Origin and production
The 1994 originates at Château de Bordeneuve, the Guasch family's Bas-Armagnac estate near Eauze. Baco and Ugni Blanc are grown on tawny sandy soils, giving the base wines the light body and marked acidity that translate into aromatic, durable eau-de-vie.
Traditional single distillation in the estate's copper alembic was followed by prolonged maturation in French oak. The château's beaten-earth cellars moderate humidity naturally, encouraging gradual development before the vintage is judged ready to bottle.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Brilliant amber-gold with mahogany undertones and excellent clarity.
Nose
Dried fig, date and quince paste meet vanilla, toasted almond, beeswax and restrained oak spice.
Palate
Smooth and balanced, with caramelised pear and candied orange supported by roasted nuts and fine-grained wood. Soft cocoa and nutmeg add depth, and the finish is long, warming and touched by vanilla.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy neat from a tulip glass, giving the spirit time to open. Almond cake, pear tarte Tatin, or a firm sheep's-milk cheese will mirror its fruit and nut flavours without obscuring the finer aromas.
Background story
Domaine de Bordeneuve is unusual in keeping vineyards, distillation and maturation together on one family property. That continuity is the foundation of Baron de Sigognac and gives its vintage Armagnacs a clear estate identity.
The family's cask reserves include a wide span of individual harvests, all matured separately. This 1994 is one chapter in that archive, offering mature complexity without losing the specific date that makes vintage Armagnac so evocative.
