Craft Handed Spirit – Armagnac, artisanal ‘handmade’ spirit
Armagnac remains an artisanal treasure of the French terroir, with some 890 operators (winegrowers, distiller-merchants and cooperative cellars) producing in the Armagnac appellation area, located across three departments: Gers, Landes and Lot-et-Garonne.
The majority of independent producers use mobile stills during the winter season. They account for 30% of total production.
These "small productions" are the soul of Armagnac, with ancestral gestures and practices. It is this 'Craft Handed Spirit', artisanal and handmade, that is so appealing.
Often modest, always passionate, this spirit particularly influences our choices of Armagnacs that we offer.
An example of Craftsmanship: Domaine de Charron
Armagnac from Domaine de Charron
Discover the unique selection of cask-strength vintages born and aged entirely in Bas-Armagnac.
At Domaine de Charron, nature is given time to do its work. The vintages we offer reflect an authentic, living eau-de-vie, in perpetual and subtle evolution over the years.
''The vintage armagnacs from Domaine de Charron are not reduced; no water is added to lower the alcohol content, and they are therefore all "bruts de fût" (cask strength).''
Neither sugar nor coloring is added. They are aged in new oak barrels and sold at their natural aging degree, with no added water.
In the cellars, all the brandies are currently in barrels, with bottling traditionally done by hand, as orders come in.
While distillation has been carried out on the property with a mobile still since 1985, Domaine de Charron has owned its own still, dating from 1940, since 2012.
Distillation usually takes place before the end of the harvest year, continuously, in a traditional wood-fired Armagnac copper still. During these few uninterrupted days of this stage, the distiller's experienced hand repeatedly touches the machine to feel "its heat." Their expertise is essential to produce an eau-de-vie filled with the best aromas.
The eau-de-vie from Domaine de Charron leaves the still at degrees ranging between 52° and 53°, ready to offer its share to the angels for many years during its aging.
The bottling date is indicated on each label. From this date, the eau-de-vie will no longer age.
