Domaine de Baraillon 1994

Tasting note

Nose

Juicy grapes, sultanas and even lilies are mentioned. Sweet and delicate is perhaps a little too easily said, but it is certainly true. Zooming in a little more, we talk about orange blossom and vanilla cream.

Taste

Warm raspberries, indeed not cherries really raspberries. The vanilla cream of the scent has turned into melted vanilla ice cream like in a milkshake. Fresh apples, kiwi and pomegranates are also tasted. Candied lemon and juicy oranges provide a fruity finish.

Finish

Long and fruity with the dry fruit lasting the longest.

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.