Manufacturing - Assembly

After the work in the vineyard, after the production of specific wines for distillation, after passage through the still to obtain a beautiful eau-de-vie and after the work with the wood, namely the aging in oak barrels, the cellar master once again enters the scene. Why and how? Firstly because it is the only one, as we have seen previously (see ageing) to understand when and how its eaux-de-vie need special attention: aeration for example. Then, it is he who will know how to "work" his Armagnacs to improve them. Alongside vintage or cask-strength Armagnacs, which require virtually no intervention, blending is a credit to the expertise of the cellar master.

When he thinks that the aging of his eaux-de-vie is starting to be interesting, or sufficient, the cellar master steps in. He will begin to make what are called coupes: namely harmonious blends of several eaux-de-vie from different origins. Mean by this that the master of the place will blend together spirits of different ages, from different grape varieties and that he will deem complementary by their level of aging, by their aromas which will be able to enrich the final project.

As you will have understood, at this stage of the elaboration of a blended Armagnac, the history, the culture, the personality of the cellar master will count. From one cellar master to another, on the terroir of Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze or Haut-Armagnac, the ways of working will be different. You will find the unconditional Baco / Folle Blanche / Ugni Blanc pairing, when others will never unite one of these three grape varieties with the other two. So we can say without being mistaken that there are as many tastes and styles of Armagnacs in the category of blends as there are and have been cellar masters in the appellation.

Also, it is not always easy to understand an assembly and first of all the label that you read. An important rule, a blend of 15 years means that the youngest of the blended armagnacs has aged 15 years where the other eaux-de-vie composing this blend can be much older. Then, you should look carefully at the label on which you will find the blended grape varieties and, often, the percentage of each of them in the blend. Beautiful discoveries, certainly, in the immensity of the blends in which the Maison de l'Armagnac is happy to accompany you.