Distillerie des Moisans
Cognac at Julius Meinl am Graben
Immerse yourself in the world of cognac with us. We are pleased to introduce to you the Distillerie des Moisans.
Following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, Roland Bru founded the company in the 1960s. It is now run by the fourth generation of the family, the founder's daughter Véronique Legaret and her son Roland.
The estate covers a total of 60 hectares, 30 of which are in the Fins Bois sub-region. The Fins Bois region is considered a production area of fine and high-quality Cognac and is an AOC Cognac region. The predominant and most important grape variety grown there is the 'Ugni Blanc'. These grapes have less sugar and more acidity and are therefore perfect for the production of Cognac. The wine obtained from the 'Ugni Blanc' is delicate, dry, pale yellow and is ideal for further processing in the distillery.
The distillery and distillation:
In the distillery, the wines are double-distilled in twelve copper stills. The parts of the still that come into contact with the liquid are all made of copper and serve as a catalyst for the development of the cognac. The first distillation produces the so-called 'raw spirit' or 'brouillis', while the second distillation produces the 'bonne chauffe' - the heart.
After distillation, the brandy is put into barrels for maturation. The ageing cellars are built into the slope of a hill and hold around 1,300 barrels with a capacity of 350 litres and 50 Limousin oak barrels with a capacity of up to 520 hectolitres.
For the perfect composition of the cognac, different brandies are blended, different distillation methods and maturation processes are tested and combined.
Maturity levels:
VS Cognac:
VS stands for 'Very Special'. Cognacs with this title have a maturation age of at least two years. These 'young' cognacs take on the colour of the oak barrel and are therefore light in tone. However, the smell and taste of these is stronger and more obtrusive than that of older cognacs. Cognacs with the VS designation are on average between four and five years old.
VSOP Cognac:
The VSOP or 'Very Superior Old Pale' cognac is matured for at least four years. The average age of these cognacs is between five and ten years.
X.O. Cognac:
The label 'X.O.' in the title of some cognacs stands for 'extra Old'. These are the oldest cognacs that are particularly dark and powerful in taste, appearance and aroma. To receive the title X.O., the cognacs must have matured for at least 10 years. The average age of maturation of X.O. Cognacs is between 20 - 40 years.
