French Spirits

Question 1

Where would you find the Monlezun Barrels being used?

Answer 1

Armagnac
(local forest, black oak trees)
(also Montguilhem barrels)

Question 2

Regions of Cognac in descending order of quality.

Answer 2

Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fins Bois
Bons Bois
Bois Ordinaires

Question 3

Local name for Ugni Blanc in Cognac?

Answer 3

St Emilion

Question 4

What is the name of the first distillation of Cognac and its ABV range?

Answer 4

“brouillis” (28-32%)

Question 5

What is “Bonne Chauffe”

Answer 5

The name for the second distillation of Cognac.

(decided into: tete / Coeur / Secondes / Queue

Question 6

Which part of the “Bonne Chauffe” becomes Cognac?

Answer 6

Coeur (about 40% of total)

about 70% abv - into barrel

Question 7

What is the age requirement for an XO cognac?

Answer 7

• VS / *** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix:
  min 2yrs
• Supérieur:
  min 3yrs
• VO / VSOP / Réserve:
  min 4yrs
• VVSOP / Grande Réserve:
  min 5yrs
• XO / Napoléon / Extra / Royal /
  Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve:
  min 6yrs
  (in 2018 “XO” will indicate min 10yrs)

Question 8

What other styles of Cognac share the same age requirements as XO cognac?

Answer 8

Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve

Question 9

What is the only Hybrid grape authorized for an AOP in France and where would you find it?

Answer 9

Baco Blanc (Baco 22A)
(Folle Blanche X Noah)
(Armagnac)
(along with Ugni Blanc / Folle Blanc (Picpoul) / Colombard)

Question 10

What are the sub zones of Armagnac and their soil composition?

Answer 10

Bas - 
sables fauves (Iron rich sand) boulbenes (limestone)

Tenareze -
clay-limestone

Haut -
chalk, clay and limestone

Question 11

What are the age requirements for Armagnac?

Answer 11

VS or *** :
1-3yrs

VSOP or Napoleon:
min 4yrs old

XO :
Min 10yrs

Hors d’Age:
min 10yrs

XO Premium:
min 20yrs

Question 12

What is “Coupage”?

Answer 12

a selection of barrels from the cellar for Armagnac.

Question 13

What is the min age of a vintage armagnac?

Answer 13

10yrs

Question 14

Is Chaptalization allowed in Armagnac?

Answer 14

NO

Question 15

When must the distillation be completed for Armagnac?

Answer 15

March 31, following harvest

Question 16

What is the max capacity for the first distillation of Armagnac?

Answer 16

140ltrs

30ltrs for second

Question 17

What is the min age requirement for an Armagnac - Tenarez AOC XO Preimium

Answer 17

XO Premium: min. 20 years

Question 18

What is “Remiage”

Answer 18

name of the second masceration in Calvados production

Question 19

How long is the waiting period after the extraction of must in the production of Calvados?

Answer 19

min 28 days

Question 20

What are the ageing requirements of AOC Calvados?

Answer 20

Fine / Trois Étoiles / Trois Pommes / VS: min 2yrs

Vieux / Réserve: min 3yrs

VO / VSOP / Vieille Réserve: min 4yrs

Hors d’Age / XO / Très Vieille Réserve /
Très Vieux / Extra / Napoléon: min. 6yrs

Question 21

What would “Production Fermière” indicate on a label?

Answer 21

(For basically all distilled French spirits)

The production took place on the same estate where the fruit was grown.

Question 22

What is the label term to indicate a spirit was made on the same estate where the fruit was grown?

Answer 22

“Production Fermière”

Question 23

What is the max yield for “En Basse Tige”

Answer 23

“Haute Tige”: 188 hl/ha (cidre/poiré)

“En Basse Tige”: 263 hl/ha (cidre/poiré)

Question 24

What are Briz-Kanning, Juliana and Judor examples of?

Answer 24

Acidic Apples for Calvados production.

Question 25

What are Amer Blanc, Jaketig, Carabine examples of?

Answer 25

Phenolic apples for Calvados production

Question 26

How much pear must a Calvados from the Domfrontais subregion contain?

Answer 26

min 30%

Question 27

What is the encepagment of an orchard for Domfrontais?

Answer 27

Apple Orchards - min 70% (phenolic) + max. 15% (acidic) min 20% "local" varieties min 25% pear trees (from 2016 forward)

Question 28

What is the encepagment for an orchard in Pays d'Auge?

Answer 28

Apple Orchards - min 70% (phenolic) + max. 15% (acidic) min 20% "local" varieties At least 20% of the apple orchard must contain "local" varieties

Question 29

What is the difference between Fin de Bourgogne and Marc de Bourgogne?

Answer 29

Fine - made from left over lees concentrated wine Marc - made from Pomace (Same for all Fin VS Marc)

Question 30

Name 3 types of Cherries not allowed in the production of Kirsch de Fougerolles AOC

Answer 30

Table cherries sour cherries Montmorency (only red and black cherries allowed)

Question 31

Au Château and Béchat are examples of what?

Answer 31

authorized cherry varieties for Kirsch Fougerolles production

Question 32

What is a Bo?

Answer 32

Traditional bottle used for Kirsch | 70cl

Question 33

What is Esprit de Cognac and what is its purpose?

Answer 33

Product of the 3rd distillation. Primarily for Sparkling wine production. (80-85 min ABV)

Question 34

Where is Eaux-de-Vie de Cidre du Maine produced?

Answer 34

Loire Valley (esentially Calvados from the Loire) Also: Eaux-de-Vie de Cidre de Bretagne

Question 35

If a sub zone is stand on a label of Cognac, what % must be from that sub zone?

Answer 35

100%

Question 36

What are the three AOC for Calvados?

Answer 36

Calvados AOC Calvados Pays d'Auge AOC Calvados Donfrontais AOC

Question 37

Which AOC of Calvados is landlocked?

Answer 37

Calvados Donfrontais AOC