Armagnac

Question 1

Which is older, Armagnac or Cognac?

Answer 1

Armagnac

Question 2

Where is Armagnac located?

Answer 2

The department of Gers, southeast of Bordeaux in Gascogne.

Question 3

What are the three subregions of Armagnac?

Answer 3

Bas-Armagnac
Tenareze
Haut-Armagnac

Question 4

What region is considered to have the highest quality of Armagnac?

Answer 4

Bas-Armagnac

Question 5

What is boulbenes?

Answer 5

A unique soil found in Bas-Armagnac consisting of sand, chalk, clay and stones

Question 6

What region in Armagnac produces the largest amount of grapes?

Answer 6

Bas-Armagnac

Question 7

What is Tenareze?

Answer 7

The central growing region of Armagnac, with a higher amount of chalk in the soil. Produces spirits that are round and complex.

Question 8

What is Haut-Armagnac?

Answer 8

The most easterly part of Armagnac, creating the lightest spirits. Only grows a small amount of grapes for Armagnac, most used for wine and fortified wine.

Question 9

What are most of the grapes grown in the Haut-Armagnac area used for?

Answer 9

Vin de Pays Cotes de Gascogne (wine)
Floc de Gascogne (vin de liqueur - fortified wine)

Question 10

What is the most used grape for Armagnac?

Answer 10

Ugni Blanc

Question 11

How many grape varieties are allowed to be used in the production of armagnac?

Answer 11

10

Question 12

What are considered the four most important grapes in the production of armagnac?

Answer 12

Ugni Blanc
Baco Blanc
Folle Blanche
Colombard

Question 13

What percentage of grapes used for the production of Armagnac are Ugni Blanc?

Answer 13

Nearly 60%

Question 14

What is Baco Blanc?

Answer 14

A hybrid grape produced from crossing the American Noah grape X Folle Blanche.

Question 15

What percentage of grapes used in Armagnac production are Baco blanc?

Answer 15

Just over 30%

Question 16

What does Ugni Blanc provide to Armagnac?

Answer 16

Raisin and Floral character and acidity

Question 17

What is an added benefit of the acidity in Ugni Blanc in Cognac and Armagnac production?

Answer 17

It helps to protect the juice and wine from spoilage before distillation.

Question 18

What does Baco Blanc add to Armagnac?

Answer 18

Fruitiness (dried fig and dried prune), earthiness, and weight.

Question 19

What does Folle Blanche provide to Armagnac?

Answer 19

Added subtlety and pronounced fruity and floral aromas.

Question 20

What percentage of grapes grown in Armagnac are Folle Blanche?

Answer 20

1% of total vine area.

Question 21

What does Colombard add to Armagnac?

Answer 21

A spicy, peppery aromas.

Question 22

What is an Alambic Armagnacais?

Answer 22

The name for the still used to produce Armagnac.

Question 23

What are the main parts of an Alambic Armagnacais?

Answer 23

Column
Col de Cygne (Swan’s neck)
Wine heater
Condenser
Heat Source

Question 24

What type of heat is used in the production of Armagnac?

Answer 24

Direct heat - both gas and wood burners are used.

Question 25

How does wine enter the still in Armagnac production?

Answer 25

Cold wine enters the still and fills the condenser.

Question 26

What acts as the coolant in the condenser in an Alambic Armagnacais?

Answer 26

Cold wine entering the still.

Question 27

Are the grapes in Armagnac production fermented together or separately?

Answer 27

Separately.

Question 28

What is the normal ABV for Armagnac when it is taken off the still

Answer 28

52-72%, most aim for close to 60%.

Question 29

What are some ways distillers can manage alambic armagnacais to eliminate Group 1 and Group 3 fractions?

Answer 29

Temperature Control Devices that remove some heads (wine cooled condenser). Devices that remove tales

Question 30

What are two ways Armagnac distillers can remove Group 3 fractions by devices installed on stills?

Answer 30

Wine cooled condensing unit on col de Cygne (vapors are at their hottest here), Liquid drawn from top of worm in wine heater (only the least volatile fraction condense here because it's the hottest part of the wine heater.

Question 31

How are distillers able to control the temperature in an alambic armagnacais to separate fractions?

