Dartigalongue XO Bas Armagnac

Dartigalongue, in the Western part of Bas Armagnac, lays claim to being the oldest house in the appellation. The family began to distill in 1813. Their vineyards reside on soils that are more sandy than those in the East of Bas Armaganc. These sandy soils tend to produce grapes with higher acidity, which results in very round spirits with plenty of finesse. The house also employs mostly Gascogne oak (90%) which gives the eau de vie more spice than those aged in majority Limousin oak. It remains a family run operation with production around 60,000 bottles per year.

After tasting three expressions of quite disparate age, to generalise, the house style is fine, elegant and drier than most other Armagnacs we've encountered.

Tasting note: Bright brass copper appearance; issues seductive aromas of creme caramel, vanilla custard and toffee, with the candied phase gradually displaced by dried fruits after aeration. A soft, supple entry carries through to a mid weighted and elegant profile of light prune, nougat and cedary oak followed by hints of cigar box towards the finish, ending dry and nicely balanced.