Cles des Ducs XO Armagnac, 70 cl

Product Information

Continuing this pioneering tradition, Yves Grassa was the first to produce sweet wines in the region from the seductive Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng grapes, indigenous varieties from the South West of France. While both cognac and armagnac are French brandies, distilled from white wine grapes and aged in oak, armagnac is crucially distilled just once, keeping the idiosyncrasies of the wines rather than smoothing them out. This must be distilled within a few months as it cannot be preserved with sulphur which would be concentrated during distillation.

Armagnac’s For Brandy Lovers Everywhere 7 Stunning Armagnac’s For Brandy Lovers Everywhere

From a practical matter there is not much difference between a 48 YO and a 55 YO Armagnac, what differences there are will be very subtle.In fact, we think this armagnac is complex and interesting enough to tempt even the staunchest of scotch drinkers. These unique stills produce a spirit that’s full of character, sometimes a little fiery in youth, but responds well to long-ageing in wood.

Armagnac : terroir of the oldest eau-de-vie in France Armagnac : terroir of the oldest eau-de-vie in France

Hors d’Age, literally “ageless,” does not carry a specific aging period but is usually applied to brandies that have been aged for 20 years or more. The result is very fruity on the nose, and there’s just a hint of a cider-like sourness and a little pear, alongside a farmy funkiness.There are additional notes of milk chocolate, marmalade and dried apricot, along with some dried mushrooms and a hint of wet stone minerality. And frankly, for a liquid this good that’s been sat in the barrel for two decades, it feels like a bargain. Here we see Laubade really coming into its own, and while the brandy remains rough around the edges, its nose still just a bit astringent, spicier notes are really starting to emerge, offering aromas of baking spice and incense.

XO Armagnac Reviews, Ratings And Facts - Best XO Armagnac

A slow, low temperature distillation ensures that a greater proportion of aromatic compounds are retained in the spirit. Armagnac is a unique French brandy that is only produced in the Armagnac region in southwest France.

The resulting brandy has a rustic, assertive character and aroma that requires additional cask aging to mellow it out.