NEW ARMAGNAC BRAND TO CHECK

Armagnac L'Encantada

K&LWINES tells us all about it!

L’Encantada is a new armagnac independent bottlerwhich has been bringing out excellent Armagnacs says K&LWines.

To understand what makes this stuff special, you have to understand a little bit about Armagnac. French brandy production, especially in Armagnac, is much different than the American distilled spirits industry. There are a few large producers, but by in large, Armagnac is made by farmers and wine makers who distill some of their extra grapes in a travelling still that comes around to the farms.

Many of them just stick the casks in their barns and basements, a little bit here, a little bit there. Eventually they will bottle them, maybe for family and friends, maybe for small markets, or sell them to a larger company that bottles brandy or even makes liqueur; it's sort of a Gascon retirement fund.

L'Encantada was essentially knocking on farm doors and asking to buy these casks.  They have casks from around seven small producers, a number of which only made brandy for a limited time, and all of their brandies are bottled at cask strength without additives.

Source and Read More at: K&LWINES.com

COPPOLA BRANDY MADE IN CALIFORNIA FROM DISTILLED DOLCETTO AND COLOMBARD GRAPES

After Gallo, the Coppola family is also getting into the brandy category.
What is going on!!!

"Maria Gaetana Agnesi 1799 Brandy from Francis Ford Coppola sourced by Family Coppola.
The grape based brandies for Agnesi 1799 are sought, sourced, and blended by The Family Coppola and our winery’s master blender from barrel stocks in California’s finest brandy distilleries.

Our initial brandy release is a blend of 2012 Dolcetto grapes from Russian River Valley and 2009 French Colombard grapes from the Central Valley. Agnesi 1799 is a true taste of California soil, ambient yeast, naturally filtered water, and warm climate of the Golden State. Through careful selection of barrels and delicate blending of water and spirit, our brandy assumes the best qualities of the artisanally-crafted individual spirits.

By sourcing brandy made in different types of stills, both Old World Alembic Charentais stills and modern column stills, and from various local grapes, we are able to craft a proprietary blend that we believe is greater than the sum of its parts." (from Coppola Website)

Small batch 5 years old Brandy!

TASTING NOTES

Nose

Layered cinnamon in front, small amount of tobacco. Hints of vanilla and almonds give it a well-rounded profile of oak characters.

Taste

Overall high complexity. Baking spices on entry. Small hints of clove. Toasted bread in mid pallet. Pleasant mouth coating, some sweetness in the mid-palate, and a silky smooth finish. Very clean overall, with some honey.

"Agnesi 1799 is as fine as any Old World sipping brandy, yet comes with no pretense that it’s above being mixed into your favorite cocktails" says Coppola.

Source & Photo: Francis Ford Coppola Brandy

1805 COGNAC SELLS IN AUCTION FOR LOTS OF MONEY

[caption id="attachment_5762" align="aligncenter" width="399"]Massougnes Cognac from 1805[/caption]

Source: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/

by Lucy Shaw

10th September, 2018 

A Napoleon era Cognac from 1805 has sold for over $260,000 at Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, making it one of the most expensive bottles of Cognac ever sold in the UK.

The bottle in question is a three-quarter gallon imperial of 1805 Cognac Massougnes and its sales price of over $260,000 makes it one of the highest value single Cognac sales in history.

The bottle was acquired by Hermitage Cognacs 20 years ago from Marie-Antoinette des Allées, Comtesse de la Bourdelière - a direct descendant of King Louis VII, whose family owns the former Cognac producing estate.

The imperial was snapped up at wine lover's delight, Hedonism in Mayfair, by an undisclosed buyer.

In 2016 a bottle of 1801 Cognac Massougnes acquired by Hermitage Cognacs was sold to an anonymous Asian buyer at Hedonism Wines for $300,000.

"In over 30 years of buying and selling Cognac, this 1805 is one of the oldest and rarest I have ever come across.

