Top 10 Armagnac's

[wouter]

Hi fellow Eaux-de-Vie lovers,

I am thinking about a list of Top 10 Armagnacs to publish on Cognacfans.com.

Do you guys have any input for this, as I haven't tasted that many Armagnacs yet....

Looking forward to your replies!

[BSinTX]

As much as I like Armagnac, I don't know that I can actually name 10 brands!! Darroze has some fine products as does Baron de Lustrac. State laws prohibit my obtaining liquor in the mail, so I am limited to what I can buy locally (I live in Kentucky, not exactly an Armagnac drinkers paradise.)

[numen]

It's tough to name particular bottles/expressions because, really, there are so many producers, vintages, blends, and everything. In terms of producers/labels, I'd say that you've got to start with Francis Darroze, the "pope" of Armagnac. He's a negociant, so there's rather a bit of variation from estate-to-estate and vintage-to-vintage.

Laberdolive has an excellent reputation, so that should be on the list.
I've also heard that Marcel Trepout is well esteemed.

From my experiences, I've also really been impressed by Boingneres and Laubade (though I wish that Laubade were served at greater than 40% ABV)

Even looking at the various estates listed in the Charles Neal book "Armagnac," so many of the estates are tiny and some produce for other labels (e.g. Darroze).

[wouter]

Thanks for your comments! You guys are right, there are so many Armagnac brands...


I will definitely taste many more Armagnacs in the coming year, hopefully I will be able to tell my personal top 10 next year

[bobt]

1. Baron de Lustrac 1963
2. Gaston LeGrand 1986
3. Baron de Lustrac 1978 Folle Blanche
4. Castarede XO 20 yr
5. Delord Hors dÀge
6. Domaine de Joy Folle Blanche
7. Delord Napoleon
8. de Montal 1968
9. Baron de Lustrac XO
10. Castarede Napoleon