Answer 31

Control the flow of wine into the still Increase or decrease the flow of wine into the dephlegmator.

Question 32

What effect does the speed of wine flowing into the still affect the temperature in Armagnac production?

Answer 32

Speeding up the flow of wine cools the top of the column, slowing down the flow allows the top to warm up.

Question 33

What is the aging requirement for Three-star (V.S.) Armagnac?

Answer 33

One year in wood.

Question 34

What Armagnac may be bottled as a vintage spirit?

Answer 34

Armagnac with a minimum of 10 years aging, produced from the harvest of a single year, dated for the harvest year.

Question 35

What is Blanche Armagnac

Answer 35

Legally classified as a wine spirit rather than brandy, not required to be oak aged but is matured for a minimum of three months in inert containers.

Question 36

When was the Blanche Armagnac AOC approved?

Answer 36

2005

Question 37

What is the aging requirement for VSOP Armagnac?

Answer 37

Minimum 4 years in oak.

Question 38

What is the minimum aging time for XO Armagnac?

Answer 38

10 years in oak

Question 39

What is the minimum aging time for Hors d'Age Armagnac?

Answer 39

Minimum 10 years in oak, although most in this category aged much longer.

Question 40

What are the aging requirements for XO Premium Armagnac?

Answer 40

Minimum 20 years in oak.

Question 41

When is aging considered to begin for both Cognac and Armagnac

Answer 41

April 1st of the year following harvest.

Question 42

What are some additives permitted in both Armagnac and Cognac production?

Answer 42

Faibles/Petites Eaux Boise Caramel Color Sugar Rancio additives

Question 43

Is Chill filtration used in Armagnac production?

Answer 43

Yes, almost universally.

Question 44

What must the ABV be for wine to be fermented in Armagnac production?

Answer 44

7.5-12% ABV

Question 45

Can Armagnac producers use a pot still similar to those used in Cognac?

Answer 45

Yes, but they most also own and use and alambic armagnacais.

Question 46

What must an alambic armagnacais be made of?

Answer 46

100% copper

Question 47

What is the maximum number of plates permitted for an alambic armagnacais?

Answer 47

17

Question 48

What type of condenser is required for the alambic armagnacais?

Answer 48

Worm tub

Question 49

If a sub-region appears on an Armagnac label, what percentage of grapes must have come from the stated region?

Answer 49

100%

Question 50

If a vintage date appears on a label, what percentage of the grapes must have come from the stated year?

Answer 50

100%

Question 51

What can potentially be an issue for Armagnacs that are not aged for a long enough period?

Answer 51

They may show unattractive levels of Group 1 fractions since the heads are not generally separated from the hearts in Armagnac production.

Question 52

What can be a potential issue for Cognac and Armagnacs fresh off the still?

Answer 52

They may feel sharp or even coarse, as Group 3 fractions are not systematically removed.

Question 53

What is the general character of Armagnac and Cognac spirits made earlier in the season?

Answer 53

Brighter, fresh apple aromas and a lean texture.

Question 54

What is the general character of Armagnac and Cognac spirits made later in the season?

Answer 54

Richer, more mouth-filling with dried raisin aromas.

Question 55

What is an Armagnac still?

Answer 55

An early, small-scale version of a continuous still. A small hybrid still, a pot with a continuous feed topped off with a short rectifying column.

Question 56

What are the six lesser used grapes permitted for use in Armagnac?

Answer 56

Clairette de Gascogne (Blance Dame) Meslier Saint-Francois Plant de Graisse Jurancon Blanc Mauzac Blanc Mauzac Rose

Question 57

What type of wood is used for aging Armagnac?

Answer 57

Black oak from the Monlezun Forest. Also some Limousin.

Question 58

What does Monlezun black oak bring to Armagnac?

Answer 58

High tannin content, attributing to Armagnac's flavor and color.

Question 59

How is Monlezun black oak used for Armagnac distillation?

Answer 59

Many producers use Monlezun black oak for an initial period of time and then transfer to other barrels so not too many tannins. Older oak is used for lengthier maturation.

Question 60

What are some leading brands of Armagnac?

Answer 60

Delord Castarede Marie Duffau Chateau de Laubade Chabot Duc de Loussac Jollite Domaine d'Esperance