Cognac/Armagnac/Brandy Other Flashcards
Name the six defined regions of production for cognac in descending order of quality
Grande Champagne Petite Champagne Borderies Fins Bois Bons Bois Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs).
What does the word champagne mean in cognac?
Champagne” in Cognac does not indicate sparkling wine; rather it is a reflection of the word’s etymological origin—a derivation of the Latin word for “plain”—and a similarity in soil.
How is Cognanc distilled?
Twice in a copper charentais pot still
What is the first distillation of cognac called?
Brouillis
What is the second distillation of cognac called?
bonne chauffe
What are the ageing requirements for V.S. /*** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix Cognac?
What is VS an abbreviation for?
indicates at least 2 years in cask
Very Special
What are the ageing requirements for VO / V.S.O.P. Cognac? What is VSOP an abbreviation for?
indicates at least for 4 years in cask
Very Special or Superior Old Pale
What are the ageing requirements for XO/Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve cognac?
What is XO an abbreviation for?
indicates at least 6 years in cask
Prior to 2018 XO indicated at least 6 years in cask. As of 2018 the requirement has been raised to 10 years. In practice, the better producers age their brandies much longer, and many XO Cognacs will be aged for at least fifteen or twenty years prior to release
What type of wood is cognac aged in?
Troncais: Sessile, fine grain (timber forest)
Limousin: Pedunculate, wide grain (natural forest)
Where is the Cognac AOC located?
Northeast of the Bordeaux region
Where is the Armagnac region located?
Southeast of Bordeaux
What are the three regions of production in Armagnac?
Haut-Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac
Armagnac-Ténarèze
What are the grapes of Armagnac?
Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche (Picpoul), and Baco Blanc (the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOC/P appellation). Unlike Cognac, Armagnac is more frequently produced from a blend of varieties than a single grape.
How is Armagnac distilled?
95% of brandy from this region undergoes only one distillation in a copper continuous still.
But can be distilled twice in a copper pot still
What is Blanche Armagnac AOC?
An appellation for a young armagnac bottled after 3 months in an inert cask. It is a clear spirit.
What are the ageing requirements for VS or *** Armagnac?
The spirit has rested in barrel for between 1 and 3 years
What are the ageing requirements for VSOP Armagnac?
The spirit has rested in barrel for between 4 and 9 years
What are the ageing requirements for XO and Hors d’Age Armagnac?
The spirit has rested in barrel for 10+ years
What were the Armagnac ageing requirements prior to 2013?
VS indicated that the youngest eau de vie in the blend was aged for at least 2 years in wood, VSOP indicated at least 5 years, and XO promised at least 6 years of oak aging prior to release. However, the Bureau National Interprofessionel de l’Armagnac (BNIA), which oversees production, has simplified the grading system
What is the minimum ABV for Armagnac?
40%
What are the ageing requirements for vintage Armagnac?
A minimum of 10 years in cask before release
What is the EU definition of Brandy
Brandy is defined by the EU as a distillation of wine—not pomace—with a minimum abv of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of six months.
How much of the eau de vie must originate from the area if the area is named on a cognac label?
100%
What does Fine Champagne mean on a cognac label?
Fine Champagne Cognac is distilled entirely from wines produced in the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions, with Grande Champagne composing at least 50% of the blend.
What are the grapes of cognac?
Ugni Blanc (98% of plantings) Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, plus a max. 10% Folignan (Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc)
What are the ageing requirements for XXO cognac?
indicates at least 14 years in cask
What are the ageing requirements for VVSOP / Grand Reserve cognac?
indicates at least 5 years in cask
If cognac carries a vintage date does it refer to the year of harvest or the year of distillation?
Year of Harvest
What are the ageing cellars known as in Armagnac?
Chai
What is Grand Bas Armagnac?
The most famous area within Bas Armagnac within the county of Les Landes
Discuss 1985 Delord Armagnac
- Established in 1893 now 4th generation distillers
- 42 hectares of vineyards divided into 11 parcels, is located in the village of Lannepax. It is made up of the four traditional Armagnac grape varieties: Ugni Blanc 56%, Colombard 24%, Baco 14% and Folle-Blanche 6%. All year round, Rinaldo, the vineyard manager, takes the greatest of care of the vines throughout their development.
- One of the only Armagnac houses using the two methods of distillation; the continuous distillation method that is typical for Armagnac and the double distillation
A deep topaz Bas-Armagnac, the nose is very rich with notes of wood, candied orange and vanilla. The mouth is just as rich with aromas of dried flowers and fruit stones before finishing on very fine spicy notes
Discuss 1981 Francis DArroze Domaine de Busquet
Darroze has to be considered the top negoçiant in Armagnac. Francis’ father had an extraordinary restaurant in the region where Armagnacs from local producers were served. Francis purchased these in larger lots and began selling them around the world. His son Marc has now taken over the affair. Methods have remained the same: Darroze contracts Armagnacs distilled at the property (usually with heavy Baco proportions), then the young spirit is shifted to the Darroze chai, where they are meticulously raised. Releases are at cask strength and they always bear the domaine name and bottling date.
- Busquet is a little estate in the village of Labastide d’Armagnac in Les Lande. With its exceptional terroir and grapes thriving on its sandy soils, the estate produces fine Bas Armagnacs with lots of richness and character made from the Baco grape.
-
What is the name of the protected designation for brandies in Spain?
Brandy de Jerez
How is Brandy de Jerez distilled and what are the common grape varieties? What type of casks are used>
- distilled in copper stills (alquitaras) from wines based on 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.
What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandies labelled Solera?
Aged for an average of one year
What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandie labelled Solera Reserva?
Aged for an average of 3 years
What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandies labelled Solera Gran Reserva?
Aged for an average of 10 years
Name some producers of Spanish Brandy
Domecq
Emilio Lustau
Osborne
Equipo Navazos
What is the difference between brandy and Marc?
Marc is a pomace spirit produced from pomace—the remnants left after pressing grapes—rather than wine and are therefore not brandies, but they share similar characteristics
