Cognac

Question 1

What is the river that flows through the region of Cognac?

Answer 1

Charente

Question 2

What soil exists in higher concentrations in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne compared to the other regions?

Answer 2

Campanian Soft Chalk

Question 3

How would you describe the Cognacs produced in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne?

Answer 3

Grande Champagne: Floral with finesse.

Petite Champagne: Floral with less finesse when compared to Grande Champagne.

Question 4

How would you describe distillates produced from Borderies?

Answer 4

Nutty and rich with Aromas of Violets and Lilacs

Question 5

How would you describe distillates produced from Fins Bois?

Answer 5

Round and Fruit Forward with notes of Stonefruit with very distinct grape aroma and flavor.

Question 6

How would you describe distillates from Bons Bois?

Answer 6

Thin and fruity, ages quickly

Question 7

How would you describe the distillates from Bois Ordinaires?

Answer 7

Thin and Poor

Question 8

How many times is Cognac distilled and what is the traditional still?

Answer 8

Twice in a Charentais Alembic still.

Question 9

What was Henri Coquand’s contribution to Cognac?

Answer 9

He was responsible for mapping out the different regions of Cognac based on soil differences and the taste each region produced in the 1930s.

Question 10

When was the Cognac region officially demarcated into six different zones?

Answer 10

1938

Question 11

How long are the best eaux de vies from Grande Champagne aged until their peak?

Answer 11

Between 35-50 years though some can age for much longer.

Question 12

Jarnac and Segonzac are two major cities in what Cognac zone?

Answer 12

Grande Champagne

Question 13

What percentage of Cognac’s total output in eaux de vies comes from Grande Champagne?

Answer 13

17%

Question 14

What are three top expressions produced in the Grande Champagne zone of Cognac?

Answer 14

Delemain Pale & Dry
Frapin XO Chateau de Fontpinot
Remy Martin Louis XIII
Hine Antique XO

Question 15

Petite Champagne eau de vie is said to have the scent of what?

Answer 15

White Flowers

Question 16

What are three top expressions from Petite Champagne?

Answer 16

Normandin Mercier VSOP
Chateau de Montifaud XO
Bertrand XO

Question 17

What is considered the smallest zone of Cognac and produces the least amount of distillate annually?

Answer 17

Borderies

Question 18

What is the coolest zone of Cognac?

Answer 18

Borderies

Question 19

What are a couple of notable expressions from the Borderies zone of Cognac?

Answer 19

Camus XO Borderies
Park Borderies Single Vineyard

Question 20

Which zone of Cognac is responsible for the largest output of Cognac?

Answer 20

Fins Bois

Question 21

What are a couple of notable expressions of Fins Bois?

Answer 21

Leyrat VSOP Reserve
Fevrier Reserve Familiale

Question 22

Pineau des Charentes and Cognac-based liqueurs are often produced from distillates from what zone?

Answer 22

Bons Bois

Question 23

What is a notable expression produced exclusively from Bons Bois fruit?

Answer 23

Godet Single-Cru Bons Bois 15 years

Question 24

In what zone of Cognac are the islands of Ré and Oleron?

Answer 24

Bois Ordinaires

Question 25

The port city of La Rochelle is located in what zone of Cognac?

Answer 25

Bois Ordinaires

Question 26

What was Cognac called in the early 1500s?

Answer 26

Eau Ardente, aka burning water

Question 27

When did Cognac production shift from wine production to spirit distillation?

Answer 27

1700s

Question 28

Which Cognac firm created the term XO?

Answer 28

Hennessy

Question 29

Which Cognac firm created the term VSOP?

Answer 29

Martell

Question 30

What are the Big Four of Cognac?

Answer 30

Hennessy Martell Remy Martin Courvoisier

Question 31

Who is the 8th generation distiller at Hennessy?

Answer 31

Renaud Fillioux de Gironde

Question 32

Who produces XO Cordon Bleu and from what zones of Cognac is it produced?

Answer 32

Martell Sourced from Borderies and Fins Bois

Question 33

From what zones is the production of Remy Martin from exclusively?

Answer 33

Grande and Petite Champagne

Question 34

What is the style of Remy Martin and what is this due to?

Answer 34

Richer style resulting partly from inclusion of lees during distillation and larger proportions of new oak used during maturation.

Question 34

What is the style of Remy Martin and what is this due to?

Answer 34

Richer style resulting partly from inclusion of lees during distillation and larger proportions of new oak used during maturation.

Question 35

Why did Camus almost collapse?

Answer 35

Due to its high reliance on the Russian market this house almost went under with the collapse of the Russian Czars.

Question 36

What is the 5th largest house in Cognac?

Answer 36

Camus

Question 37

Who is the largest landowner in Borderies?

Answer 37

Camus

Question 38

Who is the largest landowner in Borderies?

Answer 38

Camus