Armagnac’s Renaissance 700th Anniversary

The Oldest spirit in France celebrates 700 years in 2010

Perhaps to celebrate the long history of Armagnac produced in the foot hills of the Pyrenees, but mainly to draw attention to the oldest spirit in France, a delegation from Armagnac made the journey to the Vatican City. They collected a facsimile of the Vital Texts written in 1310. They describe the forty virtues of an alcohol called Aygue Ardente, the ancestor of armagnac and which has been preserved in the Vatican Library since 1531. It will be displayed around the world during 2010.

These days the 40 virtues of armagnac could easily be translated into 400 virtues, since the many small armagnac houses’ individual skills are just as good as those from their bigger cousins in Cognac. They create a wealth of vintage and blended armagnac’s that can be as young as 5 years, and in a few rare cases, as old as 1888.

Unlike cognac, there are no big blended armagnac houses and each producer is responsible for marketing their own creations, many of whic hare of exceptional quality. Gold medals were awarded last month at the IWSC to Castarede for their 1973 armagnac and medals were also awarded to Chateau de Tariquet for their XO and Ch du Lacquy for its 1991 vintage. Chateau de Bordeneuve has launched a 70 year old special edition to celebrate 700 years of armagnac.

Brandyclassics stock a wide variety of Single Estate Armagnacs, which we have carefully selected on account of  their unique character, rarity and value. Ranging from our Domaine de Cassagnoles 5 y.o. Tenareze at under £30 to our Casterede Vintage 1900 at over £2500, we have a Armagnac for every taste, palette and pocket.