Bas Armagnac Castarede 1986 50 cl

Bas Armagnac, Castarède district

Armagnac is often preferred over cognac because of its full-bodied and smooth taste. This French brandy, which has its roots in the 15th century in Gascony, benefits from the region's special soil and climate. The grapes ripen slowly, resulting in a more delicate aroma and finesse. Armagnac is aged in oak barrels and glass containers, and after several years of maturation, it is blended into types such as VS, VSOP, XO and Hors d'Age. In particularly good years, Armagnac Vintage is produced.

Castarède, established in 1832, is the oldest trading house in Armagnac. The Castarède family has run the business for six generations, and today Florence Castarède is at the helm. The company owns 16 hectares of vineyards in Bas Armagnac with the grape varieties Folle Blanche, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and soon also Baco. Castarède also buys grapes and wines, which are aged in the company's cellars. Their specialty is vintage Armagnacs, the oldest vintage dating back to 1893. Castarède's Armagnac is known for its rounded style, as the spirits are matured for a very long time in wooden barrels. For example, XO or Hors d'Age mature for 20 years instead of the legally required 10 years. Each bottle of Armagnac Vintage has a back label that guarantees the vintage and bottling date. Several of Castarède's products have achieved high scores in international assessments.

Bas Armagnac Castarède 1986 – France

Origin: Bas-Armagnac, Gascony, France
Producer: Maison Castarède (one of the oldest Armagnac houses, founded in 1832)

Bas Armagnac Castarède 1986 is a vintage Armagnac , distilled in 1986 and matured for over 30 years in French oak barrels . This vintage highlights both the unique terroir of Bas-Armagnac and the deep experience of the traditional Castarède house.

Typical grape varieties in Bas Armagnac:

Ugni Blanc – the most commonly used grape. Provides acidity and structure, suitable for long aging.

Baco 22A – cross between Folle Blanche and Noah. Gives fatness, depth and fullness. Very common in Bas-Armagnac.

Folle Blanche – the original grape of the region. Provides elegance and florality, but is delicate.

Colombard – used to a lesser extent. Contributes spicy and fruity nuances.

Tasting notes:

Scent: Intense bouquet with notes of walnut, dried flowers, old oak, prunes, tobacco and leather .

Taste: Deeply ripe and complex with flavors of burnt caramel, rancio (oxidative depth), dried fruit, nuts and spicy wood .

Aftertaste: Long, balanced and dry with persistent notes of leather, cedar and spices .

Style: A refined and classic vintage armagnac , dry and elegant with a clear hint of long barrel aging. Less sweet than cognac – more deep and rustic in its expression.

Serving suggestions:
Enjoy neat in a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature. Ideal as an end to a meal or as an accompaniment to a good cigar.