Domaine de Baraillon 2000

Tasting note

Nose

The start is a bit like freshly squeezed grape juice. This moves into fruity strawberry jam and some blueberries. Wood aromas are also evident, bringing sultanas and dates to the nose.

Taste

Bittersweet orange marmalade someone shouts and then everyone else tastes it too. Candied orange peel in thick mildly sweet jelly with nice bitter notes, hint of cinnamon. On the second sip, dates and grapes also emerge, hints of caramel and some bitter wood aromas.

Finish

Nice long and fruity

The distillery

The Domaine de Baraillon is located just outside Lannemaignan in the Bas-Armagnac. The pretty little estate is surrounded by sunflower, maize and wheat fields and, of course, vineyards. Driving past the Domaine, you wouldn't even know that Armagnac is produced here, were it not for a large barrel on the side of the road with their name written on it. 

Claverie's Armagnacs are a combination of two properties: 4 hectares owned by Patriach Paul's sister in Le Freche and 12 hectares around his house. All vineyards are full of the three major grape varieties, Baco, Colombard and Ugni Blanc. Until 2012 they used the Loubere distillery in Labastide d'Armagnac, but in 2012 they bought their own stills in which they now turn their wines into spirits. The fresh eau de vie normally goes into 5,000-litre casks before being transferred to smaller barrels. Both new and old barrels are used for this purpose. The barrels are regularly aerated to promote oxidation. The oldest stocks date back to the late 19th century and it occasionally seems as if time has stood still at Domaine de Baraillon. Tradition and quality are therefore highly valued by the family.