Driven by the energy from eighth-generation Cyril Laudet and his wife Julie, Château Laballe has emerged as one of this historic region’s most progressive houses. Laudet took over the family Domaine in 2007, determined to bring the oldest of French agricultural spirits back in line with what is considered best practice in other regions. There has been a considerable shift towards improving the quality of the base material, to the extent that many of Laballe’s vines are now farmed biodynamically. Then, intent on bringing great Armagnac to a broader audience, Laballe has forged a brilliant and authentic range of blended spirits for the bar trade as well as grape-specific bottlings.

At a time when contemporary drinkers are crying out for spirits of authenticity, heritage and character, Armagnac is well poised to tap into the zeitgeist. Here is an organic Estate that not only makes outstanding brandy but also controls every step of production from vineyard to bottle. When it comes to distilling and aging, there are no plans to sacrifice the authenticity of Armagnac’s time-honoured traditions which impart such impressive flavour and character into their spirits. For example, the Domaine still uses the same cart-mounted, wood-fired, copper still that has been in operation since 1923. With this ancient still, the temperature varies significantly during the distillation, imparting extra character to the Armagnacs, as opposed to gas stills which operate at a constant temperature. The spirits then age in Chêne Noir Gascon, the 410-litre barrels made of oak from the nearby Landes Forest.

At a time when contemporary drinkers are crying out for spirits of authenticity, heritage and character, Armagnac is well poised to tap into the zeitgeist.

Alongside crafting an exciting range of Armagnacs for the bar trade, Laballe manages an enviable collection of aged stocks going all the way back to 1888. Great, aged Armagnac can convey a deep sense of place in a manner that is rare in the spirits world, and Laballe’s fabulous examples are loaded with personality, fine textures, and flavours that echo across the palate. The extended maturation within thick-grained oak imparts plenty of tannin and spice, giving Laballe’s vintage Armagnac its distinctive style. There is no addition of colour, and all the spirits are bottled brut de fût (unfiltered and at their natural alcohol level), often from a single barrel. Vintage Armagnacs are a great way to commemorate a birthday or anniversary and are typically well priced when compared to Whiskies or Cognacs of similar ages. Should you require a specific birthday vintage bottle, please let us know.