Armagnac 2009

Two houses, one 2009 vintage

The same harvest, two cellars, two ways of working: that is the whole point of comparing two armagnacs from the same year. Here is what makes each bottle special, based on the information published by the houses themselves.

• Dartigalongue, in Nogaro, in Bas-Armagnac: a 2009 from a single harvest, reduced to 42% ABV. The house finds a round nose of prune, spices, candied orange and cinnamon, then an indulgent palate of caramelised apple, spices and sandalwood, with good length carried by silky tannins. It is presented in a 70 cl bottle, in a sleeve;
• Clés des Ducs: a 2009 with the Armagnac appellation, at 40% ABV, a brandy from a single harvest, never blended with others. For its vintages, the cellar master selects his casks to obtain, according to the house, a long, rich and smooth armagnac, with deliberately light oak. It is presented in the 70 cl Exception bottle, in a cardboard gift box.

The first plays on indulgence and spices, the second on roundness and discreet oak: two different ways into the same vintage. Both are reduced, meaning brought down to their strength by adding water before bottling, and not sold as brut de fût.

2009, the year of Obama and Usain Bolt

On 20 January 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States (source: Wikipedia, article "Barack Obama"). A few months later, on 16 August, Usain Bolt ran the 100 metres in 9.58 seconds at the World Championships in Berlin and broke the world record (source: Wikipedia, article "Usain Bolt"). In Gascony, the autumn grapes were vinified, then distilled during the winter. We have not found any producer assessment of this harvest, so we do not describe it.

Vintage, VSOP, XO: what changes

The vintage is the year of the harvest. A 2009 armagnac comes only from grapes picked in 2009, whereas a VSOP, an XO or a hors d'âge blend brandies of several ages and are defined by the youngest of them. The vintage, on the other hand, tells the story of a single harvest and of a house's signature.

The path is the same as for the whole appellation. In the vineyard, the authorised grape varieties give a dry white wine: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche or colombard. This wine goes through the armagnac still in winter, in continuous distillation, then the brandy goes into oak casks, in the cellar. The wood gives it its colour, its tannins and part of its aromas. Once in the bottle, armagnac no longer ages: the age that counts is therefore the time spent in wood, which depends on the bottling date chosen by the house.

One terroir, three areas

The appellation covers three terroirs in the region: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. The Dartigalongue 2009 is an AOC Bas-Armagnac, from the heart of this terroir of tawny sands renowned for its fine, fruity brandies. The Clés des Ducs bears the Armagnac appellation, with no area specified on the label. In both cases, you find the work of the winegrowers and cellar masters, a Gascon tradition that is part of the heritage of the Gers.

Nogaro and Panjas, two Gascon stories

The Dartigalongue house was born in 1838 in Nogaro and still belongs to the same family. It works with three complementary grape varieties: ugni blanc for fruit, baco 22A for structure and folle blanche for its floral elegance. Its work has been recognised by several medals at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris.

The story of Clés des Ducs begins in 1774 in Panjas, in the Gers, with Paul Baylac, lord of the village. Since 2008, the house has belonged to the Armanoir Group. It distils continuously, at low temperature, in a copper armagnac still, then ages its brandies in black Gascon oak casks, with a measured toast of the wood to preserve their finesse.

A 17 year old armagnac in the glass

An armagnac of this age is still young compared with very old vintages. It often keeps fruit and liveliness, with wood that is present without dominating: the colour is often amber, the cask often brings vanilla and caramel, and you are not yet looking for the rancio of very old armagnacs. The Dartigalongue adds prunes and spices, for a more complex whole; the Clés des Ducs focuses on balance and an elegant finish. Between our two 2009s, the strength also makes a difference: 42% ABV for Dartigalongue, for a slightly fuller palate; 40% ABV for Clés des Ducs, for a softer tasting.

Serve it in a tulip glass, at room temperature, and give it a few minutes before tasting. As a digestif, it is in its natural place; for food pairing, think of prunes, dark chocolate or a walnut pastry. As an aperitif, over an ice cube, or in a cocktail with character, a 17 year old armagnac also lends itself to freer uses than a century-old vintage.

Giving a 2009 armagnac

In 2026, couples married in 2009 celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary: a bottle from the same vintage brings back the day they said yes. For a child born in 2009, it is a gift to put aside: parents or godparents buy it today, and it will be opened when the child comes of age, in 2027, or much later, since it no longer changes in the bottle.

Keep it upright, away from light and heat, so that the alcohol does not touch the cork. Unopened, it keeps for years; once opened, for several months.

One year apart? See our 2008 armagnac and 2010 armagnac pages.

Frequently asked questions about 2009 armagnac

What is the best 2009 armagnac?

The one that suits your taste. For notes of spices and candied fruit, the Dartigalongue at 42% ABV; for light oak and great softness, the Clés des Ducs at 40% ABV.

What are the grape varieties of 2009 armagnac?

Neither house specifies the grape varieties of this vintage. Dartigalongue works with ugni blanc, baco 22A and folle blanche; Clés des Ducs mainly with ugni blanc, along with baco, folle blanche and colombard.

What are the prices of 2009 armagnac?

They depend on the house and the strength. Each product page on this page shows the producer, the bottle size and the price of the bottle.

Where can I buy a 2009 armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop dedicated to vintage armagnacs: our selection comes from Gascon houses, ordering and payment are secure, and delivery is available in France and across Europe. Our customer service will gladly advise you before you buy.

Does a 2009 armagnac belong in a collection?

Yes: it is a way to discover a vintage that is still young, to compare with older years in your cellar.

Discover all our vintage armagnacs, year by year.

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