The French Spirits Forum- Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados

[Phil T]

1 minute ago, DeepCover said:

Haha! Hey, fair enough. I hope that wasn’t too intrusive. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities because I was born in ‘75 and graduated from HS in ‘93. I definitely plan on picking up a Delord ‘75 in the near future for that very reason, and also because I’m sure it’s awesome. Cheers

It's all good!! I wish I were that young!!

 

Prost!  Phil 

[WhiskeyBlender]

On 8/23/2020 at 3:12 PM, tanstaafl2 said:

Was offered an opportunity to purchase Armagnacs from a long list apparently sourced from the importer arm of Darroze. Not really interested in the older (and very expensive) bottles but was curious if anybody had any experience with these to offer an opinion. Maybe be a little esoteric for most people. Certainly was for me!

 

My interest starts to end quickly as you approach $200.

 

 

2005    DOMAINE DE PAGUY à Betbezer    50.0%        $130
            
2004    DOMAINE DE RIESTON à Perquie    49.4%        $130
            
2003    DOMAINE DE MONTURON au Bourdalat    50.0%        $130
            
2002    DOMAINE DE PAGUY à Betbezer    50.0%        $130

 

2001    DOMAINE DE MARTIN à Hontanx    49.0%        $135
            
2000    DOMAINE DE SALIE au Frêche    50.0%        $140
            
1999    DOMAINE DE POUTEOU à Lannemaignan    48.8%        $140
            
1998    DOMAINE DE MARTIN à Hontanx    48.6%        $145
            
1997    DOMAINE DE MARTIN à Hontanx    48.9%        $150

 

1996    DOMAINE DE SALIE au Frêche    48.8%        $155
            
1995    DOMAINE DE PETIT LASSIS à Créon d'Armagnac    50.0%        $160
            
1994    DOMAINE DE RIESTON à Perquie    49.2%        $160
    
1993    DOMAINE DE SALIE au Frêche    49.4%        $160
        
1992    DOMAINE DE MARTIN à Hontanx    50.0%        $170
            
1991    DOMAINE DE LAMARQUETTE à Castandet    48.7%        $170
            
1990    DOMAINE DE PETIT LASSIS à Créon d'Armagnac    49.5%        $180
        
1989    CHÂTEAU DE LAHITTE à Courrensan    47.5%        $190
            
1988    CHÂTEAU DE LAHITTE à Courrensan    47.5%        $190
    
1987    DOMAINE DE LA POSTE à Condom (Armagnac-Ténarèze)    47.8%        $195
        
1986    CHÂTEAU DE LAHITTE à Courrensan    46.5%        $200
            
1985    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    47.7%        $220

 

1984    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    48.0%        $230
            
1983    DOMAINE DE LAGARDENNE à Larée    50.0%        $230
        
1982    CHÂTEAU DE LAHITTE à Courrensan    48.0%        $230
            
1981    CHÂTEAU DE LAHITTE à Courrensan    46.0%        $240
            
1980    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    48.5%        $240
        
1979    DOMAINE LE TUC à Lagraulas    49.0%        $245
        
1978    DOMAINE LE TUC à Lagraulas    48.6%        $255
    
1975    DOMAINE DE RIMAILLO à Urgosse    43.0%        $289
            
1974    DOMAINE DE LA POSTE à Condom (Armagnac-Ténarèze)    48.2%        $305
            
1973    DOMAINE DE LA POSTE à Condom (Armagnac-Ténarèze)    47.8%        $320
            
1972    CHÂTEAU DE GAUBE à Gaube    43.4%        $340
            
1971    CHÂTEAU DE GAUBE à Gaube    42.2%        $350

 

1970    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    44.2%        $390
            
1969    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    45.4%        $450
        
1968    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    42.8%        $450
            
1967    DOMAINE DE BELLAIR à Cravancères    42.0%        $465

 

1966    CHÂTEAU DE GAUBE à Gaube    44.2%        $485
        
1964    CHATEAU DE GAUBE à Perquie    42.6%        $590
        
1963    CHATEAU DE GAUBE à Perquie    45.6%        $599
        
1962    CHATEAU DE GAUBE à Perquie    43.0%        $629
    

@tanstaafl2, you happen to be in luck! I don't know if you still have the chance to buy some of these, but I thought I'd reach out nonetheless to give you some tasting notes on them. Many of these I either personally own and bought directly from Marc Darroze himself at his tasting room in Roquefort, France, or I've at least tasted through them there. When you go to buy on-premise, they actually take the juice straight from the barrel, put it in your bottle, and hand-label it right then and there, if it isn't already in stock! 

