Cognac Flashcards
What are the Geographical Designations of Cognac AOP?
Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fins Bois
Bons Bois
Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)
What are the permitted grapes in Cognac AOP?
Colombard
Folle Blanche
Montils
Sémillon
Ugni Blanc
plus a max. 10% Folignan
What is Folignan?
Folle Blanche X Ugni Blanc
Permitted in Cognac AOP up to 10%
What are the Age Designations for Cognac AOP?
VS / *** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix: min. 2 years old
Supérieur: min. 3 years old
VO / VSOP / Réserve: min. 4 years old
VVSOP / Grande Réserve: min. 5 years old
XO / Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve: min. 6 years old
(As of 2018 “XO” will indicate Cognac aged for a min. 10 years – the original deadline of 2016 was protested to ensure consistency of stocks.)
What are the soils of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne?
Limestone and soft Chalk
What is the soil of Fin Bois?
“Groies” - Hard red limestone
What is the soil of Bon Bois and Bois Ordinaires?
Sand
What is Brouillis?
First distillation of Cognac
Creates a spirit of 28-32% ABV
What is Bonne Chauffe?
Second distillation of Cognac
Must not exceed 72.4% ABV
What are the parts of the Bonne Chauffe?
Tête (Head)
Couer (Heart, about 40% of the distillation
Secondes (Second Cuts)
Queue (Tails)
What is the minimum aging for Cognac AOP?
2 years
from April 1 of the year following the harvest
For a Cognac labelled with a sub zone, what percentage must come from that sub zone?
100%
What is Fine Champagne?
Label term designating a minimum of 51% from grande Champagne and the remainder coming from Petite Champagne
What does “Fine” mean on a bottle of Cognac?
Nothing. May be added to Grande Champagne or Petite Champagne, but does not indicate any additional requirements.
Not to be confused with “Fine Champagne”
What is the maximum vine spacing for Cognac?
3.5m between rows. Think tractors
What is the minimum planting density for Cognac?
2,200 vines per hectare
What is the ABV range for the base wine of Cognac?
7-12%
What is Esprit de Cognac?
The product of a third distillation from a Alambic Charentais.
Exclusively destined for the production of sparkling wines
80-85% ABV