Darroze Luxe Gascon Armagnacs
A unique collection of Armagnacs, the result of work begun several generations ago.
It is in the heart of Gascony, region of Bas-Armagnac, in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, that the story of the Darroze family begins. In love with his South-West origins and its secular tradition, Jean Darroze, a cult chef of Landes gastronomy, took over his parents' small café-hotel-restaurant in 1928 and transformed it into a two-star restaurant, which earned him the nickname "King Jean".
He quickly introduced his son Francis to the culinary art, great wines and fine Gascon brandies. The Armagnac region is divided into three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Armagnac-Ténaréze and Haut-Armagnac, where the production of Armagnacs is now very limited because the winemakers produce Gascony country wines. These terroirs reflect oceanic influences, with significant sand deposits and having the Pyrenean mountains nearby, explains the presence of iron in the soil. This combination allows the production of a very complex, high quality Armagnac with incredible ageing potential.
From the age of 15, Francis Darroze followed his father to the producers of the region in search of quality products: foie gras and grain-fed poultry, mushrooms, game, fish from local rivers, seasonal fruits and vegetables, not to mention bottles of Armagnac.
Cultivating his love for tradition and authenticity, travelling with his father, an informed and demanding oenophile, through the famous Bas-Armagnac region and tasting the hidden treasures of this small estate that Francis Darroze became a true finder of owner's Armagnacs.
The first discoveries were made in the 1950s and 1960s, and more intensifly in the 1970s. From then on, Francis initiated the construction of a cellar specifically dedicated to ageing which would allow him to keep his treasures under his sole control.
Francis' son Marc, an oenologist by training, also followed in his father's footsteps in the late 1990s. Both complementary, both in search of treasures, have travelled the lands of Armagnac in search of these liquid gems.
Over generations, the Darroze family has never ceased to deepen its knowledge of these terroirs, properties and the wine producers who work there. Thus, over the years, a real bond has been established between the Darroze family and the winegrowers of this exceptional territory.
Going against what is generally done in the wine trade, the family has always made it a point of honor to apply a basic principle: to respect, in agreement with the owner, the terroirs’ specifics to each vineyard and to ensure its most perfect representation.
Thus, no blending of estates nor vintages are performed, in order to preserve the identity of each eau-de-vie. There is also no reduction by adding "petites eaux" in order to not only respect the alcoholic strength but also the aromatic power and nuances of each terroir. Hence, each Armagnac is very much about authenticity, bearing the name of its estate of origin, its vintage and the date of bottling, attesting its actual age; the brandy no longer ages in the bottle.
Thanks to the application of this basic principle, the Darroze collection allows infinite variations of terroirs, grape varieties and know-how to be transcribed.
The range that interests us today was initiated by Marc Darroze's desire to sublimate the exceptional. With his appetite for authenticity and excellence, he wished to refine some of his hidden treasures by enhancing the artisanal know-how at every stage of the product's conception.
From generation to generation, old Armagnacs are preciously kept in the family's cellars located in Roquefort. Today, the collection has grown to more than 250 different Armagnacs, from over forty estates and 50 vintages.
Marc, who now looks after the business by himself, has chosen decanting some of these most precious old Armagnacs into a unique collection entitled Luxe Gascon. Wonderful Armagnacs, as rare as they are, they are also full of history.
Each of the Armagnacs in the Luxe Gascon collection, some of which has seen war, comes from a unique batch, has its own vintage and ultimately its own history. All have been aged in Gascon oak barrels for the first few years before being transferred to older barrels to round out the tannins, have the aromas fully expand and finish in "dames-jeannes" where the oxidation will allow to continue to be refined while reducing the effect of time.
The crystal decanters that hold the precious eaux-de-vie of the Luxe Gascon collection are made by the Waltersperger crystal factory located in Normandy, France. Blown by mouth and shaped with meticulous and precise craftsmanship, these decanters have been especially produced to sublimate these exceptional Armagnacs.
The oak stopper is custom made by Cyril Larrouy, a woodturner in the Pyrenees. The waxed cotton lace that adorns the neck of the decanter and the delicate and meticulous engraving obtained by sandblasting the crystal using a traditional process, are precious details that give these decanters their beautiful, natural elegance.
Finesse, authenticity, rarity, elegance and excellence are all values that characterize the Luxe Gascon Armagnacs. Each batch is unique, each decanter is numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity as well as the respect for every step involved that justifies this very special luxury experience.
These bottles are the labour of work initiated several generations ago, coming from the best estates, located on the best terroirs. Selected, then matured and finally bottled, these treasures have become a true concentrate of aromas, flavors, unique expressions and true personality.
Luxe Gascon definitely is a very unique collection of Armagnacs, nurtured by the values of sharing, transmission, respect for the artisanal product, high standards and excellence, which only a handful of amateurs will have the privilege of tasting as this collection is highly confidential.
DARROZE Luxe Gascon - Bas-Armagnac - Millésime 1929 - limited edition - Carafe of 70 cl
DARROZE Luxe Gascon - Armagnac Ténarèze - Millésime 1936 - limited edition - Carafe of 70 cl
DARROZE Luxe Gascon - Bas-Armagnac - Millésime 1946 - limited edition - Carafe of 70 cl
DARROZE - Bas-Armagnacs - Different cuvees and vintages available.
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