Notorious Beam Team

From Wallpaper.

Remy Martin has commissioned Christophe Pillet to create "limited edition accessories [designed to] get cognoscenti everywhere reaching for their new glasses".

"His involvement is the first step in what Louis XIII sees as an ongoing collaboration with 'contemporary creative geniuses', so what better backdrop to the decadenet digestif than chef Mathias Dahlgren's dining room in Stockholm's Grand Hotel? Designed by ahead of the curve interiors expert Ilse Crawford, the Michelin-starred restaurant oozes elegance and modernity in equal measure, and, for Louis XIII, includes pieces from Wallpaper's pick of rising stars - Italian Martino Gamper, who recently reworked furniture originally designed by Gion Ponti, quirky Dutch designers Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk, who both graduated from the star proidcing Eindhoven Design Academy and Brit Franbk Flavell whose wing backed chair won him first prize in a desingn competition hosted by British manufacturer Ercol. Proof if any were needed that our next generation of design genius is as strong as ever"





A little bit of searching uncovered previous work between Christophe Pillet and Remy on Coolhunting.





It's a very natural thing to do and is a brilliant way of building a luxury world. On a more commercial note, it allows Remy to place designer POS in the world's best bars and hotels which is notoriously hard to do. On top of this is generates talkability in the design world and is good PR.

Champagne taste. Champagne money.

I had never realised that Remy's equivalent to Jean-Marc Olivier at Courvoisier is Pierrette Trichet. I had, very ignorantly, assumed that all the cognac master blenders were men. Apparently, women have a better sense of smell, in general. So it makes a lot of sense.

Great idea from our rivals at Remy brought to you from Luxist:

"Rémy Martin has announced their first single-harvest cognac since Rémy Martin 1965. Rémy Martin has chosen a cognac crafted from the legendary 1989 vintage. Hot summer days combined with cool nights for ideal maturation of the Ugni Blanc grapes. Georges Clot, Rémy Martin cellar master at the time, strove to select the best plots from over a thousand exclusively located in Grande Champagne vineyards, choosing eaux-de-vie from four estate-owned plots. After 18 years of ageing in Limousin oak barrels which were kept separately in a dedicated Rémy Martin cellar, it was decided at the annual tasting in 2007, that Rémy Martin 1989 was reaching its peak.

Tasting notes highlight clove and fig with an intense lingering mouthfeel. It is sold in a black frosted bottle with a resealable wooden cork hand dipped in wax to create a unique seal for each bottle and sells for $300."

Vintages are a good idea, especially when they coincide with a birth year. I remember getting a bottle of 1982 Chateau Brown for my 21st birthday which was very special.

As ever, a well pitched limited edition gives people yet another excuse to talk about the brand.

From Luxist

"Here at Luxist we've mentioned Louis XIII Cognac a bunch of times but the pricey brand has recently unveiled a new artistic collaboration with designer Christophe Pillet to create limited-edition collection of items including a crystal glass, a silver illuminated serving platter, a crystal candleholder and a display case. When patrons of certain high-end restaurants throughout the world order Louis XIII, it will be served alongside Pillet's collection as an enhancement to the presentation. They may also be made available for purchase through some fine retailers. Louis XIII is made from grapes grown in the most fertile region of Cognac, which are then distilled, blended, and aged up to 40 to 100 years and bottled in hand-blown Baccarat crystal."