Cognac Flashcards
(139 cards)
1
Q
What is the full name of cognac?
A
eau-de-vie de Cognac
eau-de-vie des Charentes
2
Q
What are the six crus of Cognac?
A
Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fin Bois
Bons Bois
Bois Ordinaires
3
Q
Which growing districts in Cognac have the highest amounts of chalk in the soil?
A
Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
4
Q
What does bois mean?
A
Forest
5
Q
What is the origin of the term Borderies related to Cognac?
A
In the cognac area, it refers to sharecroppers’ farms that used to be located in the area now referred to as Borderies.
6
Q
What is the name of the river that flows through the Cognac region?
A
The Charente.
7
Q
What is the soil like in Grande Champagne?
A
Well-drained chalk soil layered over limestone and sandstone bedrock.
8
Q
What two growing districts are considered the highest in quality in Cognac?
A
Grande Champagne (highest)
Petite Champagne (second)
9
Q
Which is larger, Grande Champagne or Petite Champagne?
A
Petite Champagne
10
Q
Which Cognac growing regions are entirely south of the Charente River?
A
Grand Champagne and Petite Champagne
11
Q
Which Cognac growing region is located to the north of the Charente River?
A
Borderies.
12
Q
Which Cognac growing region is the smallest geographically?
A
Borderies
13
Q
What is the soil like in Borderies?
A
Predominantly clay with some chalk.
14
Q
Which growing area in Cognac accounts for the most plantings, and what percentage of grapes used for Cognac is planted in the region?
A
Fins Bois
40%
15
Q
Where is Fins Bois?
A
It encircles Grande and Petite Champagne as well as Borderies.
16
Q
Where is Bon Bois?
A
It surrounds the Fins Bois in a large loop.
17
Q
What percentage of Bon Bois is planted to grapes for use in Cognac?
A
5%
18
Q
How are the grapes of Bon Bois described?
A
Not as ordinary as Bois Ordinaires and not as fine as Fins Bois.
19
Q
What is the primary grape used in Cognac?
A
Ugni Blanc
20
Q
What is Ugni Blanc also known as in the Cognac region?
A
Saint Emilion
21
Q
What percentage of the standard base wine used for cognac is Ugni Blanc?
A
90%
22
Q
What percentage of vines grown in Cognac are Ugni Blanc?
A
98%
23
Q
When are the grapes harvested, pressed and fermented for cognac?
A
Harvested in October and November, pressed immediately, and fermented into a thin wine with low alcohol and high acidity.
24
Q
What is Boisé?
A
A liquid (type of oak extract) produced by boiling chips of new oak. Adds oak flavor and some coloration to cognac.
25
What is a Bonifacateur?
A cognac term used liberally for material used as an addition in blending.
26
What is the more traditional example of a bonificateur?
A small amount of a very high quality spirit (reserved, extended age, or otherwise exemplary) added to cognac to add depth and dimension.
27
Why is boisé allowed in cognac?
Even though it is a flavoring, it is allowed under the exception that it is a "traditional production method."
28
What is the French term for the first stage of distillation of cognac?
Première Chauffe.
29
What is the name of the two stage process for Cognac distillation?
À repasse
30
What is the term for the distillate produced by the first stage of distillation of cognac?
Brouillis
31
What is the normal ABV for Brouillis?
28-32%
32
What is the French term for the second stage distillation of cognac?
Bonne Chauffe.
33
What are the different portions of the second distillation (Bonne Chauffe) run when making cognac?
Tête (heads)
Coeur (heart)
Secondes (second cuts)
Queue (tails)
34
What happens with the têtes and queues from the production of Cognac?
They are always recycled with the wine.
35
What part of the distillation will be taken off to be used for cognac?
The coeur (heart)
36
At what strength is the heart (coeur) of cognac taken off the still?
Between 58-70% (max allowed is 72.4%)
37
What is the effect on cognac of adding the secondes back into the base wine and then redistilling?
It results in a lighter style of spirit, less concentrated with congeners. Favored by Martell Cognac House.
38
What is the effect on cognac of adding the têtes and secondes to the brouillis?
Results in a deeper, richer spirit. Favored by the Rémy Cognac House.
39
How do Cognac distillers remove Group 3 fractions?
Turning off the still early
Creating flavors (through barrels)
Adjusting the cut points.
40
What is the effect of dividing the secondes (adding half to base wine and half to brouillis) have on Cognac?
Produces a spirit somewhere between the lighter style of Martell and the richer style of Rémy. Hennessey Cognac House often uses this method.
41
How is Cognac distilled?
Double pot-distilled using a alambic charentais.
42
What is a Charentais?
The term used for the traditional alembic or pot still used in cognac production.
43
Is sulfuring allowed in cognac production?
No.
44
What type of presses are not allowed in Cognac production?
Screw presses.
45
What is a Chapiteau in Cognac production?
The section of the still that sits above the pot.
46
What is a Col de Cygne in Cognac production?
