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Armagnac

Armagnac is the  oldest type of Brandy in France, with documented references to  distillation dating back to the early 15th century. The Armagnac region is  located in the heart of the ancient province of Gascony in the southwest  corner of France. As in Cognac, there are regional growing zones:  Bas-Armagnac, Haut Armagnac, and Tenareze. The primary grapes used in  making Armagnac are likewise the Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard.  But distillation takes place in the unique alambic Armagnacais, a type of  column still that is even more "inefficient" than a typical  Cognac pot still.

 

The resulting  brandy has a rustic, assertive character and aroma that requires  additional cask aging to mellow it out. The best Armagnacs are aged in  casks made from the local Monlezun oak. In recent years Limousin and  Troncais oak casks have been added to the mix of casks as suitable  Monlezun oak becomes harder to find.

 

Most Armagnacs  are blends, but unlike Cognac, single vintages and single vineyard  bottlings can be found. The categories of Armagnac are generally the same  as those of Cognac (V.S., V.S.O.P., X.O., etc.). Blended Armagnacs  frequently have a greater percentage of older vintages in their mix than  comparable Cognacs, making them a better value for the discerning  buyer.