And finally we come toArmagnac,the oldest distillate in France.
Here too the territory is divided according to the composition of the soils, which inversely to Cognac, rewards sandy soils at the expense of calcareous ones.
Haut-Armagnac produces very little Armagnac and only in the hills, being mainly a limestone area.
Ténarèze, which produces about 50% of Armagnac on the market, has heterogeneous land and diversified products can therefore be found. The area is cultivated but also has a large extension of cereal crops.
Bas-Armagnac is considered the best production area of Armagnac. The sandy soil rich in marine sediments together with the exposure create a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of white grapes, which give the aberists produced in this area great aging capacity and very elegant aromas. The area is in turn divided by ancient tradition and not officially into: Grand Bas-Armagnac, Fins Bas-Armagnac, Petits Bas-Armagnac, to emphasize the value of the products.
Armagnacs of over ten years bring the year of distillation on the label if thousandth and usually on the back label there is also the year of bottling, making it easy to calculate the period spent in barrels. Alternatively, if they are assembled, they declare the age of the youngest distillate that is in the bottle. The latter are distilled for meditation, for enthusiasts or curious, who give long and intense sensations from plum to violet, from vanilla to spices.
Italiano
English