ARMAGNAC VSOP MONLUC TENAREZE

Grape varieties : Ugni Blanc & Baco 22-A
Harvest years : 2017 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013
Aged in French oak barrels
40 % VOL · 700 ML · Product of France

Appearance : Clear / Amber
Nose : Candied Citrus / Mint / Clove / Vanilla Sugar / Sandalwood
Palate : Candied Citrus / Chocolate / Vanilla Sugar / Sandalwood / Espelette Pepper
Tasting notes : Round with a very nice length of sandalwood and Espelette pepper

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 era, 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 medieval times, the Saracens passed through and introduced the alembic. Moreover, the English, occupants repelled from Gascon country in the 14th century, viewed the trade of Dutch merchants with great displeasure. Indeed, Dutch ships were only allowed to pass through Bordeaux - a city under English possession - and sail up the Garonne to load wines from the Haut-Pays Gascon from the spring following the harvest. It was 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. They then had the idea of distilling part of these wines to incorporate the resulting alcohol into the remaining wines. This fortification had the effect of guaranteeing good preservation of the wines.

From this time on, in Armagnac, wine was distilled to produce an edible alcohol. This was in the 15th century, a great originality, since until then, alcohol was reserved for doctors, perfumers and alchemists. The juxtaposition of the inventive spirit of the Gascons and their admirable eau-de-vie must have led, one imagines, to a proliferation of family recipes, some of which were quite original.

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

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