Origin and production
This single-vintage Bas-Armagnac was produced from the 1981 harvest at Château de Bordeneuve. Ugni Blanc contributes fragrance and fine acidity, while Baco brings body and a velvety capacity for ageing; both varieties are well adapted to the estate's tawny sandy soils.
The wine was distilled in the family's continuous copper still and the eau-de-vie matured in French oak under the cool, steady conditions of the château's beaten-earth cellars. It was kept apart as a vintage expression rather than blended across years.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright amber-copper with mahogany depth and a polished golden rim.
Nose
Dried apricot, baked apple and orange rind are joined by roasted walnut, vanilla, cedar and a light dusting of spice.
Palate
Smooth and expansive, with caramelised orchard fruit, honey and toasted almond balanced by a fine, lively backbone. Liquorice and cinnamon emerge late, leaving a warm finish of dried fruit, walnut and gentle oak.
Serving suggestions
Pour neat and let the glass rest before tasting. Ginger cake, poached pear with toasted almonds, or aged Comté complement its spice and orchard-fruit profile without overpowering its mature detail.
Background story
The Guasch family oversees Baron de Sigognac at Château de Bordeneuve, managing every stage from the vineyard to the final bottle. The estate's traditional copper still and deep stocks of maturing eau-de-vie are central to its identity.
Vintage Armagnac allows one harvest to speak without the smoothing effect of multi-year blending. The 1981 is part of a collection extending far back through the twentieth century, offering both mature complexity and the personal significance of a clearly defined year.
