the house

Château de Laubade

Founded in 1870
Location Sorbets, Gers
Appellation Bas-Armagnac

Château de Laubade nestled in the heart of Sorbets, in the Gers, is a veritable ode to the richness of Bas Armagnac. Founded in 1870, this 105-hectare estate has been under the aegis of the Lesgourgues family for three generations, with Denis, Jeanne and Arnaud at the helm, continuing the quest for perfection.

This illustrious wine estate, evoking over 150 years of history, was once home to such luminaries as French statesman Joseph Noulens and fashion designer Jeanne Paquin. The Château is an elegant marriage of timeless tradition and modernity.

Today, the Lesgourgues family produces legendary armagnacs, the fruit of artisanal know-how coupled with a spirit of innovation and eco-responsibility. Their technique involves distilling unsulphured white wines immediately after fermentation, in their unique "armagnacais" still built in 1974.

The "simple continuous distillation" process is carried out variety by variety, including Baco, Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard, under the meticulous guidance of the Maître de Chai. The harmony between wine and alcohol vapors is perfectly revealed in the column, aiming for a rich organoleptic palette.

Excellence also lies in patience. Maurice Lesgourgues' vision called for long maturation before bottling to guarantee unrivalled quality. The wine is aged in nearly 3,000 420-liter barrels, with relentless attention to detail, guaranteeing exemplary traceability.

This magnificent château, guardian of Gascon tradition, also places innovation at the heart of its philosophy, with the reintroduction of indigenous grape varieties and the audacity of original affinages. The Lesgourgues family is thus shaping the Armagnac of the future, rooted in respect for the environment and the passion of the men and women who contribute to its production.

Château de Laubade the Lesgourgues family, with its vast vineyards on the hillsides of Bas Armagnac, is a symbol of excellence and heritage, where tradition and innovation meet to create Armagnacs renowned the world over.

Grape varieties: Baco, Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard and Plant de Graisse (six varieties cultivated in total)
Distillation: Continuous single-distillation in a column-still alembic built in 1974, variety by variety
Ageing: Ageing in Gascony oak casks across 9 cellars housing close to 3,000 420-litre barrels
Awards: Named Spirit of the Year 2020 by La Revue des Vins de France; around 250 awards at international competitions

Château de Laubade vintages

29 vintages from 1972 to 2006, each linked to its bottle.

Our merchant's guide

Château de Laubade

Château de Laubade armagnac: our selection in the shop

A family estate run by the third generation of the Lesgourgues family, this AOC Bas-Armagnac wine estate produces two great families of armagnac: blends, which marry eaux-de-vie of several ages, and vintages, from a single harvest. Our selection covers both, for sipping as well as for gifting.

The 12 year old Intemporel, the house blend

Laubade 12 year old Intemporel armagnac is a fine introduction to the estate's style: a round, harmonious Bas-Armagnac whose youngest eau-de-vie has spent at least twelve years in cask. It is the ideal bottle to discover the house or for an everyday digestif.

The 2000 brut de fût

The 2000 brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced) is bottled without reduction, at the natural strength of the cask. More intense, it reveals the raw character of the eau-de-vie and is aimed at those who enjoy powerful spirits.

Laubade vintages, from 1972 to 2000

This is the estate's great speciality. Each vintage comes from a single grape harvest, distilled and then aged separately before bottling:

1970s: 1972, 1974 and 1975 in 50 cl, then 1976, 1978 and 1979 in 70 cl;
1980s: every vintage from 1980 to 1989, including 1986;
1990s: every vintage from 1990 to 1999, including 1996;
2000: the latest vintage in our selection.

This continuity makes Laubade a benchmark for giving the armagnac of a birth year or wedding year. To compare with other Bas-Armagnac estates, discover our vintage armagnacs, year by year.

Floc de Gascogne

The estate also makes a white and a rosé Floc de Gascogne, the region's traditional aperitif, made by blending fresh grape must with young armagnac. Serve well chilled.

Terroir, grape varieties and distillery

The single-block vineyard at Sorbets, on the hillsides of Bas-Armagnac in south-west France, brings together six AOC grape varieties, including baco, colombard, folle blanche, ugni blanc and plant de graisse. Each brings its own signature: the roundness and fruit of baco, the floral finesse of folle blanche, the liveliness of ugni blanc.

At the distillery, the white wine runs continuously, in a single distillation, through the estate's column-type armagnac still, built in 1974. The wines from each variety are distilled separately, which allows the cellar master to compose the blends precisely afterwards or to set aside certain eaux-de-vie for the vintages.

Nine ageing cellars and nearly 3000 oak casks

After distillation, the eaux-de-vie age in nine ageing cellars, in 420-litre Gascon oak casks. Damp cellars and dry cellars, new casks and old casks do not bring the same aromas: by playing on these differences, the estate's team patiently refines each armagnac before bottling.

This commitment to quality has been recognised: the estate was named "Spirit of the Year 2020" by La Revue des Vins de France, and its armagnacs have received many awards at international competitions, in Paris as well as in San Francisco. A fine endorsement for a story that began in 1870.

How to choose your Laubade armagnac

To discover the estate: the 12 year old Intemporel;
For lovers of intense spirits: the 2000 brut de fût;
For a birthday gift: the vintage from the year of birth or marriage;
For the aperitif: Floc de Gascogne, white or rosé.

Tasting an old Laubade armagnac

Tasting is a real experience: the estate's old vintages often develop notes of prune, candied fruit, vanilla and walnut on the nose, followed on the palate by sweet spices, cocoa and sometimes rancio. Serve the armagnac at room temperature, in a tulip glass, and let it breathe for a few minutes before sipping slowly. Once opened, the bottle keeps for several months stored upright, away from light.

Frequently asked questions about Château de Laubade

Where is Château de Laubade?

The estate is located in Sorbets, in the Gers, in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac appellation, in south-west France.

Which armagnacs does the estate produce?

Eaux-de-vie from its own vineyard (baco, ugni blanc and the estate's other varieties), offered as blends such as the 12 year old Intemporel, as brut de fût bottlings and as a long series of vintages. The estate also produces Floc de Gascogne.

How much does a Laubade armagnac cost?

The price of a Laubade armagnac depends on the age, the vintage and the size (50 cl or 70 cl). Each product on this page shows its price so you can compare.

How can I buy Laubade armagnac online?

To buy a Laubade armagnac, choose your vintage on this page and add it to your basket. Online ordering is secure and delivery is handled with care, in France and across Europe, in packaging designed for shipping spirits. Our customer service team is on hand to help you choose.

What is the history of Laubade?

The house was built in 1870 in Sorbets. The Lesgourgues family has owned it since 1974 and runs it today in its third generation: a story of Gascon heritage, looking to the future. To visit the estate, please enquire directly with the property.

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