1979 armagnac, the vintage of a single harvest
A vintage armagnac bears the name of one year only: the year the grapes were harvested, made into wine and then distilled. A 1979 armagnac therefore comes solely from the 1979 harvest. Unlike a blend such as an XO or a hors d'âge, which marries young and old brandies, a vintage tells the story of one harvest and of the savoir-faire of the house that aged it.
It all starts with a dry white wine made from the grape varieties of the appellation: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard. In winter, this wine is distilled in the armagnac still, continuously, following the traditional method of Gascony. The resulting spirit then goes down into oak casks, in the cellar. There it spends decades breathing through the wood, losing a little of its alcohol and gaining its amber colour, its roundness and its aromas.
Good to know: armagnac only ages in the cask. Once bottled, it no longer evolves. The bottling date, when it appears on the label, therefore tells you how long your 1979 spent in wood: at Castarède, for example, 41 years, until 2020.
1979, a turning point
1979 saw Margaret Thatcher come to power in the United Kingdom and the Iranian revolution, two events that heralded the following decade. In Gascony, winegrowers harvested in the autumn, then the houses distilled their wine over the winter and filled their casks. It is these brandies, kept for more than forty years in the cellars, that you will find on this page.
Our 1979 armagnacs, house by house
Eight houses, eight interpretations of the same harvest. The style changes from one estate to another, depending on the terroir (Bas-Armagnac or Ténarèze), the grape varieties, the strength and the length of ageing:
- Armagnac Delord, a family house in Lannepax, in Bas-Armagnac: a 1979 at 40% ABV, in 70 cl and magnum, with a rich and powerful nose of vanilla, cocoa, butter and warmed wood;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets: a 1979 at 40% ABV, aged in 420 litre Gascon oak casks, with a bright colour, aromas of violet and prune, and a round, smooth palate;
- Château de Millet, the Dèche family estate in Eauze: a 1979 at 42% ABV, from baco and ugni blanc, in 70 cl, magnum and 250 cl Gascon pot, with a deep orange colour, rated 94/100 by Gilbert & Gaillard;
- Dartigalongue, a house in Nogaro since 1838: a 1979 at 42% ABV, with incense, date and a smoky touch, refined and long, with a rancio finish;
- Armagnac Castarède, a house founded in 1832: a 1979 at 40% ABV, fine and fragrant, frank on the palate, with peach and prunes and a hint of vanilla;
- Baron de Sigognac, at Château de Bordeneuve: a 1979 at 40% ABV, from ugni blanc and baco, intense and very fragrant, all finesse and roundness;
- Domaine de Pellehaut, in Ténarèze: a brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced) at 45% ABV, 100% ugni blanc, with a round and spicy palate (cinnamon, dried fruit, rancio), silver medal at the Concours général agricole de Paris 2006;
- Jean Cavé, a distiller and ageing house in Lannepax since 1883: a brut de fût at 44.7% ABV, bottled without reduction.
These two brut de fût bottlings also feature among our cask strength armagnacs.
The taste of a 1979 armagnac
More than four decades in cask produce round, complex armagnacs. On the nose, our 1979s suggest prune, violet, vanilla, cocoa, spices and exotic wood; on the palate, peach, candied prunes, dried fruit, cinnamon, sometimes a note of rancio on the finish. A vintage reduced to 40% ABV is softer and more approachable; a 42% ABV keeps more tension; a brut de fût is more powerful and benefits from breathing.
Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass, without ice. Leave it in the glass for a few minutes, warm it in your hand, then taste in small sips. As a digestif, it goes well with a square of dark chocolate, a dessert with dried fruit or a cigar.
Giving a 1979 armagnac
In 2026, people born in 1979 celebrate their 47th birthday, and couples married that year their 47th wedding anniversary; the 50th will follow in 2029. An armagnac from their year was harvested and distilled just as they were being born or getting married: a rare gift, to open on the day of the celebration or to keep for another great occasion. The magnum and the Gascon pot are for sharing at the table; the 70 cl bottle, in a gift case or gift box depending on the house, remains the most popular gift.
Storing your 1979 armagnac properly
Keep the bottle upright, away from light and heat, so that the alcohol does not touch the cork. Unopened, it keeps for a very long time. Once opened, it keeps for several months; if the level drops a lot, it is best to finish it without waiting too long.
Frequently asked questions about 1979 armagnac
Which estates produce 1979 armagnac?
Our selection brings together Delord, Château de Laubade, Château de Millet, Dartigalongue, Castarède, Baron de Sigognac, Domaine de Pellehaut and Jean Cavé. Each product page specifies the estate, the strength and the bottle size.
How much does 1979 armagnac cost?
It depends on the house, the size (70 cl, magnum, Gascon pot), the strength and the type of bottling, reduced or brut de fût. Each product page on this page shows the price.
What do experts think of 1979 armagnac?
The awards give a benchmark: Château de Millet's 1979 was rated 94/100 by Gilbert & Gaillard, and Pellehaut's won a silver medal at the Concours général agricole 2006. The tasting notes on each product page complement these professional reviews.
Where can I buy 1979 armagnac?
At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop specialising in vintage armagnacs: the bottles come directly from the Gascon houses, payment is secure and delivery is made in France and across Europe, in protective packaging.
Also discover the 1976 armagnac and all our vintage armagnacs, year by year.
Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
