Buy Cognac & Armagnac

Cognac and Armagnac

Iconic French eaux-de-vie, Cognac and Armagnac are world-renowned spirits celebrated for their remarkable aromatic complexity.

But do you know how these two spirits are produced ? Do you know their differences and similarities? Follow the guide.

Terroirs, grape varieties, and production

First of all, Cognac and Armagnac are two spirits produced from the same raw material : white grapes.

Thus, the initial stages of their production process are similar to those of wine: harvesting the grapes, pressing to extract the juice, and alcoholic fermentation. Once the wines are obtained, distillation then takes place to concentrate the alcohol and aromas. Finally, the distillate is subsequently aged in oak barrels for several years.

Nevertheless, there are many specific characteristics unique to each of these eaux-de-vie.<|endoftext|>

First of all, for Cognac, the grapes must be grown north of Bordeaux (mainly in the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments), while the Armagnac vineyards are located in the Southwest, 300 km further south. The two terroirs are therefore different, and this difference inevitably influences the spirits produced.

Thus, the soils in the Cognac region are renowned for being particularly chalky, whereas the Armagnac terroir is mainly sandy, although some areas are also clay-limestone and clay-siliceous.

In order to further distinguish certain terroirs and highlight the quality of specific eaux-de-vie, the Cognac and Armagnac regions are themselves subdivided into several crus.

Cognac is thus divided into 6 crus : Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires, with the first two being renowned as the highest quality.

For its part, Armagnac is categorized into 3 sub-regions : Bas-Armagnac, Haut-Armagnac, and Armagnac-Ténarèze. 

Furthermore, while both spirits primarily use the Ugni Blanc grape variety, Armagnac producers more frequently use other varieties, such as Baco or Folle Blanche.

Regarding distillation, there are also differences. Cognac must be produced using double distillation in pot stills heated over an open flame.Armagnac, on the other hand, is largely produced using short column stills.

Finally, it should also be noted that vintage Armagnacs (made from the harvest of a single year) are much more common. Cognacs, for their part, are predominantly produced through blends of different vintages.

Do Cognac and Armagnac have different tastes?

It can be difficult, even for a professional, to distinguish a Cognac from an Armagnac in a blind tasting. Indeed, while there are taste differences, these are more pronounced in the youth of both spirits. In fact, long aging in barrels tends to bring the aromatic profiles of the two eaux-de-vie closer together.

Thus, Cognac is generally identified by aromas of raisins and violet, while Armagnac offers a lighter and more floral aromatic profile, also expressing notes of candied fruits such as prune. After many years of aging in barrels, both spirits tend to develop a mellowed oak character as well as notes of vanilla, sweet spices, and citrus peel.

Age Statements

Cognac and Armagnac may display certain statements specifying their aging duration in wood after distillation. All the indications below refer to the age of the youngest spirit present in the blend of a bottle.

For Cognac:

-VS (Very Special) : minimum aging of 2 years in oak barrels.

-VSOP (Very Special Old Pale): minimum aging of 4 years in oak barrels.

-XO (Extra Old): minimum aging of 10 years in oak barrels. Hors d’âge is here a synonym for XO.

For Armagnac:

-Blanche d’Armagnac: minimum aging of 3 months in stainless steel tanks.

-VS (Very Special) : minimum aging of 1 year in oak barrels.

-VSOP (Very Special Old Pale): minimum aging of 4 years in oak barrels.

-XO (Extra Old): minimum aging of 6 years in oak barrels.

-Hors d’âge: minimum aging of 10 years in wood.

As you will have understood, while Cognac and Armagnac are two exceptional eaux-de-vie that showcase the great French expertise in distillation, they nevertheless have many differences that help to better understand their uniqueness.

Set out to discover them and satisfy your thirst for curiosity ! And if you need advice, do not hesitate to contact La Cave Éclairée directly!