Literally translated as swan's neck, it is the piping that links the pot to the condenser (like the lyne arm in Scottish stills)
47
What type of condenser is required in Cognac production?
Worm tub condensers.
48
What is the maximum size and capacity allowed during the first distillation (premiere chauffe) of Cognac?
140 Hectoliters (hL) (3080 gallons), filled to 120 hL (2640 gallons)
49
What is the maximum size and capacity allowed during the second distillation (bonne Chauffe) of Cognac?
30 Hectoliters (hL) (660 gallons), filled to 25 hL (550 gallons)
50
What type of heat is required for Cognac distillation?
Direct heat.
51
How are most stills heated today in Cognac production?
Gas burners applying direct heat.
52
What is a wine heater in a Cognac still (Alambic Charentais)?
Not found on every still, vapors passing from the still to the condenser via the Col de Cygne pre-heat wines that will be entering the pot.
53
What is the minimum time that cognac must mature in oak?
2 years.
54
From what oak are most barrels for aging most cognac made?
Limousin
55
What is a Chai?
A well-ventilated aboveground warehouse used for storing Cognac.
56
What are the changes to volume and ABV due to Cognac's climate?
A loss of 3-4% per year volume, as well as a decrease around 2% ABV per year.
57
What are bonbonnes?
Large glass containers (known elsewhere as demijohns) enabling cognac to maintain its required ABV of 40% while continuing to age.
58
What is a paradis?
A section of a cognac cellar where very old spirits are often stored.
59
What are the levels of cognac?
*** (3 stars, VS, Very Special)
Superieur
VSOP, Reserve, Vieux, Very Superior Old Pale
Vieille Reserve, Reserve Rare, Reserve Royale
Napoleon, Tres Vieille Reserve, Heritage
XO, Extra, Ancestral
Hors d"age ("Beyond Age")
XXO, Extra Extra Old
60
What are the aging requirements for *** (three star), Selection, VS, Very Special Cognac?
Minimum 2 years in oak. (Compte 2)
61
What are the requirements for Superieur Cognac?
Minimum 3 years in oak. (Compte 3)
62
What are the requirements for VSOP, Reserve, Vieux, Very Superior Old Pale Cognac?
Minimum 4 years in oak. (Compte 4)
63
What are the aging requirements for Vieille Reserve, Reserve Rare, Reserve Royale Cognac?
Minimum 5 years in oak. (Compte 5)
64
What are the aging requirements for Napoleon, Tres Vielille Reserve, Heritage Cognac?
Minimum 6 years in oak. (Compte 6)
65
What are the requirements for XO, Extra and Ancestral cognac?
Minimum 10 years in oak. (Compte 10)
66
What are the requirements for Hors d'Age (Beyond age) Cognac?
Minimum 10 years in oak, but most in this category have been aged for much longer.
67
What are the requirements for XXO, Extra Extra Old cognac?
Minimum of 14 years in oak (Compte 14)
68
What are the four main cognac houses?
Hennessy
Martell
Remy Martin
Courvoisier
69
What is Remy Martin?
One of the "big four" Cognac houses.
70
Where are all of the grapes used by Remy Martin grown?
Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne.
71
Who owns Hennessy?
It is part of LVMH
72
What is Hennessy?
The largest cognac producer in the world.
73
What percentage of the cognac market does Hennessy produce?
Over 40%.
74
What is Martell?
A cognac brand that claims to be the oldest of the great Cognac Houses.
75
What is Courvoisier?
The smallest of the four largest cognac houses.
76
What percentage of cognac is produced by the four largest cognac houses?
Nearly 80%
77
What does elevage refer to in cognac production?
The maturation and finishing of cognac.
78
What is an Acquit Regional Jaune d'Or?
A "golden certificate", warranting that a cognac has been produced and distilled in Cognac.
79
How do most Cognac producers source their wine?
They buy grapes, wine, and/or brandy from other producers.
80
What are the two types of warehouses (cellars) used in Cognac for aging spirits?
Wet (higher humidity)
Dry (lower humidity)
81
What is the normal ABV for the fermented wine used in Cognac production?
9-10% ABV. Must be between 7-10%ABV
82
Is it permitted to add sugar to the grape juice prior to fermentation in Cognac production?
No
83
Do distillers remove the lees prior to wine storage in Cognac production?
They always remove the gross lees, but sometimes keep the fine lees.
84
What is Vinasse?
The liquid water product from Cognac distillation.
85
Is chill filtration used in Cognac production?
Yes, almost universally.
86
What is the Compte system in Cognac production?
The system used to determine the age of Cognac. April 1st after harvest in Compte 0, the next April is Compte 1, etc.
87
What is required for a Cognac to use the term Fine Champagne on its label?
If the Cognac contains both Grande and Petite Champagne grapes, as long as at least 50% of the grapes were grown in Grande Champagne.
88
If the name of a sub-region appears on a Cognac label, what percentage of grapes must have come from the stated sub-region?
100%
89
What are the general characteristics of Cognacs and Armagnacs labeled as VS?
