Armagnac labels have to give an age statement and geographical origin.
May 24, 2011
Armagnac is a grape brandy and is the oldest spirit in the world, there are records of it being produced, and as