Armagnac 2015

The youngest vintage in our cellar

Our selection of dated armagnacs goes back to the 19th century; 2015 is today its most recent end. That is what makes it interesting: an 11 year old armagnac shows the brandy in its youth, when fruit still dominates and the wood only accompanies. For anyone who wants to discover vintages without starting with a century-old bottle, it is an approachable first step.

What we know about this 2015

According to the information published by Clés des Ducs, this 2015 is the brandy from a single harvest, never mixed with other years. It bears the Armagnac appellation, with no area specified, and is 40% ABV: it has therefore been reduced, meaning brought down to this strength by adding water before bottling, and it is not a brut de fût. Its ageing in oak casks aims for deliberately light oak. For all its vintages, the cellar master chooses the casks that will give, according to the house, a long, rich and smooth armagnac.

The estate publishes no tasting note or grape varieties specific to the 2015: we do not make them up.

Eleven years in cask: what to expect

At this age, an armagnac keeps its liveliness. Its colour is generally golden, lighter than that of an old vintage. On the nose, you most often find aromas of fruit, plum, pear or dried fruit, then vanilla and a few sweet spices brought by the oak. On the palate, the attack is clean, the texture supple; the finish is shorter than that of a very old armagnac. The rich and complex notes, rancio, leather or tobacco, come with decades in cask: that is not what you are looking for here.

To taste it, a tulip glass, room temperature and a few minutes of waiting are enough. It also lends itself to freer uses than an old vintage: over an ice cube as an aperitif, or in a cocktail, where its suppleness works wonders. For pairings, think of prunes, an apple croustade or dark chocolate.

Young vintage or old armagnac?

It all depends on the occasion and your taste. A young armagnac like this 2015 is easy to share, even with enthusiasts who are just starting out. An old armagnac, aged for several decades, demands more attention and is tasted slowly. To feel the difference, compare it with the 2014 armagnac and the 2013 armagnac from the same house, presented in the same way, then with a much older year from our vintage armagnacs. If you prefer intensity, see our brut de fût armagnacs instead, bottled at their natural strength.

2015, the Paris climate agreement

On 12 December 2015, at COP21 held in Le Bourget, near Paris, the participating countries adopted the Paris climate agreement (source: Wikipedia, article "Accord de Paris sur le climat"). A few months earlier, on 14 July, the American New Horizons probe flew past Pluto for the first time (source: Wikipedia, article "New Horizons"). In Gascony, the grapes are harvested in autumn, made into white wine, then distilled in winter. In the absence of an assessment published by a producer on the 2015 harvest, we do not describe it.

A house from Panjas

The story of Clés des Ducs begins in 1774 in Panjas, with Paul Baylac, lord of the village, who distilled the first brandies there. Since 2008, the house has belonged to the Armanoir Group. It works with Gascon grape varieties, mainly ugni blanc, with baco, folle blanche and colombard, distils continuously at low temperature in a copper armagnac still, then ages its brandies in black Gascon oak casks with a medium or light toast. Its VSOP cuvée was awarded a silver medal at the Talents de l'Armagnac competition.

From vineyard to cellar: other estates

The appellation extends over three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Each estate makes its own choices of grape varieties, casks and length of ageing, which gives very different styles from one property to another. To continue the discovery, our cellar brings together other houses from the South West, in older harvests:

• Dartigalongue, a Nogaro family since 1838, whose 2009 and 2010 are described as spicy and indulgent;
• Delord, in Lannepax since 1893, and its 2012 brut de fût drawn from a single cask of baco;
• Jean Cavé, established in Lannepax in 1883, for very old vintages;
• Château de Laubade, Château de Millet and Château de Bordeneuve, in Bas-Armagnac.

Giving a 2015 armagnac

In 2026, couples married in 2015 celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary: a bottle from their year is a nod to be shared. For a child born in 2015, it is a birth bottle, to hand to the parents and to open together for their 18th birthday, in 2033. The sale of alcoholic drinks to minors is prohibited by the French public health code, and proof of age may be requested from the buyer.

An armagnac no longer ages once bottled: kept upright, away from light and heat, this 2015 will wait without any trouble. Once opened, it keeps for several months.

Frequently asked questions about 2015 armagnac

Who produces the 2015 armagnac in our selection?

The Clés des Ducs house, whose history begins in Panjas, in the Gers, in 1774.

What is the best 2015 armagnac?

The one that suits you. This lightly oaked 2015 aims for softness and balance; for more power, turn to a brut de fût from another year.

Is an 11 year old armagnac ready to drink?

Yes. Once bottled, it will no longer change: you can open it now or keep it for a special occasion.

What is the price of a 2015 armagnac?

It is shown on the product page, with the bottle size. From one estate to another, the price of a vintage varies depending on the strength, the format and the rarity.

Where can I buy a 2015 armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online shop specialising in vintage armagnacs: bottles from houses in the Gers, secure ordering and payment, delivery in France and across Europe, and a customer service to advise you before you buy.

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