"Massougnes produced famous pre-phylloxera Cognacs and we have dated their records back to at least 1730, making them the oldest known growers and sellers of brandies," said Hermitage's managing director, David Baker.

"At its peak the property covered 346 hectares, and Marie-Antoinette, the last remaining descendant of this famous family, has written a charming note about the 'life' of this extraordinary Cognac, which was created the same year as the Battle of Trafalgar," he added.

Founded in 1987, Hermitage Cognacs specialises in the sale of old and rare Grande Champagne Cognacs from old family houses.

AMERICAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN BRANDY BLENDED TOGETHER

Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. has launched Geogr&phy Bi-Continental Brandewijn

Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. has launched Geogr&phy Bi-Continental Brandewijn ($50), a new limited release. The 54%-abv offering is a blend of copper pot-distilled American and South African brandies (51%/49% respectively) aged an extra two years in ex-Bourbon barrels.

The spirit is bottled without flavor additives or chill-filtering. Geogr&phy Bi-Continental Brandewijn is now available at the Copper & Kings distillery in Louisville, Kentucky and in select retail locations throughout the company’s distribution footprint.

Last January 2018, Constellation Brands took a minority share in Copper & Kings.

Source: The Spirits Business

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS TAKES BRANDY FIRST

 

Cognac Christmas Tree

Brandy covers a wide spectrum of fruit spirits, from the awesome grape armagnacs, pisco, grappa and brandy jerez, to the apples and pears in Calvados, or cherries in kirsch.

Brandy is warma and fits well with all Christmas dishes and it is historically correct for who wants to be traditional.

During the 19^th century, cognac, a specific type of brandy, had become the tipple for Europe, and despite relations with the French, the British championed the stuff. The Irish meanwhile kept their eyes smiling while opening their own houses – Richard Hennessy being the most renowned purveyor.

And as the American cocktail revolution took hold in the mid 19^th century, it was cognac that was at the base of classics we still venerate today. Alas, the progress of the spirit was severely hindered in the 1870s when French vineyards were attacked by the devastating phyloxera pest, and as the grape growers stewed in their wrath, whisky nipped in to claim the discerning drinking crown.

... see more details here...

Source: Life Spectator

ARMENIA IS INCREASING PRODUCTION OF BRANDY

 

Ararat 5 Years Old Armenian Brandy

Armenia is increasing their production of brandies according to the Armenian-French news magazine, Armenews, with 80% increased production.
Bid brand of brandies such as Ararat (Pernod Ricard) or Noy are looking like they are expanding sales overseas.
Looks like things are changing!

Source: Armenews
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BRANDY IS BEING REVIVED BY E&J GALLO

Argonaut Brandy is new, by E&J Gallo


[ENG] E&J Gallo, a massive and trend-making machine company in the wine & spirits industry is making news for its recent stake into the super premiun and craft brandy category in the USA. First, E&J Gallo released late July 2017 its long awaited Brandy Argonaut which is inspired by the brandy movement prior to prohibition.
Then, they acquired Brandy Germain-Robin mid-August. Clearly something huge is going to happen now!


Argonaut Brandy, 3 different styles, produced by E&J Gallo

[FR] Ca bouge dans la categorie 'Brandy' aux USA, j'ai meme envie de dire que ca bouge beaucoup.
Fin juillet 2017, E&J Gallo lance Brandy Argonaut, un brandy craft a la mode americaine, plutot Californienne devrais-je dire.
Et mi-aout 2017, E&J Gallo, encore, prend acquisition de la maison prestigieuse Brandy Germain-Robin.
Mais qu'est-ce qui se passe?

Sources: Gallo, Argonaut Brandy, Tasting Panel Magazine

BRANDY MORPHEUS, HUGE BRAND FROM INDIA

 

Brandy Morpheus, Produced and sold in India

There are many brands of brandy we do not know, and in particular brands made in countries like India which brands we may not be familiar with, but still sells in millions of bottle. The most sold brown spirits are whisky, followed by brandy and then rum. India has a large production of whiskies and brandies.

