Cattier Champagne Importers Confirm Details of the Armand de Brignac Deception

I was recently contacted by Yosh (yes, that's his business name) of Elite Champagne Imports, LLC, a Chicago based company that he presented as the sole importer of Cattier champagne.  He was initially responding to my post regarding the recent appearance of Cattier at Hollywood parties to clarify misperceptions regarding Cattier's relationship to Armand de Brignac.

At first I was quite suspicious, given the history of the Armand deception, but as he told me more about Cattier and began to reveal details of the Armand backstory, I was hooked.  So far, everything that he's told me holds together based on previous information and additional verification, though there are a few details I hope to discuss with Mary Hall Ross of The Ross Group.  But I'm currently comfortable with the following version.

Without getting overly detailed, the basic story is that 3 Vodka approached Champagne Cattier about providing a custom product for import to the U.S.  Cattier leased the name Armand de Brignac to 3 Vodka, a name which Cattier had briefly brought to life in the 1950s and then put on ice.  3 Vodka leased the name and paid Cattier to produce the champagne.

When Armand was first introduced, many folks speculated that it was the Antique Gold and Yosh explained that Armand and Antique Gold share not only the same bottle but the same initial production line.  The impressive Ace of Spades label is only affixed after the champagne has aged while the rest of the bottles are separately labeled Antique Gold.

Of course, Antique Gold sells for up to $60 a bottle while Armand was said to be priced at around $300.  The only difference between the two being the fancier label and packaging and the association with Jay-Z in the Show Me What You Got video and in a single event at the 40-40 Club.

Yosh confirmed that 3 Vodka had erroneously claimed the company history of Champagne Cattier as that of Armand de Brignac's and that Armand is not known as a high end champagne in Europe.  It actually has no history other than as a brief creation from the 50s that was recently made available to 3 Vodka.  It's important to understand that Cattier has a history of creating specially packaged champagnes for companies and individuals for special occasions as well as leasing particular names and supplying the champagne itself as one of its services.

Currently Cattier, which is already sold in the U.S., is expanding its presence here with product placements in music videos, films and celeb events.  I'll be following up with more about those efforts, especially as they involve hip hop artists.

Cattier has already benefitted from the Armand placement in the Jay-Z video but that connection is also requiring them to clarify their separate identity in order to move past the fact that 3 Vodka misrepresented Armand de Brignac champagne.

I should also point out that, as Yosh clarified, Elite Champagne Imports is not a branch of Cattier but is majority owned by CEO Laurent Panfilo Cattier, the nephew of the two Cattier brothers who run Champagne Cattier.  Though independent, the two companies are obviously connected in many way and, in addition to importing Cattier, Elite Champagne Imports is now involved with distribution and with marketing the product in the U.S.

Yosh is a minority owner and runs much of the day to day business in Chicago.  CEO Laurent Panfilo Cattier is directly involved with the day to day operations but is often on the road and plays an ambassador role for Cattier champagne.  Mary Ross of The Ross Group in LA is handling product placements with a particular focus on the film industry while Shorty Capone of Space Giant Consultants in Chicago is handling word of mouth in the hip hop community.

More soon with details of some of Elite Champagne Imports' marketing activities for Cattier in the U.S.

Related Coverage:
Cattier Champagnes Placed in Nas' Can't Forget About You & Young Jeezy's Go Getta Videos
ProHipHop Coverage of Armand de Brignac Champagne