French Spirits Flashcards
Where would you find the Monlezun Barrels being used?
Armagnac
(local forest, black oak trees)
(also Montguilhem barrels)
Regions of Cognac in descending order of quality.
Grande Champagne Petite Champagne Borderies Fins Bois Bons Bois Bois Ordinaires
Local name for Ugni Blanc in Cognac?
St Emilion
What is the name of the first distillation of Cognac and its ABV range?
“brouillis” (28-32%)
What is “Bonne Chauffe”
The name for the second distillation of Cognac.
(decided into: tete / Coeur / Secondes / Queue
Which part of the “Bonne Chauffe” becomes Cognac?
Coeur (about 40% of total)
about 70% abv - into barrel
What is the age requirement for an XO cognac?
- 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)
What other styles of Cognac share the same age requirements as XO cognac?
Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve
What is the only Hybrid grape authorized for an AOP in France and where would you find it?
Baco Blanc (Baco 22A)
(Folle Blanche X Noah)
(Armagnac)
(along with Ugni Blanc / Folle Blanc (Picpoul) / Colombard)
What are the sub zones of Armagnac and their soil composition?
Bas - sables fauves (Iron rich sand) boulbenes (limestone)
Tenareze -
clay-limestone
Haut -
chalk, clay and limestone
What are the age requirements for Armagnac?
VS or *** :
1-3yrs
VSOP or Napoleon:
min 4yrs old
XO :
Min 10yrs
Hors d’Age:
min 10yrs
XO Premium:
min 20yrs
What is “Coupage”?
a selection of barrels from the cellar for Armagnac.
What is the min age of a vintage armagnac?
10yrs
Is Chaptalization allowed in Armagnac?
NO
When must the distillation be completed for Armagnac?
March 31, following harvest
What is the max capacity for the first distillation of Armagnac?
140ltrs
30ltrs for second
What is the min age requirement for an Armagnac - Tenarez AOC XO Preimium
XO Premium: min. 20 years
What is “Remiage”
name of the second masceration in Calvados production
How long is the waiting period after the extraction of must in the production of Calvados?
min 28 days
What are the ageing requirements of AOC Calvados?
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
What would “Production Fermière” indicate on a label?
(For basically all distilled French spirits)
The production took place on the same estate where the fruit was grown.
What is the label term to indicate a spirit was made on the same estate where the fruit was grown?
“Production Fermière”
What is the max yield for “En Basse Tige”
“Haute Tige”: 188 hl/ha (cidre/poiré)
“En Basse Tige”: 263 hl/ha (cidre/poiré)
What are Briz-Kanning, Juliana and Judor examples of?
Acidic Apples for Calvados production.
What are Amer Blanc, Jaketig, Carabine examples of?
Phenolic apples for Calvados production
How much pear must a Calvados from the Domfrontais subregion contain?
min 30%
What is the encepagment of an orchard for Domfrontais?
Apple Orchards - min 70% (phenolic) + max. 15% (acidic)
min 20% “local” varieties
min 25% pear trees (from 2016 forward)
What is the encepagment for an orchard in Pays d’Auge?
Apple Orchards - min 70% (phenolic) + max. 15% (acidic)
min 20% “local” varieties
At least 20% of the apple orchard must contain “local” varieties
What is the difference between Fin de Bourgogne and Marc de Bourgogne?
Fine - made from left over lees concentrated wine
Marc - made from Pomace
(Same for all Fin VS Marc)
Name 3 types of Cherries not allowed in the production of Kirsch de Fougerolles AOC
Table cherries
sour cherries
Montmorency
(only red and black cherries allowed)
Au Château and Béchat are examples of what?
authorized cherry varieties for Kirsch Fougerolles production
What is a Bo?
Traditional bottle used for Kirsch
70cl
What is Esprit de Cognac and what is its purpose?
Product of the 3rd distillation.
Primarily for Sparkling wine production.
(80-85 min ABV)
Where is Eaux-de-Vie de Cidre du Maine produced?
Loire Valley
(esentially Calvados from the Loire)
Also:
Eaux-de-Vie de Cidre de Bretagne
If a sub zone is stand on a label of Cognac, what % must be from that sub zone?
100%
What are the three AOC for Calvados?
Calvados AOC
Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC
Calvados Donfrontais AOC
Which AOC of Calvados is landlocked?
Calvados Donfrontais AOC
