Château Laballe Bas Armagnac 700ml 1983

Château Laballe Bas Armagnac in this release is made entirely from Baco, the hybrid variety unique to Armagnac among French appellations.

Baco 22A was bred in the Landes in 1898 and is the only hybrid permitted in a French appellation spirit; growers keep it because it ripens well on the sandy soils of Bas Armagnac and because its distillate ages more slowly and more richly than Ugni Blanc. Château Laballe, at Parleboscq on the edge of the Landes forest, has been in the Laudet family since 1820 and works with both varieties. Distillation is carried out in the estate's wood-fired copper still of 1923, and the spirit then spends many years in Chêne Noir Gascon — 410-litre barrels made from oak cut in the forest nearby — which slowly supplies tannin and spice. Nothing is added for colour, and the Armagnac is bottled brut de fût: unfiltered, at its natural strength, and often from a single barrel.

This is an after-dinner spirit: serve it neat at room temperature with dark chocolate, prunes in Armagnac or a strong cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.