Francis Darroze Bas-Armagnac Les Grands Assemblages 12 Ans 750 ML

After 10 years in contact with the oak, Armagnac starts to take on the aromas of ageing. The fruit that is still present, is accompanied by the first aromas of soft spices such as liquorice and cinnamon. Still quite fiery, this eau de vie will become more complex after a few minutes breathing in your glass. As this is a relatively young Armagnac, it is quite powerful and requires a little time in the glass to reveal itself. Wine Enthusiast 90 points - Allow this bright amber brandy some air exposure, and the reward is a dried- fruit aroma and a vanilla flavor, with touches of cinnamon- and clove. It feels a bit drying on the palate..Kara Newman, December/2012 Darroze sources exclusively from the region once known as the Grand Bas-Armagnac. Each estate is selected for typicity, terroir and quality. The diversity of crus, vintages, grape varieties and styles held in the family cellars allows Marc Darroze to create masterly blends known as Les Grands Assemblages. Chosen for their complementary characteristics, the selected Armagnacs in each blend are different ages. The age on each bottle indicates that of the youngest Armagnac in the blend. Each Grand Assemblage reveals the evolution of the spirit through aging in barrel and the resulting balance between alcohol, aromas and tannins. All the Darroze vintage Bas-Armagnacs (known as their Unique Collection) are aged in barrels more or less new depending on the tannins required for at least 10 years, which is the legal minimum. The optimal balance between flavor, tannin and alcohol is reached after 12 to 15 years, after which they are transferred to older barrels. After 50 years, the vintage Armagnac is transferred to demijohns. The bottling date is shown on every label, indicating the length of barrel aging. The base wines are fermented naturally and distillation occurs either at the estate of origin or at a respected mobile distiller. Armagnac is made using a single, continuous distillation process which yields a fiery spirit that emphasizes the singular character of its origin. (86°) After 10 years in oak, this Armagnac is beginning to show mature elements of soft fruit and sweet baking spices.