Darroze Les Grandes Assamblages 30 Year Old Armagnac

For several generations, the Darroze family has scoured Gascony in the Grands Crus centre of the Bas Armagnac region. Thousands of centuries-old treasures are held in stock at the Darroze house. This diversity in crus, vintages, grape varieties and styles has allowed Marc Darroze to work on this range known as 'Les Grands Assemblages' (The Great Blends). Chosen for their complementary characteristics, the selected Armagnacs in each blend are of different ages. Each age on the bottle indicates the age of the youngest Armagnac in the blend.

The fruity aromas in the younger blends, with flavours of chocolate and coffee for the older eaux de vie, change to notes of spices and candied fruits at around 30 years old; the aromatic palette evolves naturally over the years. You can discover this evolution in each blend. Many years of ageing in 400 litre oak barrels have conferred suaveness and roundness on the tannins so that each 'Grand Assemblage' reveals its own proper balance between the alcohol, the aromas and the tannins.

Darroze's Grand Assemblages collection features this fully matured, peppery 30 year old Bas Armagnac. Maturity begins at 30. The fresh fruit is transformed into dried and candied fruit, the spicy character asserts itself, the first aromas of rancio appear and the alcohol is perfectly mellow. The fiery youth softens and relents. This Grand Assemblage is the perfect example of magnificent balance that one finds in eaux de vie of this age.

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast     Maple syrup in color, this has a toffee aroma and flavor, along with notes of dry cocoa, espresso, spice and dried orange peel on the finish.