Cognac Bois Ordinaires is Cognac made in the traditional way – and under the production conditions of the Cognac appellation – from grapes grown in the Bois Ordinaires cru. The Cognac vineyards are classified into six crus (delimited growing areas), which radiate unevenly from the eponymous town. Those of the Bois Ordinaires cru are the most 'ordinary' and occupy the outer ring of the Cognac vineyard map.
The Bois Ordinaires vineyards form a belt 20 miles (32km) wide, stretching down the Atlantic coastline from La Rochelle in the north to Royan in the south. To provide geographical context, La Rochelle lies just beyond the southernmost 'Loire' valley vineyards (the Fiefs Vendeens), while Royan is located across the Gironde from the northern tip of the Medoc in Bordeaux. The cru also stretches out into the Bay of Biscay to include the Ile de Re and Ile d'Oleron islands just off the coast, where the soils are particularly sandy. Finally, a small and remote outcrop of vines is to be found at the very southern end of Cognac's delimited area, ending 10 miles (16km) from the north-western vineyards of Bergerac.
In 2009, the total area which qualified for the title was 390,000 acres (158,000ha), making it the third-largest after Bons Bois – the next vineyard 'ring'. However, only 1% of the area (4500 acres/1800ha) was actually planted with vines used for Cognac production, meaning it produced less than any other cru.
The Bois Ordinaires terroir is characterized by a maritime climate and sandy soils, which are clearly different from the limestone and chalk of the Grande Champagne and Petit Champagne crus. With the concept and significance of terroir being as strong in Cognac as the rest of France, this is generally viewed as the reason for the style of its Cognacs.
Bois Ordinaires Cognac is distinguished by its fruity aromas and relatively fast development. A Bois Ordinaires will reach its peak (albeit a lower peak) much faster than a Grande Champagne – typically within 15 years. Cognac develops only in barrel, where it is free to interact with a limited, but all-important, supply of oxygen. It ceases to change and mature once it is bottled.
