Everything about Armagnac Drink totally explained
Armagnac is a distinctive kind of
brandy or
eau de vie, made of mainly the same grapes as
cognac and undergoing the same
aging in
oak barrels, but mainly with
column still distillation (cognac and part of armagnac is distilled in
pot stills). Armagnac production is overseen by INAO and the Bureau National Interprofessionel de l'Armagnac (BNIA).
Along with
cognac in
Cognac, France and
sherry in
Jerez,
Spain, it's one of only three officially demarcated
brandy regions in Europe.
Armagnac is one of two rivals for cognac wine recognition as the finest producer of eau de vie (brandy) in the world. Its name comes from the
Armagnac region of France where it originates.
Its quantity of production is significantly lower than that of the Cognac region; for every six bottles of Armagnac sold around the world there are one hundred bottles of cognac sold.
Armagnac has been making brandy for around 200 years longer than Cognac.
Geography
The Armagnac region lies between the
Adour and
Garonne rivers in the foothills of the
Pyrenees. A part of this historical region is permitted to grow the grapes that are used in the manufacture of
brandy that may be labelled with the Armagnac name. This area was officially demarcated when Armagnac was granted
AOC status in
1936.
The official production area is divided into three districts which lie in the departements of
Gers,
Landes and
Lot-et-Garonne. The May 25th 1909 Falliere’s decree describes the three districts:
Each of these areas is controlled by separate
appellation regulations. Although the term "bas" means "low" in
French, the best armagnacs are principally produced in Bas-Armagnac.
Production
The region contains 40,000 acres (160 km²) of grape-producing vines.
The production of armagnac differs in several ways from that of
cognac and it's the oldest "
eau de vie", dating back to the 12th century.
Armagnac is mainly distilled once and at a lower % of alcohol than cognac, meaning that the former retains more of the fruit character, whereas cognac's second distillation results in a lower balance. Part of the production is also distilled twice. Armagnacs are aged for nearly the same period as cognac, which has a significant impact on the grape once it has been distilled. Armagnac is mainly aged in local oak casks giving them a nice delicate colour, as well as an intricate flavour which is more complex than that of cognac.
Armagnac ages in oak barrels which give it its complex flavour and colour. Armagnac exists in several ages: the minimum for bottles is two years. In the case of assemblies, the age on the bottle refers to the youngest component. An "XXX" or "VS" armagnac is a mix of several armagnacs of at least two years of ageing in wood. For the VSOP, the ageing is at least five years, and for XO, at least six. Richer and more interesting flavours appear from 15 or 20 years of ageing, or more. Older and better armagnacs are dated ("vintages"); these bottles contain armagnac from a single year.
Ageing in the
barrel removes a part of the water by evaporation (known as "
part des anges", "angel's tribute" or "angel's share") and allows more complex aromatic compounds to appear by oxidation, which further improves the flavour. When the alcohol part reaches 40% or more the armagnac is kept in large glass bottles, called "Dame Jeanne", for storage. From then on the armagnac doesn't age, and can be bottled for sale from the next year on.
As with any "
eau de vie", armagnac is stored vertically to avoid damaging the stopper with alcohol. Once opened a bottle of armagnac stays drinkable for years.
Ageing Requirements for armagnac are:
VS [VerySpecial] " XXX "- at least one year old
VSOP [VerySuperior Old Pale] or Réserve - at least four years old
XO, Napoléon, Extra, Vieille Réserve - at least five years old.
Hors d'âge - at least ten years old
Armagnac is generally drier than Cognac, which results in it being preferred by many connoisseurs of brandy.
Grapes
Ten different varieties of grape are authorised for use in the production of armagnac. Of these, four form the principal part:
Ugni Blanc
Baco 22A
Folle Blanche
Colombard
The remaining varieties include Jurançon and Picquepoul.
Health benefits
Research has suggested that Armagnac has health enhancing qualities.
Research has shown that it can help prevent heart disease and serve to obviate obesity. Scientists at Bordeaux University have concluded that a moderate daily dose of Armagnac could lengthen one's life. For example, those living in Gascony, the area of France wherein Armagnac is made, tend to live around five years longer than the average in France. Some speculate that Armagnac's health benefits relate to its unique distillation process and aging. The south western area of France where Armagnac is produced has some of the lowest cardiovascular disease rates in the world. It has to be taken in moderation, though. The best amount seems to be three centilitres a day--greater amounts being potentially unhealthy. Researchers have concluded that Armagnac's health benefits are unrelated to its alcohol content.
History
Armagnac is the oldest wine distillate of France, in origin it was consumed for its therapeutic merits. In the 14th century, the benefits of Armagnac were written down and in 1313 Prior Vital Dufor, a Cardinal, claimed it had 40 virtues.
A translation stated: "It makes disappear redness and burning of the eyes, and stops them from tearing; it cures hepatitis, sober consumption adhering. It cures gout, cankers and fistula by ingestion, restores the paralysed member by massage and heals wounds of the skin by application. It enlivens the spirit, partaken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and retards senility. And when retained in the mouth, it loosens the tongue and emboldens the wit, if someone timid from time to time himself permits."
In the XIVe century we also finds traces of its consumption and production. One can go back still further in the time: Romans brought the wine-growing, the Arabs the distillation methods and the Celts the barrel.
Between the XVe and the XVIIe century more and more traces are found and we can see that Armagnac is traded on the markets of Saint-Sever, Mont-de-Marsan and Aire-sur-Adour. But the Armagnac thanks its real commercial development to the Dutch.
The English prohibited all other wines than those of Bordeaux the use of the Garonne, in order to get round the English embargo the Dutch then came with the idea to promote the distillation of the wines of the Gascogne.
To be able to endure the fluctuations of good and bad years the production was rapidly intensified. By decree of the 25th of May 1909 the area got its limits and on the 6th of Augusts 1936 the Armagnac area officially became an AOC, Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.
Further Information
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