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    The oldest brandy distilled in France, celebrated its 700th years in 2011.

    Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle Blanche and Ugni blanc, traditionally using column stills rather than the pot stills used in the production of cognac, which is made only from Ugni blanc grapes. The resulting spirit is then aged in oak barrels before release.

    From the youngest Armagnac to the oldest Vintages, the evolution of Armagnacs is progressive and continuous: there is no sharp aromatic boundary between a VSOP (more than 4 years in wood) and an Hors d'Age (more than 10 years under wood). The aromas of the wine concentrated by the still are enriched, evaporate, superimposed, masked, transformed, sublimated in contact with the barrel and the test of time. The work of the cellar master further enriches the aromatic palette of blended Armagnacs.

    212 products
    Darroze Grand Bas Armagnac 1992 Monturon 40.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze Grand Bas Armagnac 1992 Monturon 40.5% 700ml
    $232.84
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac XO 10 years 40.5% 500ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac XO 10 years 40.5% 500ml
    $96.81
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac VSOP 5 years 40.5% 500ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac VSOP 5 years 40.5% 500ml
    $83.33
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac Hors d’Age 15 years 40.5% 500ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy Bas Armagnac Hors d’Age 15 years 40.5% 500ml
    $112.75
    Domaine de Joy 1992 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy 1992 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml
    $162.99
    Domaine de Joy 1982 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy 1982 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml
    $196.08
    Domaine de Joy 1972 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy 1972 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml
    $318.63
    Domaine de Joy 1952 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine de Joy 1952 Armagnac 40.5% 700ml
    $1,422.79
    Domaine Tariquet Montreur d’Ours Bas Armagnac 45.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine Tariquet Montreur d’Ours Bas Armagnac 45.5% 700ml
    $272.06
    Delord 2002 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 2002 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $131.13
    Delord 1992 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 1992 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $136.33
    Darroze 4 Year Biologic Armagnac 47.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 4 Year Biologic Armagnac 47.5% 700ml
    $113.97
    Darroze Grand Bas Armagnac Ugni Blanche 49% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze Grand Bas Armagnac Ugni Blanche 49% 700ml
    $113.97
    Darroze Grand-Bas Armagnac Blanche Baco 49% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze Grand-Bas Armagnac Blanche Baco 49% 700ml
    $113.97
    Darroze Blanche d'Armagnac 100% Folle Blanche 49% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze Blanche d'Armagnac 100% Folle Blanche 49% 700ml
    $113.97
    Delord 1982 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 1982 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $171.57
    Darroze 1982 Lahitte Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 200ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1982 Lahitte Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 200ml
    $100.49
    Darroze 1991 Lamarquette Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 200ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1991 Lamarquette Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 200ml
    $80.88
    Domaine Boingneres 1981 Folle Blanche Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine Boingneres 1981 Folle Blanche Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 700ml
    $773.28
    Domaine Boingneres 1985 Cepages Nobles Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine Boingneres 1985 Cepages Nobles Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 700ml
    $497.55
    Darroze 1994 Rieston Grand Bas Armagnac 49.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1994 Rieston Grand Bas Armagnac 49.5% 700ml
    $234.07
    Darroze 1985 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 43.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1985 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 43.5% 700ml
    $295.34
    Darroze 1984 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1984 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 48% 700ml
    $313.73
    Darroze 1983 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 50% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1983 Bellair Grand Bas Armagnac 50% 700ml
    $317.40
    Darroze 1972 Grand Bas Armagnac 43.4% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1972 Grand Bas Armagnac 43.4% 700ml
    $431.37
    Darroze 1991 Rieston Armagnac 49% 200ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1991 Rieston Armagnac 49% 200ml
    $80.88
    Darroze 1988 Lahitte Armagnac 47.5% 200ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1988 Lahitte Armagnac 47.5% 200ml
    $84.56
    Chateau Tariquet Hors d'Age Bas Armagnac 15 Years Carafe 40% 700ml - Brandy - Armagnac - Bas Armagnac - Carafe - Liquor Wine Cave
    Chateau Tariquet Hors d'Age Bas Armagnac 15 Years Carafe 40% 700ml
    $213.24
    Delord 1991 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 1991 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $142.16
    Castarede 1971 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Armagnac - Bas Armagnac - country_france - Liquor Wine Cave
    Castarede 1971 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $363.97
    Darroze 2001 Mertin Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 700ML - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 2001 Mertin Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 700ML
    $216.91
    Darroze 2001 Mertin Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 200ML - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 2001 Mertin Grand Bas Armagnac 49% 200ML
    $71.08
    Gelas Pacherenc Single 8 years 46.8% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Gelas Pacherenc Single 8 years 46.8% 700ml
    $158.09
    Delord 2008 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 2008 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $126.23
    Domaine Tariquet Bas Armagnac XO 15 years Equilibre 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Domaine Tariquet Bas Armagnac XO 15 years Equilibre 40% 700ml
    $192.40
    Delord 1987 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 1987 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $148.28
    Gelas Armagnac 12 years Amigne Grape Switzerland 44.8% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Gelas Armagnac 12 years Amigne Grape Switzerland 44.8% 700ml
    $166.67
    Gelas Armagnac 12 years Maury Cask 43.5% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Gelas Armagnac 12 years Maury Cask 43.5% 700ml
    $160.54
    Delord 1990 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Delord 1990 Bas Armagnac 40% 700ml
    $143.38
    Darroze 1973 La Poste Armagnac 47.8% 700ml - Brandy - Liquor Wine Cave
    Darroze 1973 La Poste Armagnac 47.8% 700ml
    $395.83
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    Armagnac Grapes

