France - Cognac/Armagnac/Calvados Flashcards
What is the only hybrid grape allowed in an AOC in France?
Baco - in Armagnac
What are the age indicators for Armagnac?
All below age indications refer to the youngest Armagnac in the blend. VS / ***: 1-3 years old VSOP / Napoléon: min 4 years old XO: min 10 years old Hors d'Age: min. 10 years old XO Premium: min. 20 years old
How old is VS Armagnac?
1-3 years old
How old is VSOP Armagnac?
Min 4 years old
How old is Napoléon Armagnac?
Min 4 years old
How old is XO Armagnac?
Min 10 years old
How old is Hors d’Age Armagnac?
Min 10 years old
How old is XO Premium Armagnac?
Min 20 years old
What is the oldest age designation for Armagnac?
XO premium
In vintage Armagnac, what does the vintage refer to?
The date of harvest, not distillation
What is the local name for Ugni Blanc in Cognac?
St. Émilion
What are the 4 large Cognac houses, and parent companies?
Hennessy (LVMH), Martell (Pernod Ricard), Courvoisier (Suntory), and Rémy Martin (Remy Cointreau)
Name 5 quality Cognac producers (beyond the big 4)
Camus, Hine, Delamain, Pierre Ferrand, Navarre, Guillon Painturaud
What is the newest age designation in Cognac?
XXO Cognac - min. 14 years
What does “Fine Champagne” mean in Cognac?
min. 50% eaux-de-vie sourced from Grande Champagne, with the remainder sourced from Petite Champagne
XO Cognac must be at least what age?
10 years - increased from 6 years in 2018
What are the various terms for Cognac with at least 6 years aging?
Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve:
Cognac with min. 5 years aging may be called:
VVSOP / Grande Réserve
What are the three terms for Cognac of at least 4 years aging?
VO / VSOP / Réserve
The term “Supérieur” on a Cognac means it has been aged for how long?
a minimum of 3 years
What terms may be used for Cognac with 2 years of age?
VS / *** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix:
What grapes are permitted in Cognac?
Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc; plus a max. 10% Folignan (Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc)
Which grapes are being phased out in Cognac (by 2020)?
Jurançon Blanc, Meslier-St-François, and Sélect
Min. alcohol and aging of Cognac?
40%, min. 2 years in oak
If Cognac is labeled with a subzone, what percent of the eaux-de-vie must from from that zone?
100%
Soils of Grande and Petite Champagne
Limestone and soft chalk
Soils of Fins Bois?
“groies” (hard red limestone) and clay
Soils of Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires:
Sand
When was the Cognac AOP established
1936 - area delimited in 1909
What are the four AOPs for Armagnac?
Bas Armagnac, Armagnac-Ténarèze AOC, Blanche Armagnac AOC, Haut Armagnac AOC
What still types are allowed in Armagnac?
Continuous Still (Alembic “armagnacais”), copper pot still (must go through 2 distillations)
Aging for Blance vs. Haut/Bas/Tenereze Armagnac
Blanche is 3 mo. in inert container, no color additives may be used. Haut/Bas/Tenereze must age for a min. 1 year in oak.
Soil types in Armagnac
Haut - Chalk, clay, limestone; Tenereze - clay-limestone, boulbenes; Bas - silicious-clay soils with sand and boulbenes
Who produces a Grande Champagne cognac?
Delmain
Name an Armagnac producer from each subzone:
Bas: Château de Laubade; Haut: Château Arton (Haut armagnacs are few and far between); Château de Pellehaut
Which armagnac region producers the most?
Bas
Name 5 high quality Calvados producers
Christian Drouin, Adrien Camut, Eric Bordelet, Lemorton, Dupont