Morpheus Brandy is a 1 million case brand sold and produced in India. It is owned by Indian drinks group Radico Khaitan.

It is described as "A brandy that is blended in the land of maharajas and nawabs. Containing the texture of warm soils and fragrant scents and all the richness of tropical weather, this brandy is bottled liquid gold. With its opulent copper tone and lush aroma." Commercial description.

I am curious to where exactly do they get the wines to distill this brandy from?

India has a huge consumption of brandy, but brandy only made in India at this time.

BRANDY MIGHT BE THE NEXT UP AND COMING SPIRIT WRITES THE NEW YORK TIMES

Fun Brandy not from main stream

"Brandy has become a quiet giant of the liquor industry. More than 13 million cases were sold domestically in 2016, outpacing gin, Scotch and Irish whiskey, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. And most of that — eight million cases — was American brandy", says The New York Times.

Craft Whiskey and craft beer consumers are increasingly looking up for the next best thing and brandy seems to be pointed at the horizon.

There are the 'American-cognac like' brandy maker such as Germain-Robin Brandy  and Osocalis Brandy.

And then, there are the modern brandy distilleries such as Copper & Kings in the middle of Whiskey country, Louisville Kentucky, but also Charbay in wine country of northern California.

Even "Christian Brothers, owned by Heaven Hill Distilleries, recently revamped its packaging, while this week Gallo, which owns E&J, already the best-selling brandy in the country, announced a new, premium brandy line called Argonaut, along with the reactivation of 20 traditional Cognac stills", says The New York Times.

This is good luck for Monteru Brandy which is offering copper pot still brandy form estate vineyards, and other cask experimental brandy selections.

Sources: New York Times, Osocalis Brandy, Copper & Kings Brandy, Germain Robin Brandy, Charbay

NEW BRANDY FROM JACK PAROW IN CAPE TOWN

Jack Parow, a famous rapper from South Africa is launching his own brandy. He says it is his favorite drink and he is proud to own it. He worked behind the scene to release it this month to the public.

Jack Parow First Released Brandy in South Africa

Parow’s 3-year old Pot Still Brandy will be first available at selected bars and restaurants.

Source: Channel 24

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AMERICAN CRAFT WINERY TURNS INTO CRAFT SPIRITS

Not too many wineries are piggybacking off the craft spirit movement using their grapes to make brandy such as the long-time pioneer, Charbay Winery & Distillery did over 30 years ago, way before craft spirits were trendy.

TastingTable.com gives an account of Brooklyn's Red Hook Winery which is using the pressed grape skins left from making its wines (the pomace) to create barrel-aged grappa. The barrel aging and the fact that it is made in small pot stills results in a heavier texture and more complex flavor than most grappas.

Red Hook Winery Still in Brooklyn, NY, USA

It is too bad that they are still calling it Grappa. That should be left to the Italians!

In Europe the category name is 'Marc'. I think they should say 'Marc of Chardonnay', and let the Grappas be for Italians' Marc.

Pomace Brandy, or Marc, Grappa if it is made in Italy in my book!

Red Hook Winery, Grappa, Pomace Brandy, Brooklyn, NY, USA

"Working out of a 19th-century shipping warehouse at the end of a pier in Brooklyn, Colin Alevras is busy tending to barrels of Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc at Red Hook Winery. 

Before greeting a midweek customer at the tasting counter, Alevras, the shop foreman, stops to check another barrel—but this one isn't filled with wine. It's filled with grappa that's been aging at the winery since 2012 ... This small-batch, Brooklyn-based grappa will challenge everything you know about the storied spirit."

Source:  TastingTable.com

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SINGLE VARIETAL BRANDY MADE IN AUSTRALIA CALLED OCHRE - IS IT A COGNAC?

