Cross-Regional Armagnac Battle : Arton La Flamme 2011 v. Delord L'Authentique v. Pellehaut 1982
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2023
- Recently I crossed off a bucket list item by finally getting myself a bottle from the rarely-represented region of Haut-Armagnac, which runs to the east and south of the better-known Bas-Armagnac and Ténarèze regions (you can find a rough map at francetoday.com/food-drink/wi... ). Said bottle, from Chateau Arton's second line "La Flamme," wasn't particularly cheap for what it is (a not-quite-10yo ugni blanc), but who cares? I'd like to think that a Haut-Armagnac on the shelf still instantly makes me one of the coolest brandy nerds on UA-cam. And what better way to test out my new Haut-Armagnac than to pit it against some of its neighbors in friendly competition?
So that's what we've got, a cross-Armagnac battle between three bottles from the three different regions that all cost circa a hundo. Off we go:
- Chateau Arton "La Flamme" Haut-Armagnac 2011 (aged 2011 to 3/22, circa 9 years old; Ugni Blanc; 50.5% ABV), 86+/100
- Delord "L'Authentique" Bas-Armagnac (NAS, stated averaged of 30 years old, bottled 5/12/16; 57% Ugni Blanc, 16% Colombard, 15% Folle Blanche, 12% Baco; 45.8% ABV), 88/100
- Chateau de Pellehaut Armagnac-Ténarèze 1982 ((bottled 2021, 39 years old; ugni blanc; 48% ABV), 89/100
I've done reviews of Delord and Pellehaut before (see • Intro to Armagnac: Art... and • Exploring Armagnac-Tén... ), and these are particularly good examples (and, even better, they're ones you can find in Chicago). The little La Flamme, sadly but without too much surprise, can't quite keep up in this company, but it's delightful all the same and I'll be happy to have it around for any curious fellow brandy nerds that stop by.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
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In other Armagnac news: Tariquet has taken the next step with their Scotch-like 'pure folle blanche' bottlings (after the 8/12/15yo cask strength bottlings).
There is now a pure folle blanche VS bottled at 45%, priced slightly below the 8yo which is now >40€ rather than
As it is with the rest of the world, I guess... 🤷♀️
You got me into Armagnac and I’m grateful. My fav so far is a 1999 LEncantada Domaine de Laque 52.7%. Drinking it now as I watch this.
Nice! I haven't tried any of the Laques yet...
unfortunately, all the delords (and all imported brandies at that) in my area are at 40%. if I'm going to spend the money on shipping more interesting stuff, it needs to be worth it. thanks again for the interesting reviews and helping us make informed decisions.
I'd ask your local retailer or even reach out to the distributor. Stores aren't likely to stick their neck out for $100+ bottles without good reason, but if they can get the standard Delord range they might very well be able to bring in special stuff like the l'Authentique if someone promises they'll buy one.
@@differentspirits4157 thanks for the advice!
Hey, I had the Pellehaut 82, bottled 2019, 47.5% abv. Fresh stuff for 36 (and a half) years old.
* a * Pellehaut 1982
They're growing on me! Pellehaut is rarely a screaming value, but they can still box with bottlings at way higher price points. (And yes, they manage to somehow balance freshness and oaaakkkk.)
Vielle prune any good?
It varies from producer to producer but in general, yes! Here's two I liked from Mette, for example: ua-cam.com/video/9NkPaBtAUXU/v-deo.html
I do love a good Armagnac. Unfortunately, to find one at a reasonable strength and value is a unicorn. The larger producers like Delord and Dartigalongue seem to think everyone wants bland spirits at 40%. I have had very good brandies from each when I have found those needles in haystacks at 45%-50%. Why don’t these marketing bastards think about me once in a while? I can only speak for myself, but their standard 12 year or so offerings at say $50 - I would readily pay $65 for if they were at cask strength (for them, say 47%). That would be 30% more for about 18% more product. Of course, I was trained as an engineer and am not capable of grasping the complex theory of marketing.
Apropos my other replies, I actually think importers, producers, and occasionally the distributors *are* thinking about you, at least a little. Excepting control states and other difficult situations, there often *are* higher-strength Armagnacs sitting around in the warehouses, it's just that the retailers don't want to stock them because they think there's no demand. (You can be that demand!!)