Armagnac 2008

Three 2008 armagnacs, three characters

Three estates, the same harvest, and very different choices of ageing and strength. Here is what each producer publishes about its 2008, with its own tasting notes when it gives them: we only repeat their words.

Dartigalongue: freshness, gold medal

A family house founded in Nogaro in 1838, in the heart of Bas-Armagnac, Dartigalongue presents a 2008 from a single harvest, brought down to 42% ABV, in a 70 cl bottle with a sleeve. The house describes very fresh, lemony aromas of citrus, white flowers and a touch of spice; a very fluid, easy palate, driven by fruit more than wood; a finish of spices and candied citrus. This 2008 won a gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2025.

Château de Bordeneuve: the power of brut de fût

In Castelnau d'Auzan, the Guasch family, present in Gascony since the 12th century, distils its own ugni blanc and baco wines in an almost century-old armagnac column still. Each year ages separately in its cellars, then is bottled at its natural strength. The Château de Bordeneuve 2008 is therefore 49% ABV. The house describes a fine amber colour with mahogany highlights, a delicate first aroma of vanilla, cinnamon and candied orange, great roundness on the palate with floral, woody and spicy notes, then a long finish of toasted almond and vanilla.

Clés des Ducs: the Exception bottle

The story of Clés des Ducs begins in 1774 in Panjas, in the Gers; since 2008 the house has belonged to the Armanoir Group. Its 2008 is the brandy of a single year, never blended with others, selected cask by cask for a long, rich and smooth armagnac, with deliberately light oak. It is 40% ABV and comes in a 70 cl Exception bottle, in a cardboard gift box.

Which one to choose?

• For freshness and fruit: the Dartigalongue 2008, at 42% ABV, citrus and white flowers;
• For intensity: the Château de Bordeneuve 2008, brut de fût at 49% ABV, also found among our brut de fût armagnacs;
• For softness and a gift ready to give: the 2008 from Panjas, at 40% ABV, in its gift box.

2008, a turning point

On 15 September 2008, the American bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, the high point of the financial crisis (source: Wikipedia, article "Lehman Brothers"). On 4 November, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States (source: Wikipedia, article "Élection présidentielle américaine de 2008"). Meanwhile, in Gascony, the 2008 harvest went to the cellar and then to the still. The houses in our selection do not publish an assessment of this harvest, so we do not give one.

Vintage armagnac in brief

Armagnac is a brandy made from white wine, distilled continuously in the armagnac still, in a single pass, then aged in oak casks. The grape varieties of the appellation are ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard. The 2008 vintage refers to the year of the harvest: a 2008 armagnac contains only wine from 2008. By contrast, a VSOP or an XO blends several years to keep a consistent style from one year to the next. Each year is therefore unique, and that is what makes a collection of years so interesting.

Once bottled, armagnac no longer ages. A 2008 remains the brandy that the house judged ready on the day it was bottled.

Three terroirs, a winegrowing tradition

The appellation covers three terroirs of the Gascon region: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Our 2008s come from the Gers, and two of them from Bas-Armagnac, whose tawny sands are reputed to give fine, fruity brandies. Château de Bordeneuve and Dartigalongue work there as families of winegrowers and producers, since 1974 for one and 1838 for the other: the tradition of the still, the cellar and patience is handed down from generation to generation. In Panjas, the house founded in 1774 also carries on an age-old know-how, with continuous distillation at low temperature and casks of black Gascon oak.

In our cellar, Château de Bordeneuve, the Dartigalongue estate and the Panjas house are also present in many other years: a fine opportunity to compare their brandies from one vintage to another, and to see how the type of ageing, the region and time shape the colour and character of an armagnac.

Tasting an 18 year old armagnac

At 18 years old, an armagnac is still young: it keeps the liveliness of the fruit, which the wood has not covered, and begins to gain complexity. Our three 2008s illustrate this, between the lemony freshness of the Dartigalongue and the vanilla roundness of the Bordeneuve. Serve it at room temperature, in a tulip glass, and let it breathe for a few minutes. The versions at 40 or 42% ABV also lend themselves to an aperitif over an ice cube or to a cocktail; the brut de fût is tasted slowly, with a drop of water if needed. At the end of a meal, a square of dark chocolate goes very well with it.

A storage tip: keep the bottle upright, away from light and heat. Unopened, it keeps for years; once opened, for several months.

A gift for an 18th birthday

In 2026, young people born in 2008 celebrate their 18th birthday: the age of majority, and the exact age of their armagnac. An armagnac from their year marks this milestone with elegance, to open on the day itself or to keep for another great occasion, since it will no longer change. Couples married in 2008 will also find in it a lovely nod to their 18th wedding anniversary. As the sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited, this gift is of course intended for adults.

Frequently asked questions about 2008 armagnac

What is the best 2008 armagnac?

The one that suits your taste. A concrete pointer: the Dartigalongue 2008 won a gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2025.

What grape varieties are used in 2008 armagnac?

Ugni blanc and baco for Château de Bordeneuve. The other two houses do not specify the grape varieties of their 2008.

How much does a 2008 armagnac cost?

It varies according to the house, the strength and the presentation. Each product page shows the price, for a completely transparent purchase.

Where can I buy a 2008 armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop and cellar specialising in vintage armagnacs, with a range selected from the houses of South West France and secure payment.

For a neighbouring year, see our 2007 armagnac and our 2009 armagnac, or all our vintage armagnacs, year by year.

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