VS, VSOP, and XO refer to different levels of quality and aging for Cognac:
- VS (Very Special) is the youngest and most basic category of Cognac, aged for at least two years in oak barrels.
- VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is aged for at least four years, with some of the eaux-de-vie (the distilled wine that makes up Cognac) being older than that.
- XO (Extra Old) is aged for at least six years, with some of the eaux-de-vie being up to 20 years old.
年份 (nián fèn) refers to the vintage year of the grapes used to make the Cognac. This is different from the aging categories, which refer to how long the Cognac has been aged in wood barrels. Vintage years can affect the flavor and character of the Cognac, as different years can have varying levels of sugar, acidity, and tannins in the grapes.