    1- Ugni-Blanc : Main grape for distillation, produce fine eaux-de-vie of high quality. 2-Colombard: The distillation is more rare; it has fruity and spicy aromas. 3- Folle Blanche: the most well known. Produces fine and often floral eaux-de-vie. 4- Baco 22A (hybrid) : a hybrid from Folle Blanche and Noah. Roundness, smoothness and aromas of ripe fruits. Only planted in Armagnac

    Armagnac

    Bas-Armagnac:

     The undulating valleys, in the West of the region grow vines  on  meagre and acidic silicous-clay soils.  Parts are mixed with ferrous elements that colour the earth, from hence comes the name 'tawny sands', and the boulbènes, are silty sediments characteristic of the region.  

    West of the Gers and in part of the Landes, the sea left behind a Miocene formation called “sables fauves” or “wild sands”, made up of fine quartz sand, coloured by small amounts of ferrous hydroxides. 

    This specific area is Called “The grand Bas Armagnac”. True connoisseurs insist that this small north/west corner in Bas-Armagnac produces the very best and it shows in the price, often double.

     

    This area produces light, fruity, delicate and highly praised eaux-de-vie. 

     

    Ténarèze

    The Ténarèze is a transitional zone where one finds boulbènes and strong clay/limestone soils.  The eaux-de-vie are generally more full-bodied and reach their full maturity after a long ageing.The aromatic mark, is an impression of violet.

     

    Haut Armagnac 

    Haut Armagnac in the South and the East is very spread out.  Its hills are predominantly chalky with areas of clay/limestone and sometimes a boulbènes covering in the valleys. It is more of a wine region.

    Production of Armagnac

    Production

    There is no addition of oenological products, sulphur included. The wines obtained have a fairly low degree of alcohol,from 8-10% vol., and a high total acidity which is the only way to keep it until distillation without sulphite. Conservation is carried on fine lees after decanting, until distillation

    This is done traditionally with the “Armagnac still”, invented in 1818 with a patent of king Louis XVIII: the wine is then distilled continuously. This gentler method helps to better conserve parts of the grapes (thanks to a lower distillation degree), lending it a more specific taste.

    On leaving the still, the eau-de-vie is colourless, with between 52 and 60% vol.(72% being the legal maximum).

    How the still works: (see diagram opposite).

    The wine continuously feeds the still with the coolant from below. It is thanks to this that the alcohol fumes contained in the serpentine or coil cool. It is taken towards the column where it runs down from level to level as far as the boiler. Under the effect of the great heat produced by the firebox or furnace, the vinous fumes rise against the flow and “bubble” in the wine at each level. They become richer in alcohol and with most of the wine’s aromatic substances, and are condensed and then cooled in the coil. On leaving the still, the eau-de-vie is colourless. 

    The Armagnac is still full of spirit, so to speak, but it is already very rich aromatically: very fruity (plum,

    raisin, etc) and often floral (vine flower and lime (tree).

    Ageing in oak helps these eaux-de-vie to become finer and richer after various complex reactions during which the tannic and aromatic matter in the wood dissolves in the alcohol.

    Young eaux-de-vie stay in new barrels (400 litres) until such time as the level of the dissolving wood substances isoptimal.

    They are then transferred to older casks (reddish in colour) to complete the transformations already under way. Throughoutthe ageing process, the degree of alcohol gradually drops by way of alcohol evaporation – the so-called “Angels’ share”.

