1982, the summer of the first Fête de la Musique
On 21 June 1982, France celebrated the Fête de la Musique for the first time, launched by Jack Lang and Maurice Fleuret. A few months later, in Gascony, the grapes were harvested and then distilled over the winter. As no harvest report has been published for armagnac, we let the houses speak: each one aged its 1982 brandies in its own way, and it is this diversity that you find on this page.
Our 1982 armagnacs, house by house
Vintages brought down to 40 or 42%
- Château de Millet, in Eauze: the Dèche family grows its vines on the tawny sands of Bas-Armagnac. The 1982 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: 40% ABV, in the classic size or in magnum. An elegant nose of dried flowers, tobacco and nutmeg, a palate rich in spices and verbena;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets: 40%, butter, vanilla and cooked prune, with great suppleness and breadth;
- Dartigalongue, in Nogaro: 42%, caramelised apple, raisins, walnut, great softness, then a smooth, round palate with cocoa and spicy notes;
- Armagnac Castarède: 38 years in cask, bottled in 2020, 40% ABV, supplied in a gift case;
- Baron de Sigognac, made by the Guasch family at Château de Bordeneuve: amber gold, clear, floral and plum notes, a slightly smooth, vanilla taste with hints of cooked fruit.
The brut de fût bottlings
- Domaine de Danis, in Castelnau-d'Auzan: 45%, and a key date for the Piquemal family, since 1982 is their first vintage made exclusively from folle blanche. Vanilla and sweet spices on the nose, a direct and broad attack with minty freshness, a liquorice finish;
- Domaine de Pellehaut, in Montréal-du-Gers, in Ténarèze: 48.2%, aged in 400 litre oak barrels. A supple, broad palate, plenty of volume, ripe orange and mirabelle plum;
- Jean Cavé, a distiller in Lannepax since 1883: 47.9% ABV.
Which grape varieties for the 1982 armagnac?
This year offers a fine example of the appellation's diversity. Pure folle blanche at Danis, ugni blanc alone in Ténarèze, baco and ugni blanc at Millet and Sigognac, and at Laubade four varieties brought together, including colombard. Each variety has its character: folle blanche for finesse, ugni for liveliness, baco for roundness.
Brut de fût or not: making the right choice
A brut de fût armagnac is bottled at the strength it reached in the cask, with no added water. It is more concentrated and more intense, and will please the informed connoisseur. The versions at 40 or 42% are softer and suit most palates. If you are hesitating, look at the style too: spicy and floral at Delord, indulgent at Dartigalongue, generous and broad in Ténarèze. The best choice is still the one that resembles the person who will receive it.
The story of a vintage, from vine to glass
After the 1982 harvest, the white wine is distilled in the armagnac still, a continuous still. The brandy then spends many long years in oak casks, where it takes on its amber colour, its golden or mahogany highlights and its aromas. No other year is mixed in: a vintage is not a blend. Since armagnac stops evolving once bottled, the bottling date, when the label shows it (2020 for the Castarède), reveals the true length of ageing in the cellar.
Almost all our 1982s come from Bas-Armagnac, the westernmost part of wine-growing Gascony, on tawny sands. Pellehaut represents Ténarèze; Haut-Armagnac, further east, is not present in this selection. Three terroirs, three stories, one appellation.
Giving a 1982 armagnac for a 44th birthday or a 44th wedding anniversary
In 2026, those born in 1982 celebrate their 44th birthday, and couples married in 1982 their 44th wedding anniversary. An armagnac from this year is a gift the same age as they are, a fine old spirit: to share on the evening of the celebration, or to keep in reserve for another occasion, in a personal cellar. The Millet magnum and Gascon pot suit large gatherings.
How to taste a 1982 armagnac
In a tulip glass, at room temperature, without ice. Let the armagnac breathe, then warm the glass in your hand: the scents of prune, cocoa and vanilla open up little by little, and the colour reveals its highlights in the light. As a digestif, it goes well with dark chocolate or a cigar, as the Delord house suggests. Store the bottle upright, away from light: once opened, it keeps for several months.
Frequently asked questions about 1982 armagnac
How much does a 1982 armagnac cost?
It all depends on the estate, the size and the strength. Each product page shows the price and the bottle size: compare according to your budget.
What are the characteristics of the 1982 armagnac?
A brandy from a single harvest, aged for several decades in cask: amber colour, aromas of prune, vanilla and butter, a round or broad palate depending on the house.
What do people say about the 1982 armagnac?
The houses' descriptions agree on one point: these are round, generous 1982s, from the cocoa of Dartigalongue to the butter of Laubade. The product pages give each description in detail.
Where can I buy 1982 armagnac?
Right here, at Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online wine and spirits merchant dedicated to vintage armagnac: add the bottle to your basket, payment is secure and your order is shipped with care, in France and across Europe. For any question, our contact page is there for you.
Is armagnac dangerous?
Like any alcohol, it should be enjoyed in moderation: a few centilitres are enough to appreciate its full range.
Interested in other years? See 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
Domaine de Danis
7 bottles
