1990 armagnac, a brandy from a single year
A vintage armagnac bears the name of one year only: the year the grapes were harvested, made into wine and then distilled. A 1990 armagnac therefore comes solely from the 1990 harvest. Unlike a blend such as an XO or a hors d'âge, which combines brandies of several ages, a vintage tells the story of one harvest and of the style of the house that aged it.
It all starts with a dry white wine made from the grape varieties of the appellation: ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche and colombard. In winter, this wine goes through the armagnac still, in continuous distillation, following the tradition of the region. The spirit, still clear and colourless, then goes down into oak casks. Over the years, it breathes through the wood, loses a little alcohol and takes on its amber colour, its golden glints and its aromas.
Good to know: armagnac only ages in the cask. Once bottled, it no longer evolves. The bottling date, when it appears on the label, therefore tells you how long your 1990 spent in wood: at Castarède, for example, 30 years, until 2020.
1990, a year of liberation and reunification
In February 1990, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison after twenty-seven years of detention; in October, Germany was reunified. In the South West, Gascon winegrowers harvested in the autumn, then each house distilled its wine and filled its casks. It is these brandies, kept for more than three decades in the cellars, that you will find on this page.
Our 1990 armagnacs, house by house
Eight houses, eight interpretations of the same harvest. The style changes from one estate to another, depending on the terroir (Bas-Armagnac or Ténarèze), the grape varieties, the strength and the length of ageing:
- Armagnac Delord, a family house founded in 1893 in Lannepax, in Bas-Armagnac: a 1990 at 40% ABV, in 70 cl and magnum, with aromas of warm vanilla, brioche, hazelnut and cocoa, and mellow tannins;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets, in Bas-Armagnac: a 1990 at 40% ABV, aged in 420 litre Gascon oak casks, with fruity aromas wrapped in vanilla and a round, balanced palate of plum and candied grape;
- Château de Millet, the Dèche family estate in Eauze, whose vineyard is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value): a 1990 at 42% ABV, from baco and ugni, in 70 cl, magnum and 250 cl Gascon pot, elegant with plum and fig, fine tannins and a fresh finish;
- Dartigalongue, a house in Nogaro since 1838: a 1990 at 42% ABV, spicy (clove, cinnamon) with a hint of mocha, indulgent on the palate with praline, chocolate and caramel;
- Armagnac Castarède, a house founded in 1832: a 1990 at 40% ABV, which spent 30 years in oak casks before being bottled in 2020;
- Baron de Sigognac, at Château de Bordeneuve: a 1990 at 40% ABV, from ugni and baco, with a pale amber colour, prune and cinnamon, and a lightly oaked vanilla finish;
- Domaine de Pellehaut, in Ténarèze: a brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced) at 47.5% ABV, 100% ugni blanc, soft and broad, with toasted almond, raisins and dried apricots, silver medal at the Concours général agricole de Paris 2019;
- Jean Cavé, a distiller and ageing house in Lannepax since 1883: a brut de fût at 46.3% ABV, bottled without reduction.
These two brut de fût bottlings also feature among our cask strength armagnacs.
Aromas and characteristics of 1990 armagnac
Thirty years or more in cask produce armagnacs that are already mature while keeping their fruit. On the nose, our 1990s suggest plum, fig, prune, brioche, hazelnut and spices; on the palate, candied grape, praline, chocolate, caramel, toasted almond and dried fruit. They are often fruitier and livelier than a fifty-year-old armagnac, while already offering fine complexity.
Strength changes the character: reduced to 40% ABV, a 1990 is round and approachable; at 42% ABV, it keeps more tension; as a brut de fût, at over 46% ABV, it is more powerful and benefits from breathing for a few minutes in the glass.
How to taste 1990 vintage armagnac
Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass, without ice. Look at its colour and glints, smell it from a distance, then come closer little by little. Warm the glass in your hand and taste in small sips: the aromas reveal themselves as the minutes pass. As a digestif, it goes well with a square of dark chocolate, a dessert with dried fruit or a cigar.
Giving a 1990 armagnac
In 2026, people born in 1990 celebrate their 36th birthday, and couples married that year their 36th wedding anniversary; the 40th will come in 2030. An armagnac from their year was harvested and distilled in the year of their birth or their marriage: a personal gift, to open on the day of the celebration or to keep for another great moment. The magnum and the Gascon pot are for sharing at the table; the 70 cl bottle, in a gift case or gift box depending on the house, remains the most popular gift.
Storing your 1990 armagnac properly
Keep the bottle upright, away from light and heat, so that the alcohol does not touch the cork. Unopened, it keeps for a very long time without losing its qualities. Once opened, it keeps for several months; if the level drops a lot, it is best to finish it without waiting too long.
Frequently asked questions about 1990 armagnac
How do I choose a 1990 vintage armagnac?
First choose the style: round and vanilla-led at Delord or Laubade, indulgent at Dartigalongue, fruity and fresh at Millet, powerful as a brut de fût at Pellehaut or Jean Cavé. Then think about the size: 70 cl for a personal gift, magnum or Gascon pot for a celebration.
Which grape varieties are in 1990 armagnac?
Depending on the house: ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche and colombard. Pellehaut's 1990 is pure ugni, Millet's combines baco and ugni, and Laubade's brings together all four grape varieties.
How much does 1990 armagnac cost?
It depends on the house, the size (70 cl, magnum, Gascon pot), the strength and the type of bottling, reduced or brut de fût. Each product page on this page shows the price.
Where can I buy a 1990 armagnac online?
At Plaisirs de Gascogne, a shop specialising in vintage armagnacs: the bottles come directly from the Gascon houses, payment is secure and delivery is made in France and across Europe, in protective packaging.
Also discover the 1986 armagnac and all our vintage armagnacs, year by year.
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
