Delors Armagnac: overview, history, production technology, types
Delord - the most famous House of Armagnac today.
The Delors house has its own workshop for the manufacture of barrels for aging the drink. They are made from velvety oak, which is also called "black". They follow the rule created by the founder of the house himself: armagnac should mature in a barrel that has seen grapes ripen. So if you are lucky enough to see whole stacks of oak rivets near the Delord vineyards, you should know that these are the blanks from which barrels will be made.
A brief history of the House of Delors
Back in 1875, Gascon Prospero Delor decided to build his own winery to turn white wine into aromatic Armagnac. Since armagnac distillation was not particularly popular at the time, it was a risky move, but Mr. Delord was right.
For this case, the best piece of land in the province was chosen. And soon 21 hectares of vineyards brought the first profit.
Today the company is run by the fourth generation of the Delors family.
The technology of making Delord Armagnac
After all four grape varieties are harvested, they are pressed and vinified separately. Then it is sent to the wine cellar, where the correct temperature is maintained.
After that, the drink is sent for aging. The company's cellars have more than 1,000 barrels and dozens of oak barrels. The oldest wines are stored in Bonbonnes (glass bottle) away from the light in a place called Paradise.
When the wine is ripe, it is sent for distillation. Delors is the only Armagnac House that uses two distillation methods.
The range of Delors Armagnac
The Delord House offers blends from 3 years and more than 30 years of aging, as well as unique specimens dating back to 1900.
Handwritten labels and a sealed bottle neck with sealing wax are trademarks of Armagnac Delors all over the world.
Main blends:
Fine Armagnac - three-year-old young Armagnac has a noble light golden color and a rich bouquet of aromas with notes of dried apricots, raisins and a light, subtle hint of vanilla. The taste of the drink is memorable, it goes well in cocktails with various fruit juices and tonic.
Armagnac VSOP is a restrained and elegant drink that is aged in oak and then collection barrels for at least 6 years. Armagnac has a rich amber color, delicate taste and wonderful aroma. Against the background of a bright fruit and floral bouquet, subtle vanilla notes are captured. The deep flavor of the drink reveals itself well with a few ice cubes.
Hors d’Age - has a nutty amber color, rich flexible taste, which is dominated by hints of vanilla and cocoa. The aroma of the drink reveals gradually, with hints of fruit, cocoa and vanilla. This Armagnac is an excellent digestif, it goes well with coffee and cigars. It can be served as an appetizer, as well as with foie gras.
20 years old - this armagnac is aged for twenty years and has a soft copper-amber color. The aroma has notes of dried fruit and vanilla, and during the tasting you can feel the noble flavor of cinnamon and nuts.
25 years old - the drink has an amber color with golden reflections and has a delicate aroma with pepper notes and spices. Due to the long aging, the taste of Armagnac is revealed gradually, with notes of cocoa, vanilla, nuts, and woody hints.
L'Authentique is a blend of very old armagnacs collected from different barrels of the vintage collection of the House of Delord. The drink with a complex flavor combines woody, vanilla and burnt notes with the aroma of prunes, nuts and dried fruits. L'Authentique has a dark amber color.
Blanche Armagnac is a wonderful drink that has a crystal clear color. The aroma and flavor are characterized by notes of fresh grapes, citrus, pear and green almonds.
Vintage collection:
Amber Bas-Armagnac with orange reflections (1994) - the drink has a rich aroma with hints of candied fruit, vanilla, butter and cocoa. The powerful flavor is endowed with notes of toasted toast and baked apples.
Deep topaz Bas-Armagnac with copper reflections (1984) - the aroma of the drink is endowed with woody and vanilla notes with a hint of candied orange, and the mild taste has a fruity and spicy aftertaste that sets off the aroma of dried flowers.
Amber Bas-Armagnac with a hint of old gold (1974) - it has a delicate aroma of aged wood, nuts and tobacco. A complex bouquet of flavors reveals gradually, first notes of roasted orange peel are captured, and then hints of spices and wood appear, which are complemented by a light tobacco flavor.
An amazing eau-de-vie with notes of mushrooms, damp earth, undergrowth and spices (1964) - the drink has an elegant amber-golden color, it is excellent in its pure form as a digestif. If you serve it during the main feast, you should take care of the appropriate dishes: game flambé, foie gras, smoked salmon or Gascon cuisine. This Armagnac will also complement strong natural coffee or cigars.
Update: 06.02.2018
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon