Armagnac/Brandy/Calvados/Pomace Brandies/Eau de Vie Flashcards
Islands that produce Pineau des Charentes (2)
Ré
Oléron
Comte de Guyon is a great producer of ____
Bas Armagnac
Commune of Calvados (22)
Auvillars
Beaufour-Druval
Beuvon en Auge
Bonnebosq
Cambremer
Crevecouren Auge
Formentin
Le Fournet
Gerrots
Hotot en Auge
La Houblonniere
Leaupartie
Monteille
Montreuil en Auge
Notre dame d’estrees
etc
How did brandy get it’s name?
derived from the Dutch brandewijn, or “burned wine”—as a method of preserving its essence, or soul, on voyages northward from Spain and France to Holland.
General Requirements for Brandy
distilled from wine, minimum abv of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of six months
Three geographical regions of Armagnac (South East of Bordeaux)
Haut-Armagnac, Bas-Armagnac, and Armagnac-Ténarèze
Grapes of Armagnac
Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche (called Picpoul locally, but distinct from Picpoul de Pinet), and Baco Blanc (the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOC/P appellation)
Although Armagnac may go through two distillations and a charantais still, this % of wine from the region goes through one distillation in a continuous still
Approximately 95% of Armagnac goes through one distillation in a continuous still
Who invented the continuous still ?
Aeneas Coffey 1831 model. The one used in Armagnac is simpler and predates this version
What is Blanche Armagnac AOC?
a clear spirit that achieved appellation status in 2005, bottled after 3 months in an inert container
What is the BNIA?
Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac
As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does VS or *** mean?
indicates that the spirit rested in barrel for between 1 and 3 years
As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does VSOP mean?
signifies 4 to 9 years of age
As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does XO or Hors d’Age mean?
denotes spirits that spend at least 10 years in barrel.
Map of Armagnac, Southeast of Bordeaux
What is coupage in Armagnac and Cognac?
barrel selections in order to achieve a desired style that remains consistent throughout the years
When would one employ petites eaux in the production of Armagnac?
A mixture of distilled water and Armagnac added to the blend prior to bottling, to achieve the appropriate strength of spirit—a minimum 40% abv
Prominent Armagnac producers
Larressingle and Château Laubade are two prominent producers, with the latter concentrating on vintage release
There is more Vintage dated Armagnac than Cognac: T or F?
True.
Brandies made outside Armagnac and Cognac
Fine de Bordeaux, Fine de Bourgogne, and Fine de la Marne (Rarely seen today)
What is Weinbrand (Germany)
German distiller Asbach produces brandy in Germany with a Charentais pot still, using base wine produced from Cognac grapes
Brandy de Jerez is distilled in this:
copper stills (alquitaras)
Brandy de Jerez is made from these grapes, and aged in solera in these casks
Airén and Palomino grapes. Used American oak sherry casks comprise the solera, which allows Brandy de Jerez producers to achieve excellent consistency year after year
Brandy de Jerez labeled Solera:
will have been aged for one year on average
Brandies labeled Solera Reserva in Brandy de Jerez aged this long:
brandies age for an average three years
Solera Gran Reserva brandies in Brandy de Jerez:
age for an average ten years
Producers of Brandy de Jerez
Domecq, Emilio Lustau, and Osborne
Producer of Brandy in Catalonia
Miguel Torres
This Italian producer makes Cognac from Trebbiano grapes—the Italian synonym for Ugni Blanc
Buton
Is Pisco typically aged in wood?
no
Pomace brandies (grappa style) throughout Various countries
Marc (France, Particularly Champagne, Alsace, and Burgundy)
grappa (Italy), and bagaceira (Portugal)
First Italian producers to distill a single varietal for Grappa
Jacopo Poli and Giannola Nonino, for Picolit
Styles of wood aged Grappa
Riserva, stravecchia (more than 18 mos wood)
vecchia or invecchiata (12-18 mos wood)
Is aromatizing Grappa permissable?
Grappa may be aromatized, with the addition of herbal, spice, or fruit flavor.
AOCs of Calvados
Calvados AOC, Calvados Domfrontais AOC, and Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC.
For whom is Calvados named?
Supposedly named for the Spanish galleon El Calvador, which sank along the rocky coast of Normandy
How long is Calvados aged
traditionally distilled twice in copper
two years in oak casks.
Premier AOC of Calvados production
Calvados Pays d’Auge is the premier region of production and limits pear cider (perry) to a maximum 30%.
Calvados Domfrontais, the most recent appellation for Calvados, has these requirements:
requires a minimum 30% perry (pear) and a minimum three years of aging in cask
always produced by continuous distillation
In Calvados, Vieux or Réserve means this:
Three years age
In Calvados, Vieille Réserve or VSOP means this:
Four years of age
In Calvados, XO, Hors d’Age, Extra, or Napoléon means this:
minimum six years of age
“Fine” on a bottle of Calvados means this:
Youngest Calvados bottlings
Map of Calvados and Normandy
These producers of Poire Williams Eau de Vie attach a glass bottle to a pear before it grows
(Regardless, Poire Williams is always aged in Glass)
Miclo in France and Clear Creek in Oregon, include a pear in the bottle—accomplished by attaching the bottle to the tree before the pear grows
National drink of Tunisia
A fig eau-de-vie, Boukha
Hungarian apricot eau de vie
Barack Palinka
Age indications for Calvados
VS / *** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix: 2 years
Supérieur: 3 years
VO / VSOP / Réserve: 4 years
VVSOP / Grande Réserve: 5 years
Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve: 6 years
XO: 10 years
XXO: 14 years
What is Kirsch de Fougerolles?
Established 2010, first AOC for fruit brandy.
Cherry Brandy from Fougerolles (near Jura)
produced from red and black cherries
Table cherries, sour cherries, and Montmorency cherries are not permitted
45% abv
Bottle of Kirsch de Fougerolles
Traditionally, the Kirsch de Fougerolles is released in a mouth-blown artisan bottle called the Bô, with an approx. capacity of 70 cl
Sandstone soil
cherry must be in contact with pit. Irrigation prohibited!
Vintage Armagnac must be age this long in oak
Min 10 years
A continuous still in Armagnac may not exceed this capacity
40 hl
