Allied Domecq (parent of Courvoisier)
agrees to sell its pubs and restaurants which will increase their war chest by nearly $3.8
billion, changes its chief executive; all to stem its declining spirits world-wide market
share. Does it also mean that negotiations for Bisquit Renault will be
revived soon? (IHT26/05/99, Torula News) |
| 29/05/99 |
H. Mounier Company, founded in 1858, that has
been part of Unicoop since 1969, has finally put behind difficulties of the past few
years. With a new management team under the leadership of Francis Barat, new packaging and
new products, the Company is poised to better 1998 positive results and sales of about 4
millions bottles. Much of the new products and new packaging developed within the company
under the guidance of Christian Maîtreau, will be introduced at VINEXPO
(Hall 1 Stand C 317). It ranges from Prince Hubert de Polignac 2000 to a Furio
Concept being expanded to include Furio Gin, Furio Tequila beside Furio Cognac
for Long Drink. It also includes new packaging for their Calvados Michel Biron,
Armagnac de Vibrac and a new scotch whisky product Highland King.
As exemplified by Sébastien Chaumet, a new optimism and energy are present in the
company. Due to the pre-VINEXPO frenzy, Torula News took a rain check for the product
tasting and a chat with Maître d'chai François Thibault. We will be back. |
| 28/05/99 |
Bernard Arnault, owner of LVMH, a luxury goods
group that owns Hennessy, is making major strides to become a force in
e-commerce by investing in a variety of on-line businesses. Among recent investments are: Datek
Online, a fourth largest US on-line brokerage and LibertySurf, a
free Internet access service offered by Darty stores (part of a
Kingfisher Group) in France. Will we see Hennessy Cognac sold on the Internet soon? (IHT260599/Torula
News) |
| 27/05/99 |
Number of new projects to boost tourism in the region were
recently announced; Town of Jarnac is to create an exposition hall at the
quai de l'Orangerie ready to be opened in July 2000 in parallel with Courvoisier's
new visitor center, Office de Tourisme de Grande Champagne in Segonzac, under
the leadership of Francine Forgeron has announced 19 new hiking circuits covering 20
communes with distances varying from 6 to 20 km. (CL270599) |
| 26/05/99 |
1999 Torula News Cognac House Tour Visit awards
are announced. Top three tour visits are at: Otard, Rémy Martin and Martell.
The Silk Banner award will be presented to the winner on Thursday 27/05 at the La
Civette aux Armes de Cognac in Cognac at 18:00. For details click here. |
| 26/05/99 |
Following the example of www.cognacnet.com
tastings abroad (April'99 in Oslo, Norway at Bar 1), www.actunet.com
is presenting Cognac Leyrat in Helsinki, Finland at the Radisson SAS
Royal Hotel tonight. All Cognac drinkers in Helsinki are invited. At the same time, Amateur
Cognac Tastings continue tonight in France; Cognac Frapin at
18:30 at Cognac Frapin with a dinner at the La Cagouillarde. |
| 25/05/99 |
If the customs authority on the both sides of the border agree, Alambic-Expo
will spend a week at the Victoria Station in London, UK in the
middle of November 1999. Although BNIC declined participation in Oslo,
this appears to be a move in right direction. |
| 24/05/99 |
Rémy Martin celebrates 20th anniversary of a
joint venture in China with selling, locally produced, 20 million bottles of Century
wines. |
| 22/05/99 |
Vintage Cognacs at Hôtel Crillon in Paris; 1809
Marquis des Genêts and 1811 and 1878 Foucauld. These Cognacs come from cellars of CCG and
were recently sold via Internet. Gilles le Lann, chief barman at the Hôtel
Crillon whose kitchens are presided over by Dominique Bouchet (Le Moulin de
Marcouze) offers many old Cognacs with prices topping F3900 for 4 cl. Old and top of the
range Cognacs finally found a home in Paris. (S-O20/05/99,Torula News) |
| 21/05/99 |
Absolut Vodka, the world's sixth largest premium
brand spirit is expected to increase sales by 7% world-wide. It holds number 3 position in
the USA market and showed a whopping 30% increase in Europe. This simply should serve as a
reminder for the need of white spirit in the global markets and an opportunity that exists
for Cognac Blanc. (FT2/05/99,Torula News) |
| 19/05/99 |
Prélude de St. Estéphe has prominent aromas
with pitted fruits dominating it, touch of dry flowers and natural elegance makes this
Cognac round and pleasurable. Symphonie de St. Estéphe XO, its
older family member, has well developed fruity aromas with hint of citrus, dry flowers,
touch of spice, it is round with hint of peach taste, it is longer. This two new products
under the label of Cognac Jon Bertelsen will be available shortly in
Norway where the demand for these products is already growing. Will Opera de
