Baron Legrand Armagnac: history, overview of types and flavors
The Gascony province in France, also called the "Armagnac Valley", has three sub-regions: Bas-Armagnac, Haut-Armagnac, Tenareze. Each of them is famous for its lands and vineyards. But the most prestigious area for doing business is considered to be Lower Armagnac (Bas-Armagnac).
This is where the famous Baron G Armagnac is produced. Legrand (Baron Legrand). A brief history of the brand and the House of Lero
The story in brief
The Baron Legrand brand of Armagnac belongs to the Lheraud cognac house. For the first time this estate was mentioned in 1680, when the company was run by a certain Alexandre Leroux. But in 1970, the reins of power passed to Guy Lheraud, and to emphasize this status, Guy launched the production and sale of cognac under his own name "Cognac Guy Lheraud".
To expand its product line, Leroy bought an estate with a large stock of aged Armagnac. This is how Baron Legrand got to the Lheraud cognac house.
Today, the Armagnac estate has about 80 hectares of land where the best grapes are grown.
Features of production
As you know, most Armagnac houses in France use the double distillation method in the production process, but Lero is inclined to only one distillation.
For aging Armagnac Baron Legrand uses exclusively new oak barrels, in which the drink spends about 6-7 years. During this time, the grape alcohol manages to absorb all the flavors of the wood, and will turn into a rich amber color.
Then the armagnac is poured into old barrels for slow maturation. It is important to note that, unlike cognac, armagnac can stay in such barrels for no more than 40 years. According to experts, this is how many years this drink can retain its taste.
And at the final stage of maturation, the drink is poured into glass bottles.
Barrels for aging
The Lheraud house takes great care in choosing the wood from which the casks for aging Armagnac are made.
For this purpose, only old oak trees with very few knots are used.
Baron G collections. Legrand
The Lheraud Cognac House presents six unique collections of drinks, ranging from more modern examples to vintage drinks from 1935.
Vieil Armagnac 1935
Armagnac has a wonderful amber color.
The taste and bouquet of aromas are balanced, with a slight hint of dried fruit, citrus, and woody notes in the aftertaste.
This drink is recommended to be served as a digestif, but it can also be put on a festive table, with a well-designed menu. The menu will include game flambé, gourmet charcuterie, foie gras and national Gascon dishes.
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Bas Armagnac 1964
The drink has a rich amber color with golden hues, a mild woody flavor and a spicy aftertaste.
The aroma has an interesting combination of damp wood and dried fruit.
Sommeliers strongly recommend serving it after the main meal with Agen prunes, raspberries, cherries or orange.
Bas Armagnac vs
The taste of the drink has vanilla notes and a long warming aftertaste.
The aroma has a lot of fruity shades. VS Armagnac has a rich amber color.
Bas Armagnac VSOP
A drink with a hint of amber and a wonderful fruity flavor.
The bouquet contains light aromas of fruit, vanilla and wooden barrel.
VSOP Armagnac can be served as a digestif in tandem with coffee or cigar.
Carafe Elisa Bas Armagnac 1963 (Coffret Collection P.G.Carafe Cristal)
Armagnac of a beautiful dark amber color.
During the tasting, you can feel a pleasant oily taste with harmonious herbal hints.
The aroma reveals gradually, dominated by notes of chocolate, oak and walnut.
Bas Armagnac 1975 Reproduction of 17th Century Pansye Bottle (2L)
The drink has a luxurious amber color, has a rich, velvety taste, which reveals a range of dried fruit hints with a wonderful aftertaste.
The aroma contains licorice, wood and vanilla notes.
As the Gascon say: "Cognac is like a girl, and Armagnac is a mature woman with experience, very changeable, whom not everyone would dare to introduce to their mother.". Perhaps once you try this elegant drink, you will become a true connoisseur of it.
Update: 08.02.2018
Category: Brandy and Cognac