Baron de Sigognac 1985 Vintage Armagnac 70cl

Baron de Sigognac 1985 Vintage Armagnac will make a perfect 40th birthday present for anyone born in 1985, celebrating a milestone birthday, anniversary, or a significant achievement. This is a truly exceptional and unforgettable gift for someone who deeply appreciates the finer things in life.

Armagnac is often regarded as the oldest spirit in the world, with records of its distillation and enjoyment dating back to 1411. Armagnac is also a region, part of the southwest of France and is divided into three “sous-appellations”: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Armagnac, along with its more illustrious relative Cognac, are the two most famous French Brandies. In former times, it was even used for medicinal purposes.

The Owners of Baron de Sigognac, The Guasch family, have been living in the Gascony region since the 12th century. They have owned Château Bordeneuve since 1974 and are one of the region’s largest courtier and negociant (broker and merchant) operations. Today the father-and-son team of Jean-Claude and Thomas look after viticulture, vinification and distillation. As well as Baron de Sigognac, they also bottle Chateau Bordeneuve Armagnacs and a range of liqueurs from the region. The estate has some 60 hectares of vineyards – 75 % are planted with Ugni Blanc and the rest with Baco 22A. The vineyards are superbly situated on very fine clay-sand soils, which are high in acidity and in some places mixed with iron, hence the local name “sables fauves” or tawny sands.

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, toasted 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 1985 Vintage Armagnac is presented in a wooden gift box.

These rare vintage Armagnacs are only available in strictly limited quantities.

Also in 1985

March 18th – The long-running Australian TV soap, Neighbours, begins.

April 7th – Wham! becomes the first western band to perform in China.

September 1st – The wreck of the RMS Titanic is located by a joint American-French Expedition.

September 22nd – the first Farm Aid concert, founded by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, is held in Champaign, Illinois