All about Armagnac

Question 1

What is Armagnac?

Answer 1

Armagnac is a brandy that hails from the Gascony region of Southwestern France

Question 2

What are the main grapes used in the production of Armagnac?

Answer 2

Baco 22-A

Ugni Blanc

Colombard

Folle Blanche

Question 3

What are the 3 appellations of Armagnac? (sub regions)

Answer 3

Bas-Armagnac

Ténarèze

Haut-Armagnac

Question 4

What is the most highly regarded sub region of Armagnac?

Answer 4

Bas Armagnac?

Question 5

Why is Folle Blanche rarely used for the production of of Armganc?

Answer 5

Low Yields

Buds early - so it is susceptible to spring frosts.

sensitive to mildew.

What is good is the texture and aromatics, but it is only planted in 3 % of the region.

Question 6

Why is Baco 22-A used in Armagnac?

Answer 6

It is a Folle Blanche - Noah hybrid.

disease resistant

high yielding

minimum chemical treatments required

produced high acidity and low alcohol base wines

the distillate is rich and fat.

Question 7

Why has Bacco 22-A fallen out of favor?

Answer 7

It started in the 1980s, when an increase in popularity of Côtes de Gascogne wines

Preferred grapes became: Ugni Blanc and Colombard, were floral, fruity, bright, lively and inexpensive

Question 8

A summary of the grapes of Armagnac?

Answer 8

Ugni Blanc and Colombard both make very good eau de vie, albeit with slightly less character than Baco or Folle Blanche. I often find a slight herbal note with pure Ugni Blanc, and prefer Colombard for its richer texture.

Unlike grapes that are transformed into wine, in the Armagnac grape texture is more important contribution than aroma or flavor.

In this way, I like to view Folle Blanche as the soprano, Ugni Blanc as the alto, Colombard as the baritone and Baco as the bass

Question 9

What is key for the distillation of Armagnac grapes?

Answer 9

In fact, the alambic armagnacaise (Armagnac still) has difficulty distilling wine with greater than 10% alcohol, and it is necessary to dilute the wine with water during very hot years. Armagnac vintages are often better in years that are considered to be mediocre wine years.

Question 10

How much wine does it take to make 1 liter of Armagnac?

Answer 10

About 5 liters of wine, if the distillate is 45 % abv.

Question 11

What is the main advantage of the alambic still?

Answer 11

It saves a lot of time. Distillation is much quicker.

Question 12

What are some of the additives used for young Armagnac?

Answer 12

As is the case with most spirits, there are a number of additives that may be blended to correct the final product. These are generally meant to create consistency for large, highly commercial enterprises striving for consistency from year to year. These additives include water, which lowers the alcohol level; caramel, a burnt sugar liquid that adjusts color; sugar syrup, which adds sweetness and lessens bitterness; and boisé, a liquid of boiled oak chips which adds oak flavor.

Question 13

What is Blanche Armagnac?

Answer 13

Blanche Armagnac, was recently created with cocktails in mind. While this eau de vie would have become proper Armagnac with barrel aging, Blanche Armagnac has a clear color and more neutral taste, making it a good alternative to vodka and other clear spirits in cocktails.

Question 14

How to sell Armagnac?

Answer 14

speak about its forward aromas, rich, full-bodied texture and robust, long finish.

Toffee, prune, apricot, roasted nuts

Question 15

What is the strength of an Armagnac that is 20 years of age?

Answer 15

Most likely 45 to 48 %.

Question 16

What does Armagnac from Bas-Armagnac taste like?

Answer 16

Bas Armagnac Producers
The sandy soil structure of the Bas-Armagnac yields grapes with higher acid than those grown on clay and limestone; thus, Armagnac from the Bas-Armagnac tends to be rounder and more supple, and shows more finesse than brandies from the other regions

Question 17

How to sell Ténarèze Armagnac?

Answer 17

Ténarèze
Younger spirits from the Ténarèze tend to lack some of the supple depth that one finds in the Bas-Armagnac. That being said, Armagnacs from the Ténarèze can live longer than those from the Bas-Armagnac, and still show plenty of life up until their fortieth birthday.

Question 18

Domaine Boingnérès (Bas Armagnac)

Answer 18

highly prized by connoisseurs.

Folle Blanche—more than half of their vineyards are planted with the grape

intense, focused, linear and precise

traditional upbringing, without reduction or rectification.

Question 19

Laberdolive (Bas Armagnac)

Answer 19

Laberdolive: The reputation of this small domaine was created by Gerard Laberdolive, one of the first producers to sell his Armagnac to top restaurants outside the region. Although Laberdolive once owned a couple of properties, all of the estate’s production now comes from vineyards surrounding the family’s house in Labastide d’Armagnac. While they still possess some very old vintages made with Baco and Folle Blanche (now housed in glass demi-johns), the more recent vintages are made with Ugni Blanc.

Question 20

Château de Ravignan (Bas Armagnac)

Answer 20

Ravignan has some wonderful vintages from the early eighties, produced predominantly from Baco. Careful aging in neutral oak within the château’s well-ventilated chai helps to give an exotic note to the spirits.

Question 21

Château de Tariquet (Bas Armagnac)

Answer 21

Château de Tariquet: With approximately 1,000 hectares under vine, Tariquet is the most important wine producer in the region. In fact, it was Yves Grassa who is credited with putting the Côtes de Gascogne on the winemaking map. Not surprisingly, their soils are a bit more like Ténarèze than Bas-Armagnac, and their Armagnacs have perhaps a bit less depth than some producers located in Les Landes. Overall quality is very good, however, and they are widely available throughout the country.

Question 22

Château de Briat: (Bas Armagnac)

Answer 22

Briat’s Hors d’Age, made strictly with Baco, offers a hedonistic mouthful of Gascon flavors, including plum, chocolate and maple toffee.

Question 23

Château de Pellehaut: (Ténarèze)

Answer 23

Château de Pellehaut: The Beraut family, producers of high-quality wines, also make top-notch Armagnac at their Château de Pellehaut. The Reserve bottling, produced mostly from Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche, acts as a nice entry-level bridge between Armagnac and Cognac, with a delicate, medium-bodied texture and long finish

Question 24

Negoçiants

Answer 24

Château de Laubade: Château de Laubade is the largest Armagnac-only producing domaine in the region: releases marked “Château de Laubade” come from the four grape varieties grown and raised on their property. Older vintages are simply marked as “Laubade”, and have been purchased from neighboring properties. An excellent Blanche is also available in many markets.

Darroze: Darroze has to be considered the top negoçiant in Armagnac. Francis’ father had an extraordinary restaurant in the region where Armagnacs from local producers were served. Francis purchased these in larger lots and began selling them around the world. His son Marc has now taken over the affair. Methods have remained the same: Darroze contracts Armagnacs distilled at the property (usually with heavy Baco proportions), then the young spirit is shifted to the Darroze chai, where they are meticulously raised. Releases are at cask strength and they always bear the domaine name and bottling date.