St. Estéphe be next, will it be available in other Scandinavian markets? The
importer and the producer declined to answer with a well meaning smile and a positive
shrug of the shoulder.. |
| 18/05/99 |
Hennessy finally finds the right market for Pure
White - French supermarkets. It goes well with Tonic! |
| 17/05/99 |
Countdown has accelerated. 7 June 1999 is a date when powers in
charge will decide what to do with the Annual Film Policier in Cognac
which until now has been underwritten and managed by the BNIC. For a long time, Torula
News has reported that the value of Cognac industry in sponsoring such an event is
negligible; the timing, the venue and the organization of it is limited and thus should be
canceled. If the City of Cognac is willing to shoulder the burden of producing it that is,
of course, a different matter. One proposal that we support is to make this Film festival
a touring Annual Festival promoting Cognac; One week in Tokyo, one week in New York, one
week in Buenos Aires, one week in Scandinavia etc. This might be a good value for the
money plus it will make Cognac industry pro-active in markets that they need to develop or
protect. Otherwise, cancel it! |
| 15/05/99 |
VINEXPO (14-18/06/99) in Bordeaux has an impressive list of Cognac
participants. Check the web site www.vinexpo.fr
Following are the stands of Cognac participants as of 11/05/99, all in Hall 1 unless
otherwise noted: A. Edmond Dupuy C333, A.E. Dor CD340, Bernard
Boutinet AB355, Guerbe AB355, Leopold Gourmel
E225, Leyrat B348, Paul Giraud
B358, Philippon E240, Moyet DE64, L&L
B280, Menuet AB355, Raymond Ragnaud AB153, Francois
Peyrot E330, Guy Lheraud BC298, De Luze F292, Unicognac
D294, Camus CD341, Frapin DE179, Martell
F221 Le Club des Marques, Rémy Martin F292 Le Club des Marques and the
Comite National de Pineau des Charentes at AB355. |
| 15/05/99 |
In a yet another, a third one, incarnation of the Planet
XO Magazine, Thibault Reichel, the publisher, proposes to talk about economics of
wine and spirits in the issue targeted at VINEXPO 1999. Check their web site at www.planet-xo-magazine.com |
| 14/05/99 |
If all goes according to plan, a newly build gabarre which is a
flat bottom boat used in the past for transporting Cognac barrels, will touch the waters
of river Charente on 27 June 1999. Under direction of Jean-Jacques Delage, it is build
today on the outskirts of Bassac by Max Maïola, one of
the very few remaining professional gabarre builders in France. This boat is 19 meters
long, 4.5 m wide and its powered by a diesel motor. It will take up to 60 people for a
Charente river boat ride. |
| 14/05/99 |
Hennessy to sell Pellison to a
group led by Patrice Quatravaux. Main markets for Pellissson products are in England and
the USA. (S-O14/05/99) |
| 13/05/99 |
New Cognac, Pineau des Charentes and Vin
de Pays Charentais producers joining Internet: Jean-Luc Pasquet, Logis de l'Ajasson, Jean-Noël Collin, Alain Gousseland, Christian Landreau of Logis de Montifaud. |
| 13/05/99 |
Will the famous distillery of Rouyer-Guillet in
Saintes become a museum, a new location for Comite National du Pineau des Charentes or yet
another project? The debate rages on in the region since the death of Michel
Rouyer-Guillet late last year. And what will become of the old stocks of Borderies
eaux-de-vie? (S-O13/05/99) |
| 09/05/99 |
With 48 pages, 200 pictures and 180,000 French Francs later Carole Grosman and her team at
the Charente Tourism Office produced a brochure titled "The universe
of Cognac, discover big houses of Cognac". Inside is a nice text identifying Camus,
Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, Otard and Rémy Martin. No Gautier,
no Bisquit, no Polignac, no Larsen,
no Frapin, and, of course, not a one of the some 500 Cognac
producers is mentioned. With a great fanfare, so typical of the bureaucrats,
Madame Grosman flanked by Bernard de Massol, President of Cognac Chamber
of Commerce and Jacques Bobe, President of the Charente Government
proudly announced this inaccurate and ill conceived publication. If she does not know
better, surely the other two gentlemen should know it. In mid-March, Madame Grosman gave
an interview to Sud-Ouest and we quote: "We have not included producers and
direct sellers (of Cognac) as their opening hours are not reliable...".
Torula News offers Madame Grosman a tour of the Cognac producers to assure her that they
are reliable, dependable and hard working people. A small point, if Henri Geffard
is not a reliable Cognac producer than why is she listing him under B&B page? This, of
course, raises a troubling question: "Was BNIC consulted on this
project?". About 10 days ago, BNIC asked the same unreliable group of Cognac
producers to donate two bottles of Cognac for presentation to the French Senate.
Torula News understands that a number of the unreliable, according to Madame Grosman,
producers of Cognac have refused. There is a Chinese proverb: "no ticky, no
laundry" that is so applicable here. An English translation is promised, we hope
before the end of the tourist season, and we suggest that a page or two be inserted with
at least the addresses of the unreliable Cognac producers. If the left hand does not know
what the right does, as is a frequent case with government bureaucrats, we have just
pointed out an opportunity for both "hands" to meet. (SO17/03/99,Torula
News) |
| 08/05/99 |
At a recent visit to Hennessy, more by luck than
design, we had a chance to join a group of visitors from Israel and participate in a
tasting of some very interesting non-commercial products; 1998 eaux-de-vie from Le
Peau and Camp Romain, 1995 Borderies, 1983 Petite
Champagne, 1932 Borderie from Billarderie and 1880 Petite
Champagne from Tesseron. The last two were, of course, the most interesting as we
tasted them straight from the casks. It proves, once again, that with quality of the aging
warehouse, right humidity and temperature, an eaux-de-vie can rest in the casks for more
than 120 years. Much of credit must go to Fillioux generations being
Maitre d'chai at Hennessy since the very beginning. |
| 07/05/99 |
Family Haustraete at La Civette aux Armes de Cognac, a
smoke and newspaper shop across from Cognac Martell in Cognac upgrades
its appearance and displays cigars and Cognacs from A. de Fussigny, Rémy Martin,
Martell, Courvoisier, Hine and others. Visit to buy cigars and pick up
information referencing associated Cognacs. |
| 07/05/99 |
Do not be surprised when picking up Cognac Tonik!
latest issue (May-June '99) you will find last page missing. If that is the case, it has
been ripped out. Number of Cognac restaurants are quietly protesting
against an annual Fête du Cognac dinners scheduled for 16-19 July this
year. The organizers, Les Jeunes Viticulteurs and City of Cognac
among them, have decided to compete rather than cooperate, with local restaurants at the
time when local restaurant business is, at best, average. |
| 06/05/99 |
Among some 20,000 annually sold bottles in France, Jacques
Chollet and his sons at Cognac Chollet (Distillerie Le
Planty) in Boutiers-St.Trojan produce full range of Cognacs; ***, VSOP, Napoleon,
XO and Vieille Reserve - the last two a blend of Fins Bois and Grande Champagne, Pineau
des Charentes with Blanc Vieux (Old White) dating to 1978, several cocktails and liqueurs
including Creme au Cognac and Angélique, fruits in Pineaux, Vins de Pays Charentais and
more. |
| 03/05/99 |
Top Cognac sellers in 1998 remained the same; Hennessy
leads by a big margin with 36 million bottles sold, trailed by a second tier producers
like Martell (15.3 million), Rémy Martin (14.3 million)
and Courvoisier (13.2 million). In the third tier, among top sellers were
Camus and Manier-Lapostolle. The latter one helped by
Grand Manier and other derivative Cognac products sold. Hennessy maintained its number one
position that has held for the past 10 years while others have seen major drop in volumes
sold (i.e.Martell from 24 million bottles sold in 1995 to just 15.3 million only three
years later). Top 4 Cognac producers have sold 76.8 million bottles out of a total of 134
million accounting for more than 50% of the global Cognac market. These numbers support
Hennessy and its youthful and market oriented President Navarre's strategy as well as they
point to the need for major consolidation among the second and third tier producers like
Courvoisier and Bisquit merger. (CL03/05/99, Torula News) |
| 03/05/99 |
Cognac trivia: in the latest book by John le
Carré "Single&Single", the hero orders several Rémy on
page 86. And Al Capone's Sweets cigarillos are "Cognac dipped"
... no comment. |
| 03/05/99 |
Cognac Camus tasting results by 33 Cognac
amateurs are now available on the Internet. Click here. |
| 02/05/99 |
Distillerie
du Veron becomes an active exporter into Texas
market with their Borderies cru Dixie Land Cognac
product line. Louis Armstrong would be proud of these Cognacs. |
| 02/05/99 |
Christian Landreau of Cognac Logis de
Montifaud introduces Cognac
Y2K (2000), a 50 years old vintage in hand blown
bottle styled after bottles from the previous century. A superb eau-de-vie demonstrating
Landreau's ability of making top quality products. |
| 02/05/99 |
Jean-Noël Collin, a Grande Champagne
Cognac maker par excellance, enters Vin de Pays Charentais producers
ranks with Blanc Marine whire wine. |
| 02/05/99 |
Torula News has learned about another round of bankruptcies among Cognac
producers led by Cognac Rouffignac. |
|
Global News for: April '99 March'99, February'99 January'99 1998 |
