Domaine Tariquet – Bas-Armagnac – 1995

Domaine Tariquet is located in the South West of France and is owned by the Grassa family since 1912. With 1,125 hectares of vines (100 of which are dedicated exclusively to the Bas-Armagnac production), it is the largest independent single estate in France. As propriétaire-récoltant (wine grower), all the Bas-Armagnacs are made exclusively from the grapes harvested from the family-owned estate's vineyards. The nobility of the eaux-de-vie is based on the quality of the distilled wines, hence the meticulous care given to the cultivation of the vines. The wines from the September harvest are distilled in November and December. The distillation takes place in an authentic armagnac copper alambic, grape variety by grape variety, using the traditional continuous distillation process. This traditional copper alambic is heated by wood fire, giving a second lease of life to the acacia vine stakes. Then, quietly safeguarded by the estate's hundred-year-old cellars, the eaux-de-vie are aged separately for the first years in new barrels or pièces as they are locally called. The Grassa family prefers to use lightly toasted barrels made from the French timber forests renowned for their fine grain. The colour of Domaine Tariquet's Bas-Armagnacs comes exclusively from the ageing in these barrels. The light tint results from the alchemy between the delicately toasted oak and the eau-de-vie, truly respecting their natural colour.