Francis Darroze Bas-armagnac Les Grands Assemblages 12 Ans 750ml

$114.99 $113.39 price per bottle

Darroze sources exclusively from the region once known as the Grand Bas-Armagnac. Each estate is selected for typicity, terroir and quality. The diversity of crus, vintages, grape varieties and styles held in the family cellars allows Marc Darroze to create masterly blends known as Les Grands Assemblages. Chosen for their complementary characteristics, the selected Armagnacs in each blend are different ages. The age on each bottle indicates that of the youngest Armagnac in the blend. Each Grand Assemblage reveals the evolution of the spirit through aging in barrel and the resulting balance between alcohol, aromas and tannins. All the Darroze vintage Bas-Armagnacs (known as their Unique Collection) are aged in barrels more or less new depending on the tannins required for at least 10 years, which is the legal minimum. The optimal balance between flavor, tannin and alcohol is reached after 12 to 15 years, after which they are transferred to older barrels. After 50 years, the vintage Armagnac is transferred to demijohns. The bottling date is shown on every label, indicating the length of barrel aging. Wine maker notes The base wines are fermented naturally and distillation occurs either at the estate of origin or at a respected mobile distiller. Armagnac is made using a single, continuous distillation process which yields a fiery spirit that emphasizes the singular character of its origin.
Technical notes (86°) After 10 years in oak, this Armagnac is beginning to show mature elements of soft fruit and sweet baking spices.
Producer In love with his South West and its centuries old traditions, this highly respected chef of the local Landaise cuisine introduced his son Francis to the culinary arts, to great wines and to the fine Gascon eaux-de-vie. It is by cultivating this taste for tradition and authenticity that Francis Darroze mastered the talent for discovering individual estate Armagnacs, travelling all over the famous Bas-Armagnac terroir with his knowledgeable and exacting wine loving father and tasting hidden treasures in little, out of reach, unknown estates. These first discoveries date back to the 50s and 60s, then intensified from 1970 with the construction of a cellar specifically dedicated to ageing. His son Marc, a trained oenologist, joined his father to follow in his footsteps in 1996. Both complementing each other and both ‘treasure hunters’, as Martine Nouet nicknamed them in her book 1/2 Eaux-de-vie: le guide », they have roamed the lands of Armagnac for all these years searching for this golden liquid that they offer to you today. Treasure hunters firstly by taste, but also to satisfy a loyal clientele looking for quality eaux-de-vie, together they are the discoverers of Armagnac. Today, Marc Darroze runs the company alone as Francis has taken his well-deserved retirement. He continues his work however, like a guardian with a watchful eye, sometimes like an antiquarian initiated by his father to help us make these treasures accessible.