Armagnac 1902

The 1902 vintage, an extremely rare vintage

In the world of spirits, a vintage is a simple promise: the entire contents of the bottle come from a single harvest. For our 1902 armagnac, that means the wine of autumn 1902, distilled then aged without ever meeting any other harvest. VSOP, XO and hors d'âge work differently: they blend several ages to keep a consistent style. Very few bottles from that year remain, which makes it a true cellar rarity.

1902, the year of Méliès

In 1902, Georges Méliès made "A Trip to the Moon" ("Le Voyage dans la Lune"), a science-fiction film that remains famous for the image of a rocket lodged in the eye of the Moon; he himself plays Professor Barbenfouillis (source: Wikipedia, article "Le Voyage dans la Lune"). Meanwhile, in the Gers, winegrowers were replanting a vineyard ravaged by phylloxera. To our knowledge, no producer documents the 1902 harvest, so we attribute no particular quality to it.

The 1902 armagnac from Jean Cavé

Our 1902 bottle is signed Jean Cavé. Here is what its label and product sheet say, nothing more:

• appellation: Bas-Armagnac AOP, the westernmost terroir of Armagnac;
• a single harvest, without any blending;
• bottled brut de fût, without added water, at the strength shown on the label;
• 70 cl bottle, accompanied by a wooden box.

The brut de fût designation appeals to enthusiasts who want to taste armagnac as it comes out of the cask, with all its density. It should not be confused with a single cask, a term that refers to bottling from a single cask: the product sheet for this 1902 does not specify this, so we do not claim it. The strength of a brut de fût depends on the length of ageing. Other bottles of this kind await you on our brut de fût armagnac page.

A family of distillers since 1883

It was in 1883 that Jean Cavé, a winegrower, settled in Lannepax as a distiller and cellar master. In 1902, the house was approaching its twentieth year. Since then, four generations have maintained a collection of old armagnacs among the most remarkable in the appellation. Henri Cavé represents it today, faithful to continuous armagnac distillation and to ageing in oak casks, sometimes for several decades.

Reading the age of an old armagnac

An armagnac ages only in contact with wood: ageing in wood is everything. In the cask, it takes on colour, becomes rounder, gains aromas and gradually loses alcohol through evaporation. When it is transferred into a glass demijohn, then bottled, it stops evolving. The vintage therefore indicates the year of the harvest, not the time spent in wood: for this 1902, the house chose the moment when it judged it ready.

As for the origin of the wine, the appellation covers three terroirs, Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac, in the South West, and four main grape varieties, ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche and colombard. Distillation takes place in a single pass in the armagnac still, whereas cognac requires two.

Serving a 124 year old armagnac

For this 1902, Jean Cavé does not publish a tasting note, and we do not write one in its place. Armagnacs more than a century old often develop notes of prune, candied orange peel, walnut, blond tobacco and spices, on a background of rancio. Choose a tulip glass, pour a little, let the armagnac breathe at room temperature, then taste it in small sips at the end of a meal, keeping it in the mouth for a moment.

Who to give a 1902 armagnac to?

To a collector of vintages, to a lover of early cinema, to a family celebrating a date from 1902, or to anyone who loves objects that have come through the years. Store it upright, in a dark, temperate place: unopened, it has nothing to fear from the years.

Just before and just after, see the 1901 armagnac and the 1903 armagnac. For other houses, our shop offers a wide selection: Château de Laubade, Castarède, Dartigalongue, Armagnac Delord, Château de Millet, Laballe or Domaine de Pellehaut. For very old years, the shop also brings together the Baron de Sigognac from Château de Bordeneuve, an estate that has kept harvests since 1893. Delord, Castarède, Millet, Bordeneuve: each house has its own style, historic or more modern, and the shop lets you compare them. A true gift for lovers of rare drinks and historic spirits.

Frequently asked questions about 1902 armagnac

How much does a 1902 armagnac cost?

The price reflects the rarity of a 124 year old armagnac, available in very small quantities. You will find it on the bottle's product page, with its size.

Where can I buy the 1902 armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop for vintage armagnacs: add it to your basket, confirm your order with secure payment, and it is shipped to France or Europe in protective packaging. Every parcel is carefully packed, and our customer service team answers your questions. Reminder: the sale of alcoholic drinks to minors is prohibited.

What are the characteristics of the 1902 armagnac?

A Bas-Armagnac AOP from the Jean Cavé house, from a single harvest, brut de fût and without blending, in 70 cl with a wooden box.

What is the history of the 1902 armagnac?

That of a Gascon harvest from the early twentieth century, kept for more than a hundred and twenty years in the cellar of a family from Lannepax.

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Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.