Ducastaing 1921 - magnum - Grand Armagnac millésime - b. 1980s - 1,5 liter

[This should be from the early 1980s]

The cuvée
Armagnac is France's oldest and most prestigious wine brandy. In the 16th century, it was sold in pharmacies as ‘medicine’. From the 17th century onwards, Armagnac was matured in oak casks. Today, the Armagnac region is divided into three production zones: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Unlike Cognac, Armagnac has a range of grape varieties, each different from the next, which create a particular aromatic balance: Bacco contributes to the structure and gives full, rich, heavy aromas that require long ageing to express all their roundness, smoothness and length on the palate. Folle blanche brings freshness and fruitiness in the first few years of ageing. Ugni blanc, ideal for distillation, and Colombard complete the list of grape varieties most widely grown in the region. After 15 years' ageing, the Armagnac develops tastes of hazelnut, orange peel, cocoa and prune, mixed with aromas of rose, verbena, leather, vanilla and even cinnamon. These Armagnacs have a ‘fatness’ and roundness that exude the terroir. After 25 years, Armagnacs lose their strength and soften. Their original character fades, giving way to the fragrance of oak casks, and they become remarkably long on the palate.

Cellar storage
Carefully packaged and insured for the value of the batch.