Baron de Sigognac VSOP Reserve Bas Armagnac 40% 70cl

£39.95

Available on backorder

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Description

Baron de Sigognac VSOP Reserve Bas Armagnac is a blended Armagnac. The youngest spirit in a VSOP Armagnac blend must be a minimum of 4 years old by law. Sigognac’s VSOP Reserve is aged for at least 5 years old.

The Owners of Baron de Sigognac, The Guasch family, have been in Gascony since the 12th century. They have owned the château at Bordeneuve since 1974 and are one of the region’s largest courtier and negociant operations. Today the father-and-son team of Jean-Claude and Thomas look after viticulture, vinification and distillation. The Domaine is almost unique in the region as all its production is distilled into Armagnac instead of wine. Their vineyards are located in Bas Armagnac, which is considered by many to be where the best Armagnacs come from. There is one short column, alembic still at the Domaine (almost 100 years old), which produces up to 50 to 60 casks of new spirit annually. The wine is distilled on its lees, and drawn off at 55 to 58%, depending on the harvest. Distillation is continuous through day and night and manually controlled to account for temperature and humidity changes.

Once distilled the clear, colourless spirit is aged in new oak barrels for nearly a year. It is then transferred to older barrels for a longer, slower maturation. It is here, in barrel, that the Armagnac leaches vanillins and tannins from the toasted oak which lend the spirit colour and flavour. The depth of colour and complexity of flavour increase all the time the spirit is aged in cask, the colour can range from pale straw to rich amber. As Armagnac ages it becomes darker in colour and softer, smoother and more elegant on the palate whilst aromas and flavours of prunes, violets, fig, honey, butterscotch and rancio develop. Part of the alcohol evaporates naturally during the long years in cask – this is known as “la part des anges” (the angel’s share).

Baron de Sigognac VSOP Reserve Bas Armagnac is a blend of 80% Ugni Blanc and 20% Baco. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

What is VSOP Armagnac?

For Armagnac, the term VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) on the label means that the youngest spirit in the blend has to be a minimum of 4 years old. Often, Armagnac producers will use much older Armagnacs as they bring a richer aromatic palette. VSOP (and XO) is a less commonly used term in Armagnac compared to Cognac and often producers tend to bottle as vintages or use the terms 10 year old, 20 year old etc. VSOP sits between VS (minimum 1 year old) and XO (minimum 10 years old).

Tasting Notes

Yellow gold-amber colour and beautifully limpid.

Complex and strong nose, giving floral notes with a characteristic perfume of plums.

Very good balance in the mouth, endowed with a suave vanilla taste showing notes of crystallised fruits, which is exceedingly rare to find in a VSOP.

 

To Serve

VSOP Armagnac can be served over ice, or in cocktails. It can also be savoured neat in a large brandy glass.

This can be served slightly chilled and with foie gras, preferably pan-fried.

It also pairs well with blue cheeses such as Fourme or Roquefort.

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