Armagnac

Darroze Grands Assemblages 8 years old: Marc Darroze has created this new range, using his huge family stocks of hand selected Bas Armagnacs, with vintages dating back over 100 years. This blend with very little wood influence, displays a predominance of fruity aromas, along with a variety of other flavours, including prunes, candied orange zest and quince to name but a few. A straight armagnac that is highly strung but nevertheless, smooth and enveloping. 

Producer Description

Golden color with yellow tints. A beautiful nose with candied fruit (dates, prune), dried fruit (apricot, fig) and spices (vanilla, butterscotch). On the palate, the tannins are silky. The aromas of citrus (orange peel, tangerine) dominate. Beautiful length.

A unique expression of the terroir of the Grand Bas Armagnac, combining spices and woody notes.

Guy Deyres worked in the Bas Armagnac region for almost 40 years before passing on his passion for and the secrets of his craft to his son Jean-Luc, the current owner of Domaine de Rieston. Domaine Au Martin, with its sandy soils and baco grapes, is located in the ‘magical’ Grand Bas Armagnac sector and we consider ourselves lucky to exclusively present its armagnacs. We work with M Deyres senior (Domaine Au Martin) and Mr. Deyres junior (Domaine de Rieston).

Producer Description

Our Armagnacs are aged in barrels crafted by our local coopers and made from Gascon oak, which comes from the nearby Southwestern forests. With this experiment, we desired to enhance the remarkable aromas typical of Gascon oak with a double maturation in new barrels.

Distillation: single distilled in a traditional Armagnacais column still to 58% vol.
Maturation: Aged a minimum of 4 years in two maturations, earning the name “Double Oaked.” The first aging is done in heavily toasted new Gascon oak; the second in new Gascon oak with a special toasting level.

Tasting Notes: The palate is rich with toasted bread, cacao, spices, and roasted flavors.

Enjoy: neat, paired with dessert, or in an Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Memo Summary Notes

The Dartigalongue Double-Oaked Bas-Armagnac is an innovative expression from the oldest house in the Bas-Armagnac region (founded in 1838). This specific bottling is widely considered a "bridge" spirit, specifically designed to appeal to bourbon drinkers through its unique aging process and high-toast profile.

The "Double-Oaked" Process:  

Stage 1: Aged for at least 3 years in heavily toasted new Gascon oak barrels. This provides the "char" and deep color typical of American bourbon.

Stage 2: Transferred to a second new Gascon oak barrel with a lighter, custom toast level to refine the texture and add layers of spice.

Producer Description 

Domaine Boingnères is, by and large, considered the benchmark of brandy from the Bas-Armagnac. The estate was acquired in 1807 by Jean- Baptiste Boingnères, ancestor of current proprietor, Martine Lafitte. Located in the small commune of Le Frêche, the area has perhaps the best growing soil of the region. The Boingnères estate vineyards cover 21 hectares, 13 of which are planted in Folle Blanche, 4.5 in Colombard, and 4 in Ugni Blanc. Martine’s focus on brandy distilled from Folle Blanche reflects her commitment to the noble varieties, though a Boingnères bottling of Baco can sometimes be found—an echo of distillation from her father’s time.

Much of the oak at Boingnères comes from the Gascon forests. Martine contracts trees every year, and the staves are air-dried next to one of the Boingnères chais. The staves are then fabricated into 420-liter barrels by the local tonnelier, Gilles Bartholomo. Gilles’s grandfather actually made the barrels for Martine’s grandfather more than 60 years ago! The barrels are stored in one of two chais, both of which are relatively dry. Consequently, the alcohol level descends very slowly, and even after 20 years, some barrels have only lost 3 degrees of alcohol!

Armagnac is traditionally bottled without being reduced in alcohol, and as Martine Lafitte is a strict traditionalist, the Armagnacs at Boingnères are released at cask strength to ensure their absolute purity.

The Reserve Speciale is distilled from approximately one-third each of Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Folle Blanche (exact proportions will vary lot to lot) and aged in used, 420-liter French oak casks for a minimum of 5 years (again, age range will vary lot to lot). Aromas of melted marshmallow and orange zest are joined on the palate by fire and tannin. A savory finish of Castelvetrano olives and umami concludes this fascinating flavor arc. 48% ABV.

Vinous 98 Points | One of the finest examples of 100% Folle Blanche in all of Armagnac. This 31-year-old is light copper, with a complex floral bouquet of rose and almond blossom along with aromas of fig and candied orange that roll onto the palate, developing seamlessly into gingerbread on the midpalate and finishing fresh with notes of mint and licorice and that go on forever. Pretty, delicate, yet still dense and intense. A beautiful spirit that justifies its price.

Expert Review - 1996

Ultimate Beverage Challenge  89 Points | Very Good, Strong Recommendation.

Producer Description 

Fully respect each vintage’s respective terroir and ensure its perfect expression.
No blending of domains or vintages in order to preserve the specificities,
No « reduction » that would dilute the alcoholic or aromatic strength and the nuances of the terroir by adding « petites eaux » in order to not betray the typicalities.

Each Bas-Armagnac is strictly itself, with the name of the domain of origin, its vintage and the bottling date which tells its real age as eaux-de-vie stop aging once bottle.

The color of this 1996 vintage is gold with pretty brown highlights. Nose: The nose is very fruity carried by notes of quince, fig, orange jam and verbena. Tannins on the palate that are still young but very delicate. Finale: A beautiful length in the mouth characterizes this Darroze 1996 Armagnac.

Bas-Armagnac, whose capital is Eauze, is to the west of the appellation. It runs in the Landes and the western part of the Gers. It represents 67% of the areas identified in Armagnac. In this part of the land, the soils are sandy loam, called “tawny sands”. Bas-Armagnac eaux-de-vie are delicate and very fruity.

Producer Description 

Aroma makes a good showing following aeration as succulent, scents of almonds, toasty oak, lanolin, light toffee and paraffin entice the olfactory sense. Marquis de Sauval XO is an aged, sweeter style of Armagnac. This has notes of toffee, honey and nuts.

Producer Description 

Producer Description 

After 10 years in contact with the oak, Armagnac starts to take on the aromas of ageing. The fruit that is still present, is accompanied by the first aromas of soft spices such as liquorice and cinnamon. Still quite fiery, this eau de vie will become more complex after a few minutes breathing in your glass.

Producer Description 

The nose is uniquely intense and develops fine aromas of orange peel, roasted and grilled bread, completed by notes of cinnamon. Savory roundness and seductive complexity in mouth.

Will perfectly pair with chocolate cakes and with a flambé pie prepared with the same XO. To be tasted as a digestive with friends or family.