Baron de Sigognac 1965 Vintage Armagnac 70cl

Baron de Sigognac 1965 Vintage Armagnac presented in a wooden gift box.

This 1965 vintage Brandy will make a perfect gift for anyone born in 1965, celebrating a milestone birthday, anniversary, or a significant achievement. This is a truly exceptional and unforgettable gift for someone who deeply appreciates the finer things in life.

The Oldest Spirit In the World?

Armagnac is often regarded as the oldest spirit in the world, with records of its distillation and enjoyment dating back to 1411. Armagnac is also a region, part of the southwest of France and is divided into three “sous-appellations”: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Armagnac, along with its more illustrious relative Cognac, are the two most famous French Brandies. In former times, it was even used for medicinal purposes.

Baron de Sigognac, A Family-Owned Armagnac House

The Owners of Baron de Sigognac, the Guasch family, have been living in the Gascony region since the 12th century. They have owned Château Bordeneuve since 1974 and are one of the region’s largest courtier and negociant (broker and merchant) operations. Today, the father-and-son team of Jean-Claude and Thomas look after viticulture, vinification and distillation. As well as Baron de Sigognac, the family also bottle Chateau Bordeneuve Armagnacs and a range of liqueurs from the region.

Estate Vineyards

The estate has some 60 hectares of vineyards – 75 % are planted with Ugni Blanc and the rest with Baco 22A. The vineyards are superbly situated on very fine clay-sand soils, which are high in acidity and in some places mixed with iron, hence the local name “sables fauves” or tawny sands.

Vintage Armagnac Distillation

The Domaine is almost unique in the region as all its production is distilled into Armagnac instead of wine. Their vineyards are located in Bas Armagnac, which is considered by many to be where the best Armagnacs come from. There is one short column, alembic still at the Domaine (almost 100 years old), which produces up to 50 to 60 casks of new spirit annually.

For the 1965 Vintage Armagnac, the base wine is made exclusively from grapes harvested in 1965. The wine is distilled on its lees, resulting in a spirit drawn off the still at 55 to 58% ABV, depending on the harvest. Distillation occurs continuously, day and night, with manual adjustments to account for variations in temperature and humidity.

Maturation & The Angel’s Share

• After distillation, the clear, colourless spirit is aged in new, toasted oak barrels for approximately one year, where it begins to develop its foundational flavours.

• The spirit is then transferred to older oak barrels for a prolonged, slower maturation process. During this time, the Armagnac extracts vanillins and tannins from the oak, contributing to its evolving colour (ranging from pale straw to rich amber) and flavour profile.

• As the Armagnac matures, it becomes darker, smoother, and more elegant, with aromas and flavours of prunes, violets, figs, honey, butterscotch, and rancio emerging over time.

• The Angel’s Share: Throughout the ageing process, a portion of the alcohol naturally evaporates from the casks, a phenomenon known as “la part des anges” (the angel’s share), which further concentrates the spirit’s complexity.

Baron de Sigognac 1965 Vintage Armagnac Presentation

Baron de Sigognac 1965 Vintage Armagnac is presented in a wooden gift box – these rare vintage Armagnacs are only available in strictly limited quantities. Buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.

Significant Events in 1965

March 18th – Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to make a space walk.

May 31st – Scottish racing driver Jim Clark wins the Indianapolis 500.

June 14th – Paul McCartney records Yesterday.

October 26th – The Beatles are appointed Members of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen.