COGNAC - what is it?

www.cognacnet.com

Version Française

It is a white wine produced and double distilled into an eau-de-vie. About 90% grapes used are of St.Emillion (Ugni Blanc) kind. The rest are Folle Blanche and Colombard. The grape growing, harvesting and Cognac production is accomplished in a limited and strictly controlled area of South West France. This area is characterized by chalky soil, wet winters and sunny summers and it spreads through two departments of South West France; Charente and Charente Maritime. Two small growth areas are also in the Deux Sevres and the Dordogne departments. The Cognac producing region is divided into six growths areas (crus)

• Grande Champagne; about 13,000 hectares of clay and compact chalk soil
• Petite Champagne; some 16,000 hectares of clay and a more compact chalky layer of soil
• Borderies; only 4,000 hectares of unique soil on the plateau above Charente river. The eau de vie has a slight nutty taste.
• Fins Bois; 37,000 hectares of soil. characterized by quick aging environment. A subtle flowery bouquet characterizes this eau de vie.
• Bon Bois; less chalky but more earthy soil of 16,000 hectares that is well reflected in the eau de vie
• Bois Ordinaires et Bois Communs (Bois a Terroir); 30,000 hectares of soil influenced by the Atlantic climate

Cognac is the result of blending and aging of different eau-de-vie vintages. An unblended, straight vintage Cognac is very rare and available only in small quantities.

Cognac is aged in Limousin oak casks (barrels). It's aging period is between 2 to 50plus years. Once transferred out of the oak wood casks into bottles, Cognac stops aging. To prevent cognac reacting with the cork, its bottles must be stored vertically.

The aging is a very delicate process of interaction between outside air and the alcohol inside of the oak wood cask. This interaction is accomplished through the porosity of the oak. During this process about three percent of Cognac evaporates; this loss is referred to as "the angels share". For example, to obtain 100 liters of Cognac aged over 10 years, you will need to produce about 135 liters of Cognac. Thus the "angels share" contributes to the price of Cognac.

The age is indicated on the labels. It reflects the youngest eau-de-vie used in the Cognac blend. The age is based around the legal limits during which wine is distilled; The distillation period ends at midnight of the 31st March each year. Thus the following age indication applies:

*** and V.S. (Very Special) two and half years old

V.O. (Very Old), V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale), Réserve must be at least four and half  years old

X.O.(eXtra Old), Réserve, Extra, Hors d'Age and Napoleon six and half years or older

These label designations indicate more of a taste and style of a blended Cognac.