Bright, fruity aromas and no rancio aromas. More sharpness and sweetness than other styles.
90
What are the general characteristics of Cognacs and Armagnacs labeled as VSOP?
Some dried-fruit aromas, possibly some rancio aromas.
91
What do distillers do with the lees after fermentation?
The gross lees are always removed, but the fine lees may be included in the first distillation.
92
What is a Coupe?
In Cognac production, spirits with a similar set of characteristics, blended together in a small batch.
93
What are some criteria used in deciding which spirits will be blended together into a coupe?
Grape Variety
Vineyard location
Use of lees
When in the season the spirit was distilled
Which distiller made the spirit.
94
For how long are newly made Cognacs and Armagnacs matured in new-oak barrels?
Usually for the first year, then they are decanted into older oak.
95
What are some characteristics of spirits stored in a wet cellar in Cognac production?
They become smother and more mouth-filling over time and show more tropical fruit flavors, with a lower abv.
96
What are some characteristics of spirits stored in a dry cellar in Cognac production?
They retain a sharper texture and have nutty, cedar flavors, with a higher abv.
97
What happens to coupes as they age?
Most are blended into increasingly large batches as it comes closer to bottling time.
98
What happens to coupes that are destined for long periods of maturation?
They are consolidated into fewer and fewer barrels, and moved in the paradis.
99
What is a benefit of using syrup barrels to add sweetness rather than purchased sweeteners?
They have a fruity character from the grape juice that can add an extra dimension to a blend.
100
What are Faibles or petites eaux used for in Cognac production?
Bringing a bottle down to bottling strength.
101
Describe Grande Champagne Cognac.
Intense and elegant, with fruity and floral aromas.
102
Which growing area of Cognac produces cognac that may take twenty to thirty years to mature?
Grande Champagne.
103
What percentage of Cognac is produced in Petite Champagne?
Nearly 22% - second highest plantings in region.
104
Describe Cognacs produced from grapes in the Borderies region.
They can be quite aromatic and may provide weight and floral notes when added to a blend.
105
Describe Fins Bois.
Wide diversity of soils, maritime climate. Produces brandies that are fruity and well-balanced and mature within 15 years.
106
What is the soil type of Bon Bois?
Mostly heavy clay, some patches of chalk and limestone, especially near Petite Champagne.
107
What is another name for Bois Ordinaires?
Bois à Terroirs.
108
What is Maison Augier?
Considered to be the oldest of the cognac houses.
109
What is a montant?
The first aroma from cognac that hits the nose.
110
What is the "second nose"?
The second aroma to hit the nose while tasting cognac.
111
When was Courvoisier founded?
1843.
112
What beverage was featured in a release of a rap song by Busta Rhymes in an attempt to market to young African American consumers?
Courvoisier
113
Who currently owns Courvoisier?
Beam Suntory.
114
When was Hennessy founded?
1765.
115
Who is Hennessy named after?
Richard Hennessy, and Irishman who launched it as a brandy exporting business.
116
When was Martell founded?
1715.
117
Who was Martell named after?
A British merchant from the Channel Islands who founded the company
118
Who owns Martell?
Pernod-Ricard.
119
What is Otard?
A respected brand of Cognac focused on the European market.
120
When was Otard founded?
1794.
121
Which brand of Cognac was practically synonymous with cognac in the American South in the early to mid 1800s?
Otard.
122
Which brand of Cognac was first to trade with the United States?
Otard.
123
What is Pierre Ferrand?
A cognac house located in Ars, France.
124
What is unique about Pierre Ferrand?
It controls the entire process of cognac production itself.
125
Who makes Louis XIII?
Remy Martin.
126
Who was given an royal charter in 1738 to continue planting grapes despite a ban by Louis XV?
Remy Martin.
127
When were the boundaries of Cognac first delimited by law?
1909
128
In which Cognac growing region do the grapes ripen quickest (due to more sunshine)?
Borderies
129
What is the westernmost growing region in Cognac?
Bois Ordinaires.
130
Describe the brandies from Bois Ordinaires.
Heavier, coarser, and less preferred for creating quality cognac.
131
What is Ugni Blanc known as in Italy?
Trebbiano Toscano
132
Besides Limousin oak, what other types of oak may be used for aging cognac?
Alliers or Tronçais
133
What is Esprit de Cognac AOC
A spirit produced from a third distillation run during the production of cognac. It is not allowed to be bottled or sold as a beverage alcohol, but is allowed for use in the production of sparkling wine (including Champagne).
134
When was the Acquit Regional Jaune d'Or requirement created?
1929
135
When was Remy Martin founded?
1724.
136
What spirits producer did Remy Martin fully merge with in 1991?
Cointreau.
137
What is Baco Blanc also known as
Baco 22a
138
Other than the four largest, what are some of the important Cognac producers?
Camus
Delamain
Bertrand
Croizet
Pierre Ferrand
Gautier
Otard
Maison Augier
139
What is Saintonge?
A former province of France centered near the current Charente-Maritime department.
