Today we will taste the Armenian Country of Stones cognac. What do users say about this drink? Armenia has long enjoyed the glory of a country of excellent cognacs. But, on the other hand, there are too many wineries in the republic to say about the absolute high quality of all products. Who is the producer of the "Land of Stones"? And why is cognac so named? We will talk about this in our article. To begin with, let's say that Stone Land cognac is by no means an exclusive drink for the rich. This brand can be seen in many wine boutiques in Russia. And the Country of Stones cognac isn’t worth such fabulous money. But the availability and prevalence of an alcoholic drink does not detract from its qualities. The range is represented by varieties of cognac from three to twenty years of aging. Collectible and vintage drinks can be purchased in souvenir tubes and boxes.
Manufacturer Information
The “Country of Stones” Armenian brandy is produced by the Ararat Winery Limited Liability Company. Are you worried about the abbreviation LLC and you doubt the quality of products from such a manufacturer? In vain. This factory was founded in 1903 and has established itself as the largest Armenian enterprise for the production of wines and distillates. Non-state ownership does not reduce high standards of product quality. The plant is located in the city of Ararat, at the foot of the famous mountain of the same name. More than a century of experience in the creation of cognacs and knowledge in the field of winemaking and gave rise to the line "Country of Stones". Why is such a strange name for alcohol taken? "Country of Stones" is called Armenia itself. The Ararat Valley, surrounded on all sides by the high Caucasus mountains, where only two hundred and fifty millimeters of precipitation falls during the year, evokes just such an association.
Terroir
The French are sure that only the drink for which the raw materials are ripe in the province of Cognac can be called cognac. They say the climate and the soil are special there. But winemakers from other countries do not agree with them. The soil and climate of the Ararat Valley were created by God for growing grapes. Armenian cognac "Country of Stones" is made exclusively from local varieties. Vines grow on the mountain slopes, where the sun shines three hundred days a year. But the amount of moisture in the valley is minimal - 250 mm / year. Its excess usually prevents the creation of a decent brandy. The Stone Land line was created at the intersection of antiquity and modernity. The centuries-old traditions of winemaking, on the one hand, and the new style of assemblage, on the other, have created a bewitching drink in which the soul of the Armenian people is fully revealed.
Production process (briefly)
Even the best raw materials can turn into mediocre brandy without following the rules of fermentation and distillation. In order to obtain the Armenian Country of Stones cognac, the manufacturer first makes high-quality wine from local varieties of berries. At all stages of production, from harvesting to bottling, the product undergoes rigorous quality control. The plant owns its own vineyards. Their area is two hundred and fifty hectares. The resulting wine goes through several distillations. As a result of such manipulations, cognac spirits are born . They are left to ripen in oak barrels for at least three years in the cellars, where a strictly controlled temperature is maintained all year round. During this time, alcohols are filled with a rich aroma and exceptional taste.
Cognac "Country of Stones" - 5 years of aging
We have already said above that distillates are stored in oak barrels for at least three years. Therefore, the first (and cheapest) representative of the “Country of Stones” line is the ordinary cognac “No. 3”. According to reviews, his taste is soft, the aroma is delicate, the color is amber. A bottle of two hundred milliliters costs three hundred and twenty rubles. An ideal way to get acquainted with the “Country of Stones” line is small containers. But users are advised to get closer to the "older sister" of the third issue. Five-year-old cognac charms from the first sip. The dark golden color of the dense liquid plays in the glass in the light with golden sparks. The aroma can be heard ripe southern fruits with a touch of delicate almonds. Serve this brandy at a temperature of eighteen to twenty degrees, both solo, and as part of the Tom and Jerry, Honey Versailles and Mango Serge cocktails. The price of a half-liter bottle of this product is six hundred and fifty rubles.
Seven and ten-year cognacs “Country of Stones”
These drinks are definitely better than young brandies. The seven-year plan reminded many users of the classic Armenian cognac of the Soviet era. He has a rich bouquet and a perfectly balanced taste. Serve it better at a temperature above twenty degrees. This way its velvety aftertaste and refined astringency are better revealed. The Armenian Country of Stones cognac (10 years of aging) can be bought in a gift tube or in a box with golden embossing. This is not only a great present, but also table decoration. The drink has a deep amber deep color, rich fruit and almond bouquet and impeccable taste, in which notes of warm spices and astringency of oak wood are mixed. A seven-year-old cognac costs seven hundred and eighty rubles for half a liter. "No. 10" is sold two hundred rubles more expensive, but consumers claim that the price is justified.
Cognac "Country of Stones" - 20 years of aging
Vintage drinks of this line are represented by two varieties: "No. 15" and "No. 20". The name "Country of Stones" sounds good if you imagine that the stones in this region are all precious. In the hands of winemakers of the Ararat factory, berries turn into just such treasures. Even the most biased gourmets appreciated the "Land of Stones" cognac, 20 years of aging. This is an excellent drink with a long velvety finish, delicate and rich bouquet. It is distinguished by a dark saturated color (the years spent in an oak barrel affect). This brandy is best served separately, at the end of the meal, possibly with light desserts, coffee and fruit platter.