Vintage Armagnac, 'Domaine de Massas, 1989'

• Vintage Armagnac independently bottled by Laterrade in Mauvezin-d’Armagnac
• Appellation Armagnac-Ténarèze Contrôlée
• Cépages: 50% Baco, 50% Ugni Blanc
• Distilled in 1989 and aged 33 years in French oak barrels
• Prune, caramel, and some smoky notes reminiscent of whisky; spice notes ride along a strong burst of alcohol on the finish.
• Bottled at a cask strength of 48.5% ABV

“The Massas estate in Cazeneuve was owned by Vincent Cuonzo, an agricultural and grape-harvesting company. It had 3 hectares of vines: 2.5 Ha Baco, 0.5 Ha Ugni Blanc. It was Jean-Pierre Gimet who distilled vintages between 1975 and 1989, first aged in new oak, and then kept in conical trunks of 5000 liters in a cellar with a concrete floor, which explains why they have lost little alcohol. I kept only one piece from 1989 that I particularly liked, the rest having been sold to Baktha Armagnac.”—Charles Neal, Charles Neal Selections