Armagnac Château de Monluc: a Gascon house in the Ténarèze
Château de Monluc is located in Saint-Puy, in the Gers, in the heart of the Ténarèze. Its armagnacs carry the Armagnac-Ténarèze appellation, one of the three zones of Armagnac along with Bas-Armagnac and Haut-Armagnac, in south-west France. The house offers two ways to choose an armagnac: by age, with its blends and age statements, or by year, with its collection of vintages.
The Ténarèze, terroir of Monluc armagnacs
The Ténarèze lies at the centre of the appellation, between Bas-Armagnac to the west and Haut-Armagnac to the east. Its clay-limestone soils give eaux-de-vie with real character, which need time in oak casks to gain finesse and complexity. This explains the place of the great age statements in the estate's range. In AOC Armagnac, four main grape varieties are distilled: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard.
The château and the Lassus family
The château is built on the remains of a medieval castle from the 13th century. It was the family home of Marshal Blaise de Monluc, a key figure of the Italian Wars and the Wars of Religion. The Lassus family, still the owners today, have been developing armagnac here since the 1920s, when Louis Lassus began a trading business. René and Mireille Lassus later launched traditional method wines, then the Vin Sauvage, a traditional method sparkling wine; in 1963 René Lassus created the Pousse Rapière, the Gascon aperitif that made the name Monluc known.
The vineyard is deliberately kept wild in appearance: fewer rows drawn straight as a die, more vegetation to feed and shelter the grapes. Since 2018, Monluc has been a member of the Club des Marques. The armagnac range was completely redesigned in 2019, with the labels you can see in our photos.
The Monluc blends: Blanche, XO and XXO
A blend combines eaux-de-vie from several years; the age stated is that of the youngest. Below are the tasting notes published by the estate for each bottle.
- Blanche d'Armagnac (45% vol.): an unaged, clear eau-de-vie. Citrus, geranium and pear on the nose, a round palate with a touch of peppermint, and a fine, comforting length. A white armagnac to serve chilled.
- XO 11 years (40% vol.): candied fruit, chocolate, vanilla and sandalwood on the nose; on the palate, candied pear and peach, blond tobacco and a hint of Espelette pepper, for a silky, juicy, peppery finish.
- XXO 22 years (40% vol.): nuts, vanilla and sandalwood, then violet and dark chocolate on the palate, with a long peppermint finish.
- XO in decanter gift box: the same family of armagnac presented in a decanter, in a black gift box, ideal as a gift.
The age statements: Perle, Émeraude, Or and Diamant
The house's four great age statements are presented in a wooden case, at 43% vol.:
- 30 years Perle: amber colour; nuts, prune, coffee and cedar, a touch of rancio and ginger, and a rich finish with gingerbread notes.
- 40 years Émeraude: deep amber colour; raisin, citrus, dark chocolate, rancio and a saline hint.
- 50 years Or: candied prunes, dark chocolate, notes of French toast with vanilla sugar and cinnamon; round, rich and indulgent, with a very fine length.
- 60 years Diamant: raisin, roasted coffee, grey tobacco and violet, with a fresh, delicately peppery finish.
Monluc vintages, from 1963 to 2007
A vintage is the eau-de-vie of a single harvest, with the year shown on the label. The appellation only allows it from ten years of age. The house keeps in its cellars a collection of vintages ranging from 1963 to 2016. We offer a wide selection, from 1963 to 2007, in 70 cl bottles at 43% vol.
It is the most personal gift idea there is: the year of a birth, a wedding, a graduation or a retirement. Simply choose the year that matters to the person you are giving it to.
Which Monluc armagnac should you choose?
- To discover the house: the XO 11 years, the most accessible of the aged range.
- For an aperitif or a cocktail: the Blanche d'Armagnac.
- For a milestone birthday: a 30, 40, 50 or 60 year age statement in a wooden case.
- To give a date: the vintage of the year to celebrate.
Frequently asked questions about Monluc armagnac
What is the oldest Monluc armagnac?
In the blend range, it is the 60 years Diamant age statement, whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least sixty years old. Among the vintages, the oldest we offer is the 1963, the year that opens the collection kept by the house.
How should you taste a Monluc armagnac?
Serve it in a tasting glass or a small tulip glass, at room temperature, without ice for older armagnacs. Let it rest in the glass for a few minutes before nosing it, then sip slowly: the notes of dried fruit, vanilla and sandalwood open up gradually. The Blanche, for its part, also lends itself to being served well chilled as an aperitif.
What foods go well with Monluc armagnac?
The dark chocolate notes of the XO, the XXO and the age statements pair naturally with a chocolate dessert or a square of dark chocolate at the end of a meal. The prune notes of the 30 years Perle and the 50 years Or recall the Gascon tradition of prunes in armagnac. In Gascogne, armagnac is also happily served with foie gras, at the end of a meal or in cooking.
What is the difference between armagnac and cognac?
Both are wine eaux-de-vie aged in oak casks, but they come from two different regions: armagnac from Gascogne (Gers, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne), cognac from the Charentes. Armagnac is most often distilled once, in a continuous still, in the Armagnac alembic, whereas cognac is distilled twice in the Charentais pot still. Armagnac is also the land of vintages: bottling a single year is a tradition there.
What is the Pousse Rapière?
It is the aperitif created in 1963 by René Lassus at Château de Monluc: an armagnac liqueur flavoured with orange and spices, the recipe of which is kept secret. It is traditionally served topped up with a sparkling wine from the house, the Vin Sauvage, with half a slice of orange.
Where can you buy Monluc armagnac?
At Plaisirs de Gascogne, the online wine merchant specialising in armagnac: the whole Monluc selection is on this page, from blends to vintages, with a bottle for every budget and every occasion.
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