What are the different types of Armagnac?
Armagnac is sorted by area and by age. The three areas are Bas-Armagnac, Armagnac-Tenareze and Haut-Armagnac. Age terms are VS, VSOP, XO and Hors d'Age, plus single-harvest vintages. Sources differ on exact minimums, so check the producer.
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What are the types of Armagnac by area?
| Area | Where and style |
|---|---|
| Bas-Armagnac | Western Gers and the Landes; sandy-loam soils; a retailer describes fine, delicate eaux-de-vie |
| Armagnac-Tenareze | Northern Gers and Lot-et-Garonne; central position, a compromise between the other two |
| Haut-Armagnac | The rest of the area; clay-limestone soils; a retailer describes more robust, complex spirits |
The producer site Armagnac.com confirms the three designations and where they lie. Style descriptions are a retailer’s summary, so treat them as general.
What are the age types?
A French retailer, Vinatis, lists the minimums below. Figures differ between sources and the XO figure has changed over time: the armagnac.fr label guide gives 6 years for XO and Napoleon, Vinatis says more than 5, and trade reports say the XO minimum rose to 10 years in 2018. Vinatis lists:
- VS: at least two years in oak.
- VSOP: at least four years.
- XO: more than five years.
- Hors d’Age: more than ten years.
- Vintage (millesime): from a single harvest year, sold only from ten years of age.
Check the producer’s own statement of what the age term means before relying on one number.
How is Armagnac aged?
Armagnac is a golden amber wine brandy aged in oak barrels, according to Armagnac.com. The Armagnac.com shop lists bottles from 5 to 130 years old. Armagnac stops aging once bottled, so a bottling date shows the years in cask.
Is Armagnac the same as Cognac?
Both are French grape brandies from different areas with their own rules. Armagnac comes from Gascony in southwest France. For Cognac age rules, see how is brandy aged.
How do you choose?
- Younger VS or VSOP for cocktails and cooking.
- XO, Hors d’Age or vintage for sipping neat.
- Read whether a bottle is from one area or a blend.
People also ask
What are the three Armagnac areas?
Bas-Armagnac, Armagnac-Tenareze and Haut-Armagnac.
What does Hors d'Age mean for Armagnac?
A retailer lists it as more than ten years, but check the producer.
Is a vintage Armagnac older?
It comes from a single harvest and, per one retailer, is sold from ten years of age.
Sources
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