Rémy Martin Explained: Fine Champagne Cognac, VSOP to Louis XIII
Rémy Martin is one of only a handful of cognac houses to specialize exclusively in Fine Champagne cognac — a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne eaux-de-vie — and that single sourcing decision defines the character of everything from its $54.99 VSOP to its legendary $4,299.99 Louis XIII.
Fine Champagne: A House Specialty
"Fine Champagne" is a specific, regulated cognac designation requiring a blend of at least 50% Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie with the remainder from Petite Champagne — the two most prized of cognac's growing regions. Rémy Martin has built its entire portfolio around this classification since 1965. Rémy Martin V.S.O.P ($54.99, 40% ABV) is the entry point, with fresh plum, vanilla and liquorice notes that show the Fine Champagne character even at the accessible end of the range.
1738 Accord Royal and Club
Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal ($74.99, 40% ABV) sits between VSOP and XO, named for the year King Louis XV granted the house its charter, with roasted fig, plum jam and oak notes that add complexity without XO pricing. Rémy Martin Club ($149.99, 40% ABV) and Coeur de Cognac ($89.99, 40% ABV) round out the mid-tier with peach, vanilla and fresh fruit profiles aimed at approachable, everyday sipping rather than special-occasion pricing.
X.O and Tercet
Rémy Martin X.O Excellence ($199.99, 40% ABV) draws on considerably older reserve eaux-de-vie for jasmine, dried rose and plum notes typical of a well-aged Fine Champagne cognac. Tercet ($129.99, 42% ABV) is a more unusual release, blending eaux-de-vie selected by three of the house's cellar masters across different eras.
Louis XIII: The Flagship
At the top of the entire cognac category sits Rémy Martin Louis XIII ($4,299.99, 40% ABV) — a blend of up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie, some over a century old, presented in a hand-crafted Baccarat crystal decanter. Above even that, ultra-rare releases like Louis XIII Black Pearl ($24,999.99), Rare Cask ($34,999.99) and the Black Pearl Grande Champagne edition ($185,000) represent some of the most expensive cognac produced anywhere.
Choosing the Right Bottle
VSOP is a genuine, well-made starting point rather than a compromise choice. 1738 Accord Royal is the best value step up for drinkers who want more depth without XO pricing. Louis XIII and its ultra-rare siblings exist in an entirely different category — collector and gifting territory rather than a natural upgrade path from the rest of the lineup.