 

Too bad that you are not open to anything above $200, because some of these are truly the best spirits I've ever tasted, period. Where else can you buy a bottle of an exceptionally made brown spirit that's between 40 to 60 years old and is between $200 to $600 years old! 

 

I own the 1962, '64, '66, and '72 Chateau de Gaube bottlings. All are made from 100% Baco grapes and use the local Gascon oak. Although I absolutely adore all of these, I'd have to say that my favorite of the bunch would be the 53 year old 1964 vintage. I'm at a loss of words to describe how much I love this bottling. The '62 is a bit more oak forward and not as well balanced. The '66 is somewhere between the two. That said, I would still put all 3 of these as among the best tasting spirits I've ever had. The '72, even at "only" 46 years old, is no slouch either. It still has a fair amount of the nuttiness, aka "rancio," dark chocolate, prunes in syrup, and dried apricot flavors of the others. 

 

My next favorites would the from Domaine de Rieston. These are also distilled from 100% Baco grapes. Of these, the 1994 is an absolute classic. I've bought this Armagnac by the case many times. In fact, if you wouldn't mind sending me a PM, and if it is possible to do so, I'd like to buy more of these for myself! 

 

Moving on, I'm not quite as fond of the '99 Domaine de Rieston as I am the '94, but that said, I still have a few bottles and it is nevertheless still a world class spirit. It doesn't have quite as much of the "muscularity" and intensity as the '94, but again, I'm being really nit-picky here. 

 

The Domaine de Salie expressions also use 100% Baco, and although I like them, I don't find that they have quite as much nuance, character, and complexity as the Gaube and Rieston bottlings. Domaine de Martin uses a blend of Baco, Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. It is a great domaine, but I have to admit that I personally am not as much of a fan of Ugni Blanc and Colombard for the distillation of Armagnac. While there's a lot of sweetness on the nose, the palate feels very dry. I find those Armagnacs, especially if they are from the Bas Armagnac region, to also be a little thin, but that's just my personal biased. 

 

My least favorite is of these is from Domaine de la Poste. While I certainly like some Armagnacs that are from the Tenareze and use 100% Ugni Blanc, I find the expressions from this domaine to be very thin, delicate, and perhaps even floral, with lots of minerality. 

 

I hope that helps. I've been searching my notebooks for other tasting notes from some of the other domaines that you listed, and while I know I've had a number of them, I'm not finding them. That said, I would have to say that for a Bourbon connoisseur, you probably can't go wrong with something from Domaine de Rieston. Since you want to keep under $200, I would recommend the 1994 bottling over the 2004, as those extra 10 years for just another 30 bucks will add a whole other world of aroma and flavor to your experience! 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by WhiskeyBlender

[tanstaafl2]

On 9/4/2020 at 7:57 PM, WhiskeyBlender said:

@tanstaafl2, you happen to be in luck! I don't know if you still have the chance to buy some of these, but I thought I'd reach out nonetheless to give you some tasting notes on them. Many of these I either personally own and bought directly from Marc Darroze himself at his tasting room in Roquefort, France, or I've at least tasted through them there. When you go to buy on-premise, they actually take the juice straight from the barrel, put it in your bottle, and hand-label it right then and there, if it isn't already in stock! 

 

Too bad that you are not open to anything above $200, because some of these are truly the best spirits I've ever tasted, period. Where else can you buy a bottle of an exceptionally made brown spirit that's between 40 to 60 years old and is between $200 to $600 years old! 

 

I own the 1962, '64, '66, and '72 Chateau de Gaube bottlings. All are made from 100% Baco grapes and use the local Gascon oak. Although I absolutely adore all of these, I'd have to say that my favorite of the bunch would be the 53 year old 1964 vintage. I'm at a loss of words to describe how much I love this bottling. The '62 is a bit more oak forward and not as well balanced. The '66 is somewhere between the two. That said, I would still put all 3 of these as among the best tasting spirits I've ever had. The '72, even at "only" 46 years old, is no slouch either. It still has a fair amount of the nuttiness, aka "rancio," dark chocolate, prunes in syrup, and dried apricot flavors of the others. 

 

My next favorites would the from Domaine de Rieston. These are also distilled from 100% Baco grapes. Of these, the 1994 is an absolute classic. I've bought this Armagnac by the case many times. In fact, if you wouldn't mind sending me a PM, and if it is possible to do so, I'd like to buy more of these for myself! 

 

Moving on, I'm not quite as fond of the '99 Domaine de Rieston as I am the '94, but that said, I still have a few bottles and it is nevertheless still a world class spirit. It doesn't have quite as much of the "muscularity" and intensity as the '94, but again, I'm being really nit-picky here. 

