Origin and production
The 1986 is an estate-grown vintage Bas-Armagnac from Château de Bordeneuve near Eauze. Ugni Blanc and Baco are cultivated on the property's sandy soils, producing acidic, relatively neutral base wines whose real aromatic potential emerges through distillation and ageing.
Distilled once in the château's traditional copper alembic, the eau-de-vie matured slowly in French oak under the steady conditions of the estate cellars. Keeping the year separate has preserved its identity as a 1986 vintage rather than a component of a broader blend.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Golden amber with copper glints and a clear, warm-toned rim.
Nose
Dried apricot, baked apple and candied orange combine with honeyed walnut, vanilla and a fine note of toasted oak.
Palate
Silky and full, with caramelised orchard fruit and roasted hazelnut enlivened by a fresh, gently spicy line. Cinnamon and cocoa deepen the middle, while the finish remains balanced, warming and expressive rather than heavy.
Serving suggestions
Serve neat after several minutes in a tulip glass. Crème brûlée, baked apple with calvados cream, or a piece of nutty alpine cheese will complement the spirit; alternatively, enjoy it alone as a measured digestif.
Background story
Baron de Sigognac belongs to the Guasch family's Domaine de Bordeneuve, where vineyard, still and cellars remain under one ownership. This control enables the family to follow the character of each harvest through every stage of its transformation.
The extensive vintage library is one of the estate's signatures, with casks retained for long ageing and bottled when mature. The 1986 combines the collectability of a stated year with the supple fruit and oak integration expected from carefully kept Bas-Armagnac.
