Domaine de Baraillon 2008 - 10cl

Nose

Ripe mirabelle plums provide the fruity opening, followed by damp wood and the scent of an autumn forest. Nuts, wet leaves and moss-covered oak create a distinctly earthy and rustic character.

Palate

Pistachios, carrot cake and cardamom are followed by toasted almonds and soft dates. The relatively high strength gives the Armagnac pleasant power and additional vibrancy.

Finish

Medium in length and increasingly dry, with toasted almonds clearly taking the lead. Earthy spices and gentle oak bitterness remain subtly present.

Domaine de Baraillon is located near Lannemaignan in Bas-Armagnac and has been farmed by the Claverie family since 1748. The estate developed over successive generations into a small Armagnac domaine. Management traditionally passed from father to son until Laurence Claverie returned in 2001 after studying viticulture and oenology. She became the first daughter to continue the business and assumed responsibility from vineyard to distillation.

What makes Baraillon distinctive is that its history remains visible in both vineyards and cellars. The estate uses Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc and Baco 22A for Armagnac. These varieties reflect the region’s development: Folle Blanche was the classic distilling grape before phylloxera, while Baco was created afterwards as a more resilient alternative. The cellars still contain pure Baco distillates made by earlier generations, while recent single-varietal releases are often produced from Folle Blanche. Since purchasing its own alambic still in 2012, distillation has taken place on the estate. With preserved vintages dating back to the late nineteenth century, Baraillon is a rare living archive of family, grape variety and harvest year.