1999: the euro arrives, Gascony harvests a fruity vintage
On 1 January 1999, the euro became the currency of eleven European countries, including France, even though coins and banknotes would only arrive in 2002. In the autumn, in the South West, the vines of Gascony gave a fruity, expressive vintage. After twenty years of ageing and more, these brandies keep a still youthful profile, dominated by fresh notes and a nascent vanilla.
Nine houses to choose your 1999 armagnac
This is one of our best-stocked years, with houses almost all based in Bas-Armagnac. Each estate offers its own version, with its terroir, its strength and its style:
- Château de Millet, in Eauze: the Dèche family, five generations of grower-owners, baco and ugni blanc on tawny sands, a vineyard certified HVE 3. The 1999 is 42% and comes in the classic size, in magnum and in Gascon pot. The house does not publish tasting notes for this vintage;
- Armagnac Delord, in Lannepax: a pure vintage at 40% ABV, in the classic size and in magnum;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets: 40%, aged in 420 litre casks of pedunculate oak. Vanilla, wood, grape and toast, a round and supple attack, and an aromatic finish of great finesse;
- Dartigalongue, in Nogaro: 42%, mirabelle plum and quince paste on the nose, an indulgent, round palate of quince and frangipane. Silver medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2024;
- Armagnac Castarède: 22 years in cask, bottled in 2021, 40% ABV, supplied in a gift case;
- Clés des Ducs: distilled in Panjas, 40%, a rich and smooth brandy with measured oak;
- Château de Bordeneuve, in Castelnau d'Auzan: a brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced) at 48%, bright golden colour, prune, freshly peeled mandarin, gingerbread and vanilla;
- Domaine de Danis: a brut de fût at 46.5%, 100% folle blanche, bottled in March 2022 and rated 89/100 by an independent taster;
- Jean Cavé, in Lannepax: a brut de fût at 48.3% ABV.
How to choose a 1999 armagnac
Three questions help you make the right choice. First, the strength: the versions at 40 or 42% are soft and approachable, while a brut de fût armagnac, bottled at its natural strength, offers more intensity. We offer three in 1999, from Bordeneuve, Danis and Jean Cavé. Next, the style: indulgent and fruity at Dartigalongue, round and supple at Laubade, more aromatic and spicy at Bordeneuve. Finally, the size: the magnum and the pot are for sharing, the classic bottle remains the simplest to give. Our advice: for a first purchase, a 40%; for a connoisseur, a brut de fût.
The grape varieties of 1999 armagnac
The appellation relies on a few white varieties, across three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Danis chose folle blanche alone, fine and floral. Millet and Bordeneuve work with baco blanc and ugni; Laubade marries baco, ugni blanc, folle blanche and colombard. These grapes give a dry white wine, distilled the following winter in the armagnac still, then the brandy ages in cask. A vintage never mixes several years: no blending, and that is what sets it apart from an XO.
A young armagnac, already in full bloom
Twenty or so years in cask is young for a vintage armagnac, but it is also the age at which the grape remains very present. A 1999 charms with its liveliness: mirabelle plum, quince, mandarin, vanilla, sometimes a hint of toast. Its colour stays golden or light amber, the oak is discreet and the finish remains balanced and aromatic. It is a fine gateway to old vintages, and a bottle of armagnac that is both approachable and full of character.
27th birthday or 27th wedding anniversary: the gift idea
In 2026, people born in 1999 celebrate their 27th birthday and couples married that year their 27th wedding anniversary. Giving an armagnac from their year means giving them a spirit that has grown up alongside them, in a Gascon cellar. The Castarède comes in its gift case; for the others, the product page specifies the presentation. A gift to open straight away or to keep for the 30th.
Tasting and storing a 1999 armagnac
Serve it in a tulip glass, at room temperature. Let it open up for a few minutes: each aroma reveals itself in turn, first the lively notes, then vanilla and oak. It is enjoyed as a digestif, slowly. Keep the bottle upright, away from light; once opened, it keeps for several months. Once out of the cask, armagnac no longer evolves: the bottling date, when shown on the label, tells you how long it was aged.
Frequently asked questions about 1999 armagnac
What is the best 1999 armagnac?
The best armagnac is the one that suits your taste. For official recognition, the Dartigalongue won a silver medal at the Concours Général Agricole 2024; for power, the Danis or the Bordeneuve brut de fût.
How much does a 1999 armagnac cost?
It varies with the house, the size and the strength. Each product page shows the price and the bottle size, so you can compare with complete clarity.
Is there a 1999 armagnac in a gift box?
The Castarède 1999 comes in a gift case. For the other bottles, the presentation is specified on each product page.
Where can I buy a 1999 vintage armagnac?
On our site Plaisirs de Gascogne, a specialist in selling armagnac online: add your bottle to your basket, your order is paid by secure payment and shipped in careful packaging, in France and across Europe. A question? Our contact page is there to answer you.
See all our vintage armagnacs.
Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
Jean Cavé
113 bottles
Armagnac Delord
92 bottles
Château de Millet
79 bottles
Dartigalongue
76 bottles
Baron de Sigognac
69 bottles
Armagnac Castarède
63 bottles
Clés des Ducs
48 bottles
Château de Laubade
43 bottles
Domaine de Pellehaut
28 bottles
Château de Bordeneuve
17 bottles
Charles de Granville
13 bottles
Roger Groult
7 bottles
