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Advanced Somm Prep > Cognac & Armagnac > Flashcards

Cognac & Armagnac Flashcards

1
Q

Main River in Cognac region

A

Charente River

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2
Q

Location of Cognac

A

Southwest France - just north of Bordeaux

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3
Q

Climate of Cognac

A

Maritime

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4
Q

Preferred soil type for Cognac

A

soft chalk

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5
Q

Which two Cognac regions make the most elegant spirits?

A

Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne

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6
Q

Which Cognac regions make “entry-level” spirits?

A

Borderies, Bons Bois, Fins Bois, Bois Ordinaires

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7
Q

What is Fine Champagne?

A

A Cognac whose blend is a minimum of 50% Grande Champagne and the remainder from Petit Champagne

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8
Q

What must be true for a region to have their name on a label?

A

100% must come from that region

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9
Q

Which French king was born in Cognac?

A

Francis I - 1494 - Ascended the throne in 1515
*granted Cognac exemptions from taxes, forced loans & army levies

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10
Q

When was AOC Cognac created?

A

1909

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11
Q

Who are the “big four” Cognac houses?

A

Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin & Courvoisier

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12
Q

What is the moderating organization in Cognac?

A

Bureau National Interprofessional du Cognac (BNIC)

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13
Q

What percentage of Cognac is consumed in France?

A

3%

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14
Q

What is another name for Ugni Blanc?

A

Trebbiano Toscano

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15
Q

Mian grape in Cognac

A

Ugni Blnac

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16
Q

Additional permitted varieties in Cognac

A

Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, Folignan (cross between Folle Blanche and Ugni Blanc - limited to 10% of any blend)

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17
Q

What is the target ABV for Cognac’s base?

A

8.5-9.5%

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18
Q

Vine training in Cognac

A

double Guyot

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19
Q

True or False - Sulfur dioxide can be added to Cognac to stabilize the wine

A

False - it impacts the aroma too significantly

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20
Q

Chaudière d’eau-de-vie

A

Literally “spirit boiler.” Alternative name for an alembic Charentais still.

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21
Q

Première chauffe

A

First distillation in Cognac, which turns the base wine into brouillis.

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22
Q

Brouillis

A

Result of the first distillation
-26%-32% ABV

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23
Q

Bonne chauffe

A

Second distillation - takes brouillis and turns it into young, unaged Cognac

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24
Q

Cucurbite

A

Chamber that holds the brouillis for heating

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25
Q

Col de cygne

A

Literally “swan’s neck.” Curved copper pipe that guides the vapor from the chapiteau to the chauffe-vin.

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26
Q

Chauffe-vin (réchauffe-vin)

A

Vessel filled with base wine through which the col de cygne passes, allowing the vapors to heat the wine before it enters the cucurbite

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27
Q

Serpentin

A

Device used as a condenser, consisting of five large copper coils immersed in water and fed vapor by the col de cygne.

28
Q

Bassiot

A

Cylindrical tub that holds the water and the serpentin

29
Q

Maître de chai

A

cellar master

30
Q

Coupe

A

Literally “cut.” Separates the coeur from the secondes, determined by the maître de chai.

31
Q

bouilleur de cru

A

grower-distiller
-about 1/3 own their own stills
-the rest rely on mobile stills

32
Q

boulier de profession

A

professional distiller - purchases wine, distills it & then sells the resulting brandy

33
Q

Distillation requirements for Cognace

A

-Double distillation
-in a pot still - alembic Charentais - made of copper
-must be distilled over an open flame

34
Q

Forest surrounding Cognac

35
Q

Which Cognac producer uses lees the most often?

A

Rémy Martin

36
Q

Aging vessel for Cognac

A

French Oak
-typically Tronças or Limousin
-between 270-450L (most use 350L)

37
Q

Why are most chai’s near the Charente River?

A

Humidity. Promotes more alcohol loss in angel’s share without reducing the aromatic content. Accelerates agings & creates a mellow, rounded Cognac

38
Q

At what year do notes of vanilla become most pronounced in brandy?

A

10 years in oak

39
Q

what alcoholic strength will Cognac have at 50 years of aging?

A

Around 46%

40
Q

VS
***
Sélection
De Luxe
Millésime

A

“Very Superior” or Special
Minimum age of Brandy in blend - 2 years

41
Q

Supérieur
Cuvée Supérieure
Qualité Supérieure

A

Min age of brandy in blend - 3 years

42
Q

VSOP

A

Very Special Old Pale
min age - 4 years

43
Q

Réserve
Vieux
Rare
Royal

A

Min age - 4 years

44
Q

Vielle Réserve
Réserve Rare
Réserve Royale

A

min 5 years

45
Q

Napoléon
Très Vielle Réserve
Très Vieux
Héritage
Très Rare
Excellence
Suprême

A

Min age 6 years

46
Q

XO designation

A

Extra Old
As of 2018, 10 years of aging

47
Q

Hors d’Âge
Extra
Ancestral
Ancêtre
Or
Gold
Impérial

A

Min 10 years of aging

48
Q

XXO

A

Min 14 years

49
Q

Minimum ABV for Cognac after blending

50
Q

Boisé

A

a permitted additive - made by boiling oak chips in dark syrup

51
Q

What is the ideal temperature for serving Cognac?

A

64 degrees

52
Q

What is Hennessy’s Grand Reserve

53
Q

What is Martell’s Grand Reserve

54
Q

What is Rémy Martin’s Grand Reserve?

A

Louis VIII

55
Q

What is Delamain’s Grande Reserve?

A

Reserve de la Famille

56
Q

Armagnac distillation requirements

A

May occur in continuous still (Alambic “armagnacais”)
May occur in a pot still - distilled 2xs

57
Q

Aging requirements for Armagnac

A

minimum 1 year - oak casks of 400-420L

58
Q

Armagnac VS/*** age

A

1-3 years old

59
Q

Subregions of Armagnac

A

-Bas Armagnac
-Armagnac-Tenareze
-Haut Armagnac

60
Q

Soil type for Bas Armagnac

A

sand, clay & boulbènes

61
Q

Which subregion in Armagnac has the highest percentage of vineyards?

A

Bas Armagnac

62
Q

What is the primary soil type for Armagnac-Tenareze?

A

Clay & Limestone

63
Q

What is the soil type for Haut-Armagnac?

A

Chalky white soil

64
Q

What is “Floc de Gascogne”?

A

Three parts unfermented grape juice fortified with one part Armagnac
16-18%ABV
drunk as an aperitif

65
Q

What is Armagnac Blanche?

A

created from Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc and Baco - distilled early, aged for 3 months min

Advanced Somm Prep (18 decks)

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