Armagnac 1949

Vintage armagnac, a year in a bottle

On an armagnac label, the harvest year is a precise promise: the entire contents come from that harvest, here 1949. VSOP, XO and hors d'âge are of a different nature; they are blends of several years, classified according to their age statement. A vintage, on the other hand, tells the story of a single autumn, as an estate aged it.

Keeping a brandy for more than seventy-five years without selling or blending it requires space, time and a real family commitment. This is what makes bottles of 1949 so few and far between today.

1949, the year of NATO

On 4 April 1949, twelve countries, including France, signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, giving birth to NATO (source: Wikipedia, article "Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord"). A month later, on 5 May, the Treaty of London created the Council of Europe (source: Wikipedia, article "Conseil de l'Europe"). In Gascony, the 1949 harvest was brought in during the autumn and distilled over the winter. No source from the estate describes the quality of this harvest: we therefore refrain from judging it.

The 1949 Baron de Sigognac

Our 1949 armagnac is signed Baron de Sigognac, the brand of Château de Bordeneuve, in Castelnau d'Auzan, in the Gers. Here is what we know about this bottle:

• 1949 harvest, in Bas-Armagnac, AOC Armagnac appellation;
• grape varieties: ugni blanc and baco;
• each year aged separately, in oak casks, at the château;
• strength of 40% ABV, 70 cl bottle.

The house states that it prepares its vintages to order, which lets the armagnac refine until the last moment. For this vintage, we are waiting for a tasting note confirmed by the estate: until then, we prefer not to quote any.

Bordeneuve, a Bas-Armagnac château

Château de Bordeneuve is located in Castelnau-d'Auzan-Labarrère, on the sandy soils of Bas-Armagnac, near Eauze. Since 1974 it has belonged to the Guasch family, present in Gascony for centuries. From its own ugni blanc and baco vines, the estate distils during the season in a column still that runs day and night, then ages each year separately, in the darkness of its cellars. Its production remains very limited, a few dozen casks a year. According to the house, the Sigognac style can be recognised by its roundness, the presence of fruit and long finishes, which evolve with age towards toasted dried fruit, coffee and dark chocolate.

The estate keeps vintages going back to 1893: enough to find Sigognac at many other dates in our cellar.

From wine to armagnac

Armagnac begins with a dry, light and acidic white wine. In the appellation, four grape varieties dominate: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard. At Bordeneuve, they are ugni blanc and baco, the latter renowned for the roundness it brings to aged brandies. The wine goes through the armagnac still only once, continuously, whereas cognac is distilled twice. The brandy then gains its colour, its tannins and its bouquet in contact with the oak, while its strength gently falls. Bottling stops the ageing.

The appellation brings together three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Bordeneuve belongs to the first, the most renowned for the finesse of its brandies.

Tasting a 77 year old armagnac

At this age, an armagnac generally shows a deep amber colour, and a nose that often blends prune, candied fruit, orange, vanilla, sweet spices and wood. At Sigognac, the house associates its old vintages with toasted dried fruit, coffee and dark chocolate.

Serve it at room temperature, in a tulip glass, in a small measure. Wait a few minutes before tasting it, then take your time: it is a digestif to be savoured slowly.

Giving a 1949 armagnac

In 2026, people born in 1949 celebrate their 77th birthday. A bottle from their birth year is a gift that suits them, to share with the family on the day of the celebration. Collectors will place it between the 1948 armagnac and the 1950 armagnac.

Keep the bottle upright, somewhere cool and away from light. Unopened, it keeps for a very long time; once opened, for several months.

Other Gascon houses

For more recent years, our shop also offers the vintages of Château de Laubade, Château de Millet, Dartigalongue, Armagnac Delord, Castarède, Jean Cavé or Domaine de Pellehaut. Each estate has its own style: comparing them means discovering the diversity of armagnac.

A few ideas for expanding your collection: the brut de fût armagnacs from Jean Cavé, in Lannepax, bottled without reduction; the vintages of Domaine de Pellehaut, in Ténarèze; those of Château de Millet, near Eauze; or the cuvées of Domaine de Laballe, in the Landes. A younger Pellehaut or Millet, tasted after this 1949, shows the fine length that decades in cask bring. Our brut de fût selection will interest those who prefer an armagnac at its natural strength, alongside this Sigognac at 40% ABV.

Frequently asked questions about 1949 armagnac

How much does a 1949 armagnac cost?

It depends on the rarity of the lot and its age. The price is shown on the product page, with the bottle size and the strength.

Where can I buy a 1949 armagnac online?

In our Plaisirs de Gascogne shop, an online wine and spirits merchant dedicated to vintage armagnacs. Payment is secure, packaging careful, delivery available in France and across Europe, and our customer service will answer your questions. As provided for by the French Public Health Code, the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors is prohibited: proof of legal age may be required from the buyer.

What are the characteristics of the 1949 armagnac?

A Baron de Sigognac from a single harvest, in Bas-Armagnac, from ugni blanc and baco, at 40% ABV, in 70 cl.

What do people think of the 1949 armagnac?

In the absence of a reliable tasting note for this bottle, we do not quote any opinions. Its quality lies first of all in its story: a single year, aged separately in a Bas-Armagnac château.

Who are the producers of 1949 armagnac?

In our selection, Baron de Sigognac, at Château de Bordeneuve.

Find all our vintage armagnacs, year by year.

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