    The volume also drops, by water evaporation, giving rise to a concentration of the eau-de-vie. These casks are stored in chais, where both temperature and humidity are important for the quality of the ageing; the woody substances becomemore refined, vanilla and prune aromas develop, the “rancio”character appears. The eau-de-vie takes on a lovely amber then mahogany hue.

    When the ageing is deemed sufficient, the blending starts, i.e.the harmonious mixing of several eaux-de-vie of differing origin and age. The degree of consumption (40% vol.minimum) can be obtained by the progressive addition of“petites eaux”—literally “lesser waters”—formed of a mixture of distilled water and Armagnac

    The vintage represents exclusively the year of the harvest.

    When the ageing storeroom is humid, eaux-de-vie are sold at their natural degree of ageing, usually between 40% and 48% vol Otherwise reduction is practised

    .

    Armagnac versus Cognac

    While Armagnac is undoubtedly the oldest brandy in France, its little brother Cognac is more popular outside the country. These two grape-based spirits are similar in many ways, but each has its own identity.
    Let's take stock of their similarities and their specificities, because between these two, there is no war of flavor. armagnac Vs cognac : why choose

    The Soil

    The first difference between cognac and armagnac is the terroir.
    The terroirs of the Cognac and Armagnac regions, both in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, are separated by about 300 kilometers, which leads to differences in soil.

    Under the Armagnac, we find fine quartz sands, continental and fluvial sediments and siliceous clay. This terroir is divided into 3 crus:

    The bas-armagnac or black armagnac is partly found in the Landes. It is characterized by clayey-siliceous soils poor in limestone, sometimes acid.
    The haut-armagnac or white armagnac is characterized by predominantly limestone soils except in its southern part where we find the boulbènes clay-siliceous.
    The Ténarèze is a transitional land that can be found in part in the Lot et Garonne. There the vine is cultivated on soils with a dominant clay-limestone composition.

    The Grape Varieties

    In Cognac 97% of the grape variety used is Ugni-Blanc which gives fine and high quality eaux-de-vie. It is also used in Armagnac (55%).

    In Armagnac, we also find Folle Blanche (2%) which produces fine and floral eaux-de-vie, Colombard with fruity and spicy aromas appreciated in blends, Baco (hybrid of Folle Blanche and American Noah) which produces round eaux-de-vie with ripe fruit aromas (35%).

    The differences in the use of grape varieties between these two regions stem from the fact that Armagnac produces wine intended for consumption without being distilled. This is not the case in Cognac where the very acidic wine is not pleasant as is.

    The method of distillation and aging

    The vast majority of Armagnac is obtained with the Armagnac continuous still. The patent for this machine was registered in 1818 and perfected over time by the distillers. The brandy obtained after distillation has an alcoholic strength of between 52% and 72%.

    On the contrary, the distillation on the Charentais alembic includes two distillations. The first heating allows to obtain an alcohol at 20-30 degrees called "brouilli" which will be redistilled in "good heating" at 70-71 degrees. This last distillation will become cognac.

    A point of similarity, the labels of cognac and armagnac share the same indications of the number of years of aging:

    VS Very Special: at least 2 years
    VSOP Very Superior Old Pale: at least 4 years
    XO Extra Old: aged at least 10 years

    Marketing

    Armagnac : a family size production and a French consumption As we have said, Armagnac is one of the oldest brandies. Its history is totally in line with the French gastronomic heritage as shown by the numerous recipes and culinary preparations with armagnac (flambage, sauces...). However, Armagnac has hardly been exported and is essentially consumed on French territory. It is produced by small producers or family-run businesses that perpetuate ancestral traditions and know-how. Cognac : Great Houses that export internationally On the contrary, cognac has historically developed on an export model towards the Netherlands and England. Created by winegrowers who wanted to export their low-alcohol white wine to England and Holland, they decided to distill it so that it would better withstand the journey. The success in Holland came from the aging in oak barrels. The resulting brandy was given the name "brandewijn" (burnt wine), which became "brandy". The presence of the port of La Rochelle and the trade treaty between France and England in 1860 under the authority of Napoleon III allowed cognac to grow exponentially abroad, which continues to this day. 98% of the production is exported. Most of the cognac is sold by four major world-renowned trading houses: Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remy-Martin and Martell. Cognac has now become a trendy product in the United States. After "Pass the Courvoisier", the hit of Busta Rhimes, in 2012 the artist Jay-Z joined Bacardi to create his brand of cognac: D'Ussé. In China it is not uncommon to taste it during a meal or in a karaoke bar. For a few years now, new markets have been emerging such as South Africa and Oceania.