DARROZE BORDERLINE
A French brandy where our Gascon eaux-de-vie meet the barrels of great wines
The Darroze family has built up a unique collection of Armagnacs from a wide variety of terroirs. Present in over 50 countries worldwide, Darroze Armagnacs are considered one of the benchmarks of the Appellation.
The mastery of ageing and the relationship between oak wood and eau de vie form the basis of this quest for excellence.
In the range called Borderline, these Gascony spirits travel from traditional casks of Gascony oak to barrels of wine or other spirits in which they will finish their maturation. While this final journey no longer allows these spirits to be bottled under the Armagnac appellation, it does reveal new nuances in the potential of this Gascon terroir.
Choose your finish
Finish Chardonnay
Finish Pinot Noir
Finish Sauternes
Appellation : Brandy Français
Alcohol content: 51% alc.
Finish : Chardonnay barrels
Number of bottles produced: 812
Description
Wouldn’t the finesse and elegance of the Chardonnay grape be masked by the ardor and nervousness of a young Armagnac? Here again, we opted for delicate, lightly-wooded eaux de vie that wouldn’t overpower the final brandy. As with the Pinot Noir finish, Armagnacs from the 2018 harvest were selected. Fruity Armagnacs, with lightly woody and spicy aromas to preserve the buttery character of the Chardonnay.
The finish barrels were filled a few days after the white chardonnay wines (origin: Burgundy) had been racked. No sulfur was used to protect the barrels, to preserve the aromas of the brandies.
The greatest surprise in this alchemy lies in the ability of the chardonnay barrel to carry the spirit, giving it a new balance while retaining its initial character. After a 10-week finish, the brandy already has 90% of its character, and a further 4 weeks are needed to refine it.
Tasting note
A lovely golden yellow color with brown tints.
The finish in chardonnay white wine barrels is very interesting, with aromas of fresh walnut, verbena and light aniseed. The fruit remains present (citrus zest, peach), accompanied by fine spices (vanilla, cumin).
This finesse is repeated on the palate, with very silky tannins. The aromatic explosion of dried fruit (walnut, hazelnut) and fruit (white grapes, apple). The finish confirms this incredible finesse.
Appellation : Brandy Français
Alcohol content: 47,5% alc.
Finish : Pinot Noir barrels
Number of bottles produced: 812
Description
For this cuvée, we chose Armagnacs from the 2018 harvest. After 5 years of aging, these Armagnacs stayed fresh and not very woody, as we chose to use old barrels that had already been in contact with previous Armagnacs for many months.
For over 5 years, the Armagnacs evolved in contact with these local oak barrels. In November 2023, we transferred these Armagnacs to 220-liter barrels from Burgundy. The marriage between the fruit of the Pinot Noir red wines and the Armagnac was quickly realized, as after 8 to 10 weeks we could feel the first effects of this particular finish.
In contact with this new barrel, the brandy was rapidly transformed and different aromas developed, giving a vinous character to our Armagnac, which was so classic to begin with. A racking at the end of January showed that all the vinous elements contained in the barrel had been integrated into the spirit.
Tasting note
Golden color, light garnet tints.
The aromatic balance is naturally atypical and surprising for a Gascon brandy. The pinot noir barrel completes a classic aromatic panel of quince and fig with aromas of cherry brandy, toast, smoke, citrus peel and clove. A racy nose.
Full-bodied, complex and intense on the palate. Aromas of cherries in brandy and blackcurrant are complemented by nutmeg, white pepper and nuts. The tannins are integrated and supple. Very long on the palate.
Appellation : Brandy Français
Alcohol content: 47,5% alc.
Finish : Sauternes barrels
Number of bottles produced: 990
Description
Armagnacs from the 2017 vintage have been selected for this cuvée. 5 years of ageing and maturing in 400-litre Gascon oak barrels, very classic for our traditional maturings.
In February 2023, we transferred these Armagnacs to 220-liter barrels selected in Sauternes. These 3-wine barrels were filled «fresh», just emptied after the last racking of wine. The sweetness of Sauternes wines brings roundness and softness to the natural ardor of Armagnac.
The time spent in contact with these barrels (the finishes) was particularly long - over 5 months - to give Armagnac all the finesse of the aromas contained in the barrels of sweet wines. Until they are bottled, these brandies, which have lost their original name, will be kept in old barrels, which will no longer modify their aromatic profile.
Tasting note
Golden color with brown highlights.
A very fruity nose of tart candies, Armagnac prunes, flambéed bananas and watermelon jam. A very flattering nose, which suggests lots of caressing and roundness on the palate. Magnificent.
No disappointment on the palate, where flavors of confectionery and English sweets are still present, accompanied by fruit cake, candied fruit and almond paste. The sweetness provided by the Sauternes cask adds roundness and softness to this sublime Gascon spirit.
Discover The range of Armagnacs Darroze
