ARMAGNAC VS MONLUC TENAREZE

ARMAGNAC VS MONLUC TENAREZE 40 degrees - 70 cl

Saint-Puy, the vineyard and the Gascons

In Saint-Puy, a small Gascon village perched on its hill, there is a castle whose origin dates back more than ten centuries. Already in the Neolithic period, several thousand years ago, people chose to settle on this promontory covered with oaks. The polished stone axes and arrowheads found on the terrace attest to their industry and their first exchanges. A few tens of centuries later, the Romans developed viticulture, thus bringing wealth to this region that would become Gascony. In the medieval period, the Saracens passed through and introduced the still. Moreover, the English, occupants repelled from Gascon country in the 14th century, looked very unfavorably upon the trade of Dutch merchants. Indeed, Dutch ships were only allowed to pass Bordeaux – a town under English possession – and sail up the Garonne to load wines from Upper Gascony from the spring following the harvest. It was then already too late for many wines of that era, which, more or less well stored, did not have the patience to wait many months and were spoiled upon the arrival of the Dutch merchants. These then had the idea of distilling a part of these wines to incorporate the obtained alcohol into the remaining wines. This fortification had the effect of ensuring good preservation of the wines.

From this period on, in Armagnac, wine began to be distilled to produce a drinking alcohol. This was a great originality in the 15th century, as until then, alcohol was reserved for doctors, perfumers and alchemists. The juxtaposition of the inventive spirit of the Gascons and their admirable brandy must have led, one can imagine, to a proliferation of family recipes, some of which were quite original.

CAP Vintage and its team are delighted to offer you this historic Armagnac VS Monluc from the world of Armagnac.

Follow us on Facebook