Bas Armagnac Single 15 Years - Samalens
 
Made exclusively from wine obtained with the ugni blanc grape, 50% comes from double distillation and the remaining 50% from continuous distillation. It ages 15 years and proves complex and important.
 
Type: Bas Armagnac
Origin: France - Bas Armagnac
Format: 70cl. with box set
Alcohol content: 40% vol.
 
Tasting Notes: Amber-gold colour, almost brown. Bouquet with hints of cedar wood, tobacco, cigar, nutmeg, saffron and coriander. There are also nuances of candied fruit, especially orange, pear and apricot. Soft flavor, enhances the balsamic notes. Long and intense finish.
 
The Distillery: The Samalens maison was founded in 1882, in the French municipality of Laujuzan south of Bordeaux, by Jean Samalens. The first Maison d'Armagnac were born around 1850: in those years it was important to build near shipping routes, as they were the only way to transport the barrels of Armagnac to the centers of consumption, for this reason, therefore, the first Maisons were all built in Condom, on the banks of the Baise river, in Mont de Marsan or in Lavardac, all centers however, unfortunately, far from the great crus of the region. However, in 1882 the railway made its appearance. The latter facilitated transport and allowed the Maison Samalens, founded the same year, to establish itself, albeit far from a navigable route, in the heart of Bas Armagnac, the westernmost cru of the Armagnac AOC, where the last hills of Gascony slowly slope towards the Atlantic Ocean, although remaining quite far from it. Jean Samalens, at the time, following his family passions, did nothing but put himself at the service of Armagnac, as his grandfather and great-grandfather, professional coopers and distillers, had done before him. Continuing to perpetuate the family tradition, Jean's children and grandchildren have succeeded at the helm of the company and now Pierre and Philippe manage the winery. Most of the warehouses in which Samalens Armagnac is stored were built before 1900, while the distillery was modernized in 1973 and, with eight stills, is now one of the most important in the region. The distillates, obtained from wines coming from the Bas Armagnac area, mature in Gascon oak barrels until the moment in which, based on the taste, aroma and colour, they are deemed ready to be put on the market and to be entrusted to the judgment of the most refined connoisseurs and amateurs.