 

The Domaine de Salie expressions also use 100% Baco, and although I like them, I don't find that they have quite as much nuance, character, and complexity as the Gaube and Rieston bottlings. Domaine de Martin uses a blend of Baco, Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. It is a great domaine, but I have to admit that I personally am not as much of a fan of Ugni Blanc and Colombard for the distillation of Armagnac. While there's a lot of sweetness on the nose, the palate feels very dry. I find those Armagnacs, especially if they are from the Bas Armagnac region, to also be a little thin, but that's just my personal biased. 

 

My least favorite is of these is from Domaine de la Poste. While I certainly like some Armagnacs that are from the Tenareze and use 100% Ugni Blanc, I find the expressions from this domaine to be very thin, delicate, and perhaps even floral, with lots of minerality. 

 

I hope that helps. I've been searching my notebooks for other tasting notes from some of the other domaines that you listed, and while I know I've had a number of them, I'm not finding them. That said, I would have to say that for a Bourbon connoisseur, you probably can't go wrong with something from Domaine de Rieston. Since you want to keep under $200, I would recommend the 1994 bottling over the 2004, as those extra 10 years for just another 30 bucks will add a whole other world of aroma and flavor to your experience! 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

 

Thanks for your insight! I will explore what is still available. PM sent!

[DeepCover]

This thread continues to deliver. 

[Phil T]

Bought a couple of these yesterday. 

[WhiskeyBlender]

15 minutes ago, Phil T said:

Bought a couple of these yesterday. 

@Phil T, well done on your find, that's an excellent pour! 

[Phil T]

Hi Nancy, I always read your posts about French spirits with great interest. They are something I want to learn about. And while I don't always comprehend what you are telling us, I certainly appreciate your expertise and knowledge. Thank you for sharing with us.

Prost!  Phil 

 

[WhiskeyBlender]

5 minutes ago, Phil T said:

Hi Nancy, I always read your posts about French spirits with great interest. They are something I want to learn about. And while I don't always comprehend what you are telling us, I certainly appreciate your expertise and knowledge. Thank you for sharing with us.

Prost!  Phil 

 

Prost to you as well @Phil T! Please let me know when you've cracked one of those Fillioux Tres Vieux XO's open. I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[Yamazaki82]

Hi straightbourbon Community. This is my first post on this forum.

 

The topic is very interesting, since I am relatively new to armagnacs. Darroze is my current point of interest, and I would kindly ask for your help. Did anyone had experience with Chateau de Gaube domaine and their 1964 (51 Ans) , 1966 (49), 1970 (42) and 1971 (48) vintages? And could there be a significant differences between the bottles from the same domaine, that were distilled during the same year, but bottled in different period. For example, is 1964 Chateau de Gaube's 53yo profile and quality will be much different in comparison to the 51yo, or these differences are subtle?

 

Thanks. 

Edited September 24, 2020 by Yamazaki82

[WhiskeyBlender]

12 minutes ago, Yamazaki82 said:

Hi straightbourbon Community. This is my first post on this forum.

 

The topic is very interesting, since I am relatively new to armagnacs. Darroze is my current point of interest, and I would kindly ask for your help. Did anyone had experience with Chateau de Gaube domaine and their 1964 (51 Ans) , 1966 (49), 1970 (42) and 1971 (48) vintages? And could there be a significant differences between the bottles from the same domaine, that were distilled during the same year, but bottled in different period. For example, is 1964 Chateau de Gaube's 53yo profile and quality will be much different in comparison to the 51yo, or these differences are subtle?

 

Thanks. 

Hi @Yamazaki82, and a warm welcome to the forum! 

 

I'm currently out of town right now, but I can give you some feedback on those Darroze Chateau de Gaube bottlings when I get back home in a few days. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[fishnbowljoe]

24 minutes ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

Hi @Yamazaki82, and a warm welcome to the forum! 

 

I'm currently out of town right now, but I can give you some feedback on those Darroze Chateau de Gaube bottlings when I get back home in a few days. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

Great timing Nancy. I was just getting ready to page you. 

 

Biba! Joe

[Yamazaki82]

Hi Nancy and thanks!  Looking forward to hearing from you. 

 

I just want to add that the prices of the vintage armagnacs are very good. When compared to scotch - I don't know what to say except 'excellent value' . You have 1964 armagnacs from 100€ (Chateau de Pomes Peberere) to 300€ (Gaube).

 

What is the catch?

