Wednesday, May 30, 2018

BAD HAILSTORMS IN COGNAC AND DAMAGES IN SOUTH-WEST REGION


Hailstones 'the size of pigeon eggs' devastate Bordeaux vineyards

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
David Chazan
27 MAY 2018

Hailstorms have devastated thousands of acres of prime Bordeaux vineyards, prompting the French government to promise support for winegrowers, some of whom have lost their entire crop.
Cyril Giresse, a winegrower, said hailstones "the size of pigeons' eggs" destroyed grape buds and left vines bare on Saturday.

"The storm lasted only about 15 minutes, but in some places, there's nothing left at all," said Mr Giresse, who runs the Château Gravettes Samonac in Bordeaux's Côtes de Bourg appellation. "No leaves, no grapes, just the vines stripped as if the grapes had all been picked."
Jean-Dominique Château, another claret producer, said: "I've got nothing left. I've been growing grapes for 33 years and this is the worst storm I've ever seen. Last year we lost 40 per cent of our crop to hail but this year it's going to be an even worse disaster."

Stéphane Travert, the agriculture minister, said the government was assessing the extent of losses and would aid wine producers. "We'll take the necessary measures and we're ready to meet Bordeaux winemakers," he said.

Franck Jullion, the head of the producers' association in the "Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux" appellation, said: "It's a desolate vista, as if the vines had gone back to winter. Estates hit by frost last year will not recover. We're going to need a lot of support and solidarity."
Saint-Emilion, one of the most prestigious Bordeaux appellations, was spared, but parts of Médoc were badly hit, as were Cognac brandy producers in the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments.

Didier Gontier, director of the Côtes de Bourg appellation, said: "Winegrowers say they've got no vines left for next year so this is going to affect two years of production."
Bordeaux is France's largest wine-growing area, with about 300,000 acres of vineyards producing more than 700 million bottles of claret a year, ranging from cheap table wines to some of the world's most acclaimed and expensive vintages.

French wine and spirits exports amounted to more than £11 billion last year.
Wine industry leaders have opposed moves to tighten 1991 laws restricting alcohol advertising. President Emmanuel Macron has backed them, saying he drinks wine at lunch and dinner.
He has infuriated doctors by minimising public health concerns over wine and arguing that spirits and beer pose more of a problem because they are favoured by binge-drinkers.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

COGNAC POPULARITY MAKES THE GLENLIVET SCOTCH WHISKY USE EX-COGNAC CASK FINISH

The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky Captain's Reserve Ex-Cognac Cask Finish
The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky Captain's Reserve Ex-Cognac Cask Finish

When I started making cognac finished in ex-casks in 2014, that is ex-Sauternes (Bordeaux's prestigious desert wine) and ex-Sherry casks (Spanish fortified wine from Jerez south of Spain) I was pretty much inspired by other spirits and in particular Scotch whiskies like Glendronach, Benriach or more available Glenmorangie. This was a good idea and as a matter of fact I won 'world best cognac' at San Francisco Spirits in 2016 for my vintage Oloroso Sherry cask finish.

Little did I think the scotch whisky producers would in turn use ex-cognac casks to finish their whiskies so quickly after this cask finish movement was started in the Cognac region. The Glenlivet is not the first Scotch Whisky finished in ex-cognac cask but it is the largest brand to venture into this direction which surely will get some people not feeling at ease.

This situation of finishing whiskies in ex-cognac cask is OK, but I would not suggest the opposite, i.e., finishing a cognac in ex-whisky casks. Why not? I do not think it will work out well. Perhaps a very peated whisky so as to bring some sort of smokiness to the cognac but I am not even sure that this is the way to go when working on smokey cognacs.

Read more below from:  Nino Marchetti / May 23, 2018
Source: WhiskyMash

The Glenlivet distillery, based in Scotland’s Speyside region, is known for having serious heritage in the whisky world. Despite this history, those who make Scotch here are willing to follow current trends, such as the art of cask finishing, debuting recently a non-age statement bottling that’s been “selectively finished” in ex-Cognac casks.

The new The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve, according to those behind it, will be part of the regular range of whisky from this distillery. Finished in ex-Cognac casks, it is said to be a tribute to Captain William Smith Grant, great-grandson of George Smith, founder of The Glenlivet. The Captain not only fought in the First World War in France, but later reportedly went on to guide the brand through the difficult Prohibition years.

“We know that Single Malt consumers are becoming increasingly adventurous and are seeking to explore new flavour profiles and finishes in the category,” said Alan Winchester, The Glenlivet master distiller, in a prepared statement. “Research shows that the global consumption of Cognac is expected to increase by some 2m cases by 2021. By introducing the Cognac casks into our maturation process, we are able to capitalise on the popularity of this flavour and add another dimension to our world-renowned portfolio. The Cognac casks’ influence will bring a real richness to the smooth and fruity style of The Glenlivet, which we’re confident new and existing Single Malt Scotch enthusiasts will enjoy.”

Plans call for Captain’s Reserve to price at a minimum of £45, or about $60 USD. You’ll find official tasting notes from The Glenlivet below for your consideration.
  • NOSE:Bursting with sweet and fruity aromas. Rich in honey and apricot jam, with notes of sweet cinnamon bread and a subtle sensation of spicy liquorice.
  • TASTE:Succulent flavours of mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate-dipped raisins.
  • FINISH:Incredibly smooth and luscious.
Source: WhiskyMash

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

PUFF DADDY NEW BRANDY VS: CIROC VS

CIROC BRANDY VS MADE IN THE COGNAC REGION, BUT THIS NOT A COGNAC
CIROC BRANDY VS MADE IN THE COGNAC REGION, BUT THIS NOT A COGNAC

CIROC, the vodka made famous by the rapper Puff Daddy or Diddy, is launching a CIROC Brandy VS to answer its consumers' interest for brown spirits. Essentially, CIROC VODKA is made from local Cognac's region Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes. One of the earlier grape-based vodka

CIROC has often been accused of making a grappa or a brandy more than a traditional vodka.
Now it is clear with this version of CIROC BRANDY VS, it is a Brandy. Let's hope people get more into knowing what they drink than follow the trend - wishful thinking!

I have often heard people telling me that either they preferred clear spirits because they were 'clear' and therefore being clear did not give them headaches, or I have heard people prefer brown spirits because they ARE SOOO SMOOOTH!!! CIROC has both.
I am guessing soon we should see a Cognac from 50 cents!

Source: Sud Ouest

BLENDERS PRIDE, IMPERIAL BLUE, AND ROYAL STAG WHISKIES

Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Blenders Pride
Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Blenders Pride

Pernod - the maker of premium spirits brands, including Chivas Regal and Absolut - has around 1,100 employees in India.
Pernod, which follows a July-June calendar year, reported 9% sales growth in India between July and December 2017.

Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Imperial Blue
Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Imperial Blue

Pernod, which is only behind Britain's Diageo, reported a 14% increase in sales for the first nine months of its fiscal, compared with just 1% in the year-ago period. Pernod's growth in India has been driven by its focus on premium and midpriced whiskies, helping it maintain a lead over Diageo, which has been also shifting its focus on similar categories due to meatier margins.
Pernod Ricard India sold 43 million cases last year, including Imperial Blue (18 million), Royal Stag (16 million) and Blenders Pride (6.2 million).
Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Royal Stag
Pernod Ricard Indian Whisky Royal Stag

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Avik Das and John Sarkar
May 22, 2018