1997 armagnac, the taste of a single harvest
A vintage armagnac tells the story of a single harvest, the one written on the label. A 1997 armagnac therefore comes solely from grapes harvested in 1997, without blending with other years. That is the big difference with a VSOP, an XO or a hors d'âge, which marry brandies of several ages to keep a consistent style.
The starting point is a dry white wine, made from the region's grapes: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard. In winter, this wine goes through the armagnac still, in continuous distillation. The still colourless brandy then goes into oak casks, in the cellar, where it gains its colour, its tannins and its aromas. Once in the bottle, it no longer evolves: the bottling date, when shown, tells you how long your 1997 really aged.
1997, a year of change in France
In the spring of 1997, early legislative elections changed the majority in the National Assembly. Lionel Jospin was appointed Prime Minister on 2 June 1997, and his government remained in office until 2002 (source: Wikipedia, article "Gouvernement Jospin"). In the vineyards of the Gers, that same year, the harvest that gave the bottles on this page was taking shape.
Our 1997 armagnacs, château by château
Nine Gascon houses kept their 1997 brandies in cask. The same harvest, but each estate has its own soil, its own grape varieties and its own way of ageing:
- Armagnac Delord, a family house in Lannepax: a 1997 at 40% ABV, aged in Gascon oak casks, in 70 cl and 150 cl magnum;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets: a 1997 at 40% ABV made from baco, ugni blanc, folle blanche and colombard, aged in 420 litre casks, with a soft nose of vanilla and candied orange, and a powerful, broad palate of candied fruit and dried fruit;
- Château de Millet, the Dèche family estate in Eauze: a 1997 at 42% ABV, from baco and ugni blanc, in 70 cl, magnum and 250 cl Gascon pot. The house does not publish tasting notes for this vintage;
- Dartigalongue, in Nogaro since 1838: a 1997 at 42% ABV, gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2023, with a smoky then fruity nose (peach, exotic fruit, flowers), a round, indulgent palate, a pastry-like attack and soft tannins;
- Armagnac Castarède, a house founded in 1832: a 1997 at 40% ABV, which spent 23 years in cask before being bottled in 2020;
- Baron de Sigognac: a 1997 at 40% ABV, from ugni blanc and baco, aged at Château de Bordeneuve, in Castelnau d'Auzan;
- Château de Bordeneuve: a brut de fût at 47% ABV, presented in a wooden box, golden yellow in colour, with a lightly oaky nose of exotic fruit, cinnamon and vanilla, fresh and powerful on the palate, with candied orange and ginger;
- Clés des Ducs: a 1997 at 40% ABV, distilled in Panjas and never blended, with deliberately discreet oak;
- Jean Cavé, in Lannepax since 1883: a brut de fût at 50.8% ABV, bottled without reduction.
These last two high-strength bottles also appear among our brut de fût armagnacs.
Bas-Armagnac and Ténarèze: the role of terroir
The appellation covers three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. All our 1997 bottles come from Bas-Armagnac, the land of tawny sands, renowned for fine, fruity brandies. Ténarèze, with its clay and limestone soils, gives more structured armagnacs. Terroir, grape varieties, length of ageing and bottling strength explain the differences in flavour from one château to another.
Tasting notes for a 29 year old armagnac
At almost thirty, an armagnac keeps a lovely liveliness. Its colour stays amber or golden, lighter than that of very old vintages. In our 1997s, the notes quoted by the houses speak of vanilla, candied orange, peach, dried fruit, spices such as cinnamon or ginger, with oak that is more or less present. A rich yet still fresh armagnac, which will also please those discovering aged brandies.
To taste it, serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass. Let it breathe for a few minutes, warm the glass in your hand, then take your time. A brut de fût, more powerful, is best approached in very small sips; a 1997 at 40% ABV is softer from the attack.
A gift for a 29th birthday or a 29th wedding anniversary
In 2026, people born in 1997 celebrate their 29th birthday, and couples married in 1997 their 29th wedding anniversary. An armagnac from their year is a gift that bears the exact date, to open on the day of the celebration or to keep for the 30th. The Millet magnum and Gascon pot or the Delord magnum mark a celebration for sharing; the 70 cl bottle, in a case or a gift box depending on the house, remains the most common choice among gifts.
To keep it, store the bottle upright, away from light and heat. Unopened, it keeps for a very long time; once opened, for several months.
Frequently asked questions about 1997 armagnac
How much does a 1997 armagnac cost?
It depends on the estate, 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 producer, the bottle size and the price.
Which grape varieties are used for the 1997 armagnac?
Depending on the house: Laubade brings together baco, ugni blanc, folle blanche and colombard; Millet, Sigognac and Bordeneuve combine baco and ugni blanc.
What do people say about the 1997 armagnac?
Awards are a good guide: the Dartigalongue 1997 won a gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2023. Our view as wine merchants: for softness, choose a 1997 at 40% ABV; for intensity, a brut de fût such as Bordeneuve or Jean Cavé.
Where can I buy a 1997 armagnac online?
At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online wine and spirits merchant specialising in vintage armagnac: the bottles come directly from the Gascon houses, payment is secure and delivery is handled with care, in France and across Europe.
Also discover all our vintage armagnacs, year by year, or the 1996 armagnac for the previous year.
Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