The Australian Cognac says Melbourne Food & Wine Festival in its recent article introducing Ochre Brandy.

Ochre Brandy, Aged Grape Spirits

Further, Ochre Brandy website ochrespirit.com.au says: "...Ochre is a handcrafted Cognac-style spirit..."

Sorry but Cognac is brandy but not all brandies are cognac. To be called 'cognac' a brandy requires a huge list of characteristics, too many to summarize in a short blog. But essentially, this brandy need to be made in the cognac region which is in the South West of France, from grape harvested in the same region, double distilled in small copper pot stills, and aged in French oak casks.

As I said this is only a summary, learn more from cognac.fr for the different details which makes cognac such a unique and the finest brown spirits.

I am very intrigued by this chardonnay brandy as Ochre is just launching its first batch. The article says:

"This rare 1st vintage spirit is double distilled in an Alembic still on the Mornington Peninsula from Chardonnay grapes. The resulting deep golden colour of the spirit reflects the rich red soil that is prevalent in the Red Hill wine growing region."

Something is wrong here ... Distilling is extracting the vapor of alcohol first, and vapors are always clear like water, at least if distilling correctly the heart of the distillation. Hence, the 'deep golden color' does not come from the chardonnay but from the aging in wood barrels.

See more Single Grape distillations from Monteru Single Grape Brandy.

Clearly Ochre seems like a fine brandy which is very much inspired by cognac. Germain Robin Brandy in the USA for instance as successfully with time established a good reputation for a super premium brandy so it is possible that Ochre becomes the brandy from the Southern Hemisphere.

Why Is Cognac a Brandy of Choice?

Brandy is a broad overall category which includes all distilled products issued from fermented fruits. Hence, it includes sub-categories such as Armagnac, Calvados, Grapa, Pisco, Eau-de-Vie, ... but also 'Cognac'. Another sub-category is also brandy which is commonly known as an aged distilled grape wine. The problem with brandy as a sub-category is that often these brandies are the results of distillation of 'cheap' wines and therefore they produce less interesting distillates which are less regulated and protected and maybe manipulated in such a way to improve the original product. Such manipulations may enhance smoothness, taste and color by adding something to 'enhance'.

Some cultures and countries have a real tradition in making brandy of wines like Spain or Armenia. They both have a set of specific traditions in aging and producing but at the end they produce a much sweeter brandy than say French brandy.

French brandies (i.e. generic of wines) appear in a wide variety of quality levels with some being 'the run of the mill' and other being absolutely outstanding.

Germans have a strong reputation in making brandy covering a wide spectrum of quality products, but they are most generally famous for their quality eaux-de-vie. In Germany they do not call these brandies or eaux-de-vie but schnapps. The fruits most used for Schnapps are are apricot, apples, cherries, pears, and plums. In some situation, they use raspberries or rather they infused raspberries with rectified grape brandies because the raspberries produce a low yield of alcohol due to their low sugar content. In addition, a 100% raspberry brandy/schnapps will require too many fruits and would turn too expensive.

The concept behind eau-de-vie is to be a brandy which expresses the typicity of the fruits originally fermented. Hence, eaux-de-vie made of fermented apricots should taste and smell like concentrated apricots. Eaux-de-vie can but are therefore rarely aged for the sake of keeping the typicity of the fruits being used. Apple Jack are brandy made of fermented apples. In this situation, one would not want to age too much their apple jacks to keep the typicity of the apples.

Calvados is a geographic indication (issue related to trademark) and/or an 'appellation d'origine controllee' (issue related to French regulations) . In the case of Calvados, the apple expression is very much revealed in young Calvados whereas older Calvados become richer super-premium brandy like where the expression is to reveal complexity and facets, and where the apples characteristics fade away with time.

Consequently cognac is a brandy and more specifically a double distilled grape wine from Charentes, Deux Sevres and Vienne in compliance with the French regulated "appellation d'origine controlee".