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.