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Advanced Somm > Brandy and Eau-de-vie > Flashcards

Brandy and Eau-de-vie Flashcards

1
Q

In what region is Cognac located?

A

The Charentais, immediately north of Bordeaux

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2
Q

When was the Cognac region delimited?

A

1936

There was a 1909 decree before then

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3
Q

What are the sub-appellations of Cognac in ascending order of prestige?

A 
Bois Ordinaires
Bons Bois
Fins Bois
Borderies
Petite Champagne
Grand Champagne
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4
Q

What are the largest houses in Cognac?

A

Hennessy

Martell

Remy Martin

Small growers tend to sell their produce to them

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5
Q

How old is a VS Cognac?

What does VS mean?

What are some other titles with a similar age designation?

A

2 years

Very Special

3 Etoiles, 3 Stars, Selection, De Luxe

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6
Q

How old is a Superior Cognac?

A

3 years

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7
Q

How old is a VSOP Cognac?

What does VSOP mean?

What are some other titles with a similar age designation?

A

4 years

Very Special Old Pale

Reserve, Vieux, Rare, Royal

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8
Q

How old is a Vielle Reserve Cognac?

What are some other titles with a similar age designation?

A

5 years

Reserve Rare, Reserve Royale

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9
Q

How old is a Napoleon Cognac?

What are some other titles with a similar age designation?

A

6 years

Tres Vieux, Tres Vieille Reserve, Heritage, Tres Rares, Excellence, Supreme

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10
Q

How old is an XO Cognac?

What does XO mean?

What are some other titles with a similar age designation?

A

10 years

Extra Old

Extra, Ancestral, Ancetre, Or, Gold, Imperial

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11
Q

How old is an XXO Cognac?

When was it added and who was the first to produce one?

A

14 years

It was added only in 2019 after Hennessy made one.

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12
Q

What does the phrase Hors d’Age indicate?

A

It is used for any Cognac aged beyond the official age statements.

Previously it was a fixture of the XO category, now more so with the XXO category.

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13
Q

What are the most important qualities of the grapes used for Cognac production?

Why?

A

Low sugar levels mean low alcohol, meaning the wine can be distilled more times.

High acidity is a natural antiseptic, keeping out bacterial spoilage. Sulfur cannot be used in distillation as its concentration would be unpleasant.

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14
Q

What is the most important grape used for Cognac production?

What are some other grapes that are used?

A

Ugni Blanc, 95%

Folle Blanche and Colombard are the other 2, though Semillon, Montils, and Folignan are allowed.

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15
Q

What additives are authorized in the production of Cognac and Armagnac?

A

Sugar, Caramel, and Oak Chips are all allowed for final adjustment and coloring

Distilled water may be added to reduce ABV

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16
Q

What is the minimum aging requirement of Cognac?

A

2 years in oak

17
Q

Does Cognac develop in bottle?

A

No

18
Q

What are the base wine requirements of Cognac?

A

7-12% ABV

No chaptalization

No use of sulfur dioxide during fermentation

19
Q

What are the steps of Cognac production?

A
  1. Distillation in copper pot to 28-32%, producing the “brouillis”
  2. Second distillation, the “bonne chauffe,” produces:
    - Tete (head), couer (heart), secondes (second cuts), queue (tails)
  3. The couer (40% of the “brouillis”) is separated and becomes Cognac alone.
20
Q

What is the maximum ABV of Cognac following the second distillation?

When must a harvest be distilled by?

A

72.4% ABV

By March 31st of the year following harvest

21
Q

If a Cognac has a sub-zone labeling, how much must come from that zone?

If a Cognac is labeled “Fine Champagne,” where must it come from?

What Cognac may be labeled fine?

A

100%

min. 50% must come from Grand Champagne, and whatever the remainder must come from Petite Champagne.

“Fine” may be applied to either Grand Champagne or Petite Champagne, but offers no other information.

22
Q

What soils define the Grand and Petite Champagne subzones?

What about the others?

A

The Champagne subzones are high is limestone and soft chalk.

Fine Bois: “groies” (hard red limestone), clay

Bon Bois, Bois Ordinaires: Sand

23
Q

What are the grapes allowed for the production of Armagnac?

A

Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Baco Blanc

24
Q

What is the only hybrid grape authorized for use in any AOP?

What is the crossing?

Where?

A

Baco Blanc

Folle Blanche x Noah

Armagnac AOP

25
Q

What are some differences between Armagnac and Cognac?

A
  1. Armagnac is more likely to be made from a blend of different grapes.
  2. 95% of Armagnac undergoes only 1 distillation in a continuous still. The spirit is more flavorful, less pure, less alcoholic.
  3. Armagnac has traditionally been released as a vintage product and at cask strength
26
Q

What were Armagnac aging designations prior to 2013?

What are they now?

A

Before 2013:

  • VS: 2 years
  • VSOP: 5 years
  • XO: 6 years

After 2013:

  • VS or ***: 1 to 3 years
  • VSOP: 4 to 9 years
27
Q

In what region is Armagnac located?

A

Gascony

28
Q

What is “boise?”

A

A liquid of boiled oak chips used to correct the final products of Cognac and Armagnac

29
Q

Armagnac coming from what sub-region tends to show the most finesse?

A

Bas-Armagnac

30
Q

What are the regionally based brandies produced in France?

A

Fine de Bordeaux

Fine de Bourgogne

Fine de la Marne

31
Q

What is “Weinbraund?”

A

Germany Brandy

Asbach is a producer

32
Q

What is a notable protected designation for Brandy from Spain?

What grapes are used?

Who are some producers?

A

Brandy de Jerez

Airen and Palomino

Lustau, Domecq, Osborne

33
Q

What are the average age ranges for the following grades of Brandy de Jerez:

Solera
Solera Reserva
Solera Gran Reserva

A

Solera: 1 year average

Solera Reserva: 3 year average

Solera Gran Reserva: 10 year average

34
Q

What are some examples of pomace spirits?

A

Marc - France

Grappa - Italy

Bagaceira - Portugal

35
Q

What are the appellations and their encepagement requirements for Calvados in Normandy?

A

Calvados AOC
-May be produced from Apple and Pear

Calvados Domfrontais AOC
-May be produced from Apple and min. 30% Pear

Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC
-May be produced from Apple and max 30% Pear

36
Q

How many years do the following age statements indicate on a bottle of Calvados?

Vieux/Reserve
VSOP/Vieille Reserve
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra/Napoleon

A

Vieux/Reserve: 3 years
VSOP/Vieille Reserve: 4 years
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra/Napoleon: 6 years

37
Q

What type of Eaux-de-vie is produced with the following fruits?

Black Cherry
Williams Pear
Raspberry
Plum
Fig
Apricot
A

Kirschwasser

Poire Williams

Framboise

Slivovitz, Mirabelle, Quetsch, Prunelle

Boukha: popular in Tunisia

Barack Palinka: popular in Hungary

Advanced Somm (37 decks)

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