[Yamazaki82]

Hi. No feedback yet on those Chateau de Gaube armagnacs?

 

In the meantime, I've checked some other Darroze offerings available locally. Solid price for these two:

- Domaine de Lamarquette 1986

- Domaine de Rieston 1994 (there should also be 1992 and 1999). 

 

Still no available samples. 

 

But.. I have sampled another Darroze - Domaine de Boullion 1982 (100% Baco). It's a very good armagnac, complex, strong on the palate and spicy on the finish. Alcohol is very well integrated for the 47%abv, and I must say that those flavours were great. Still, the glass was improper so I couldn't analyse it as much as I wanted. Wood influence was present, but far from being overpowering. I was pleasantly surprised that the 33yo spirit wasn't oaky, but very well structured and balanced. Probably they are using some older/used casks for the most of the time during maturation. Overall - very good. 

 

I just wanted to share this expirience with you. Stay safe and enjoy. 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Yamazaki82

[WhiskeyBlender]

Sorry I've been away from the forum for a little while now. I've been working out at Wyoming Whiskey, finishing up their blending season before the long winter hits. 

 

At any rate, I just received a very interesting bottle of 1930 Veuve J. Goudoulin Armagnac today. It was bottled in 2010, and assuming it did spent all of that time in casks, it would be 80 years old. My guess is that it probably spent a decade or two in demijohns, but even so, that would make it 60 years old at the very least. 

 

The nose has a very deep prune/"pruneau" bouquet, with lots of rancio type notes (think roasted walnut and other such nuttiness), dark dried fruit and candied citrus, bittersweet baker's chocolate, and black licorice, but with an ever so slight hint of damp cellar. It also tastes like a little bit of alcohol has evaporated from the bottle over the past ten years, as it seems just a little "flabby." 

 

The legs on the side of the glass go on for days, as does the finish. 

 

It is certainly an interesting bottling, but if I had to do it over again, I probably would not have bought this particular expression. 

 

At any rate, it was fun for it to arrive today! And just in time for the start of brandy season. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[flahute]

On 10/14/2020 at 3:35 PM, WhiskeyBlender said:

Sorry I've been away from the forum for a little while now. I've been working out at Wyoming Whiskey, finishing up their blending season before the long winter hits. 

 

At any rate, I just received a very interesting bottle of 1930 Veuve J. Goudoulin Armagnac today. It was bottled in 2010, and assuming it did spent all of that time in casks, it would be 80 years old. My guess is that it probably spent a decade or two in demijohns, but even so, that would make it 60 years old at the very least. 

 

The nose has a very deep prune/"pruneau" bouquet, with lots of rancio type notes (think roasted walnut and other such nuttiness), dark dried fruit and candied citrus, bittersweet baker's chocolate, and black licorice, but with an ever so slight hint of damp cellar. It also tastes like a little bit of alcohol has evaporated from the bottle over the past ten years, as it seems just a little "flabby." 

 

The legs on the side of the glass go on for days, as does the finish. 

 

It is certainly an interesting bottling, but if I had to do it over again, I probably would not have bought this particular expression. 

 

At any rate, it was fun for it to arrive today! And just in time for the start of brandy season. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

Brandy season? What is this?

[WhiskeyBlender]

20 hours ago, flahute said:

Brandy season? What is this?

@flahute, damned straight it's brandy season! This isn't be best brandy I've ever bought for sure, but it isn't terrible either! 

 

Hope you're enjoying something great this evening, brother! 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[flahute]

32 minutes ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

@flahute, damned straight it's brandy season! This isn't be best brandy I've ever bought for sure, but it isn't terrible either! 

 

Hope you're enjoying something great this evening, brother! 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

Ha! I did not mean to question you! I only meant to find out what is brandy season. Cool weather? Educate me!

I am drinking some KC12 right now which I find to be quite excellent. One of the best new releases this year.

[WhiskeyBlender]

17 hours ago, flahute said:

Ha! I did not mean to question you! I only meant to find out what is brandy season. Cool weather? Educate me!

I am drinking some KC12 right now which I find to be quite excellent. One of the best new releases this year.

@flahute, I sure wish we had cool weather right now. Our Indian summer is going on strong, and it's been in the high 90's and even 100's around here.

 

How about up in your neck of the woods, are you all getting any of this oppressive heat wave too? 

 

Oh, and that KC12 sounds like a stellar pour!

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by WhiskeyBlender

[flahute]

2 hours ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

@flahute, I sure wish we had cool weather right now. Our Indian summer is going on strong, and it's been in the high 90's and even 100's around here.

 

How about up in your neck of the woods, are you all getting any of this oppressive heat wave too? 

 

Oh, and that KC12 sounds like a stellar pour!

 

We are well into the yearly transition to the rainy season. Mix of sunny and rainy days with temperatures ranging from the mid 50's to mid 60's.

If you haven't tried the KC12 yet do yourself a favor and snag one. I'd love to hear what you think.

[DeepCover]

On a whim, I decided to pick this up. It’s young and the heat slaps you across the face before you start picking up the cinnamon, red hot notes. It’s not complex at all, but it’s a nice break from the norm if you add water. I’m glad I got it, as I doubt I’d ever see it at a bar, but I won’t be grabbing another. Its going to take me a while to work through this one. 
 

This might be nice with some age on it. It leaves me quite curious about the Laird’s 12 year.

 

[EarthQuake]

6 hours ago, DeepCover said:

On a whim, I decided to pick this up. It’s young and the heat slaps you across the face before you start picking up the cinnamon, red hot notes. It’s not complex at all, but it’s a nice break from the norm if you add water. I’m glad I got it, as I doubt I’d ever see it at a bar, but I won’t be grabbing another. Its going to take me a while to work through this one. 
 

This might be nice with some age on it. It leaves me quite curious about the Laird’s 12 year.

 

I've been curious to try this too, and the 12 year. I grabbed a bottle of the 7.5 year a while back, and for the price (I think less than $30) it was a fairly decent apple brandy.

[DeepCover]

19 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

I've been curious to try this too, and the 12 year. I grabbed a bottle of the 7.5 year a while back, and for the price (I think less than $30) it was a fairly decent apple brandy.

The color sure is light on the 12. I assume they’re not using new barrels and/or they’re using  really light char barrels.

[tanstaafl2]

On 10/24/2020 at 5:56 PM, DeepCover said:

On a whim, I decided to pick this up. It’s young and the heat slaps you across the face before you start picking up the cinnamon, red hot notes. It’s not complex at all, but it’s a nice break from the norm if you add water. I’m glad I got it, as I doubt I’d ever see it at a bar, but I won’t be grabbing another. Its going to take me a while to work through this one. 
 

This might be nice with some age on it. It leaves me quite curious about the Laird’s 12 year.

 

I think the one I have (gifted to me by very kind fellow SBer is a touch older but I quite liked it. A touch of water doesn’t hurt it but I needed only a touch to help the Apple notes blossom!

 

Unlike Calvados, Lairds to me gets less apple-y and more whiskey like with age. The 12 yo is good but feels more like brandy than a similar, or even older, Calvados. And even at 88 proof it tastes a bit thin to my burned out palate!

[kaporkle]

After a few nights I'm finally caught up on this thread. A lot of great info here, thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience.

I'd like to pick up a nicer bottle of Armagnac, or possibly Cognac, from the local Total Wine and was hoping for recommendations. Here is some of their stock:

 

Chateau Du Busca 1978 - $190

Chateau De Laubade 1980, 1990, 1999, 2000 - $160, $110, $80, $75

DeLord 1981 - $130

DeLord 25 Yr - $100

Sempe 1982, 1985, 1995 - $160, $160, $150

 

And some of the more interesting (to me) cognacs they have available:

Cognac Jean Fillioux Tres Vieux 25 Yr - $130

Tesseron Cognac 76 XO Selection - $140

Delamain Cognac Pale & Dry XO - $125

 

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[fosmith]

On 11/1/2020 at 8:10 AM, kaporkle said:

After a few nights I'm finally caught up on this thread. A lot of great info here, thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience.

I'd like to pick up a nicer bottle of Armagnac, or possibly Cognac, from the local Total Wine and was hoping for recommendations. Here is some of their stock:

 

Chateau Du Busca 1978 - $190

Chateau De Laubade 1980, 1990, 1999, 2000 - $160, $110, $80, $75

DeLord 1981 - $130

DeLord 25 Yr - $100

Sempe 1982, 1985, 1995 - $160, $160, $150

 

And some of the more interesting (to me) cognacs they have available:

Cognac Jean Fillioux Tres Vieux 25 Yr - $130

Tesseron Cognac 76 XO Selection - $140

Delamain Cognac Pale & Dry XO - $125

 

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

Of these, I've had the Delord 25, the Tesseron 76 and the Delamain and none are worth the prices quoted.  Not that they're bad but at 40% abv, they're just not that interesting.  I've heard good things about the '78 Busca but haven't tried it.  If you haven't already, check out and join the Serious Brandy Facebook group.  There's a lot of good information and insights about Cognac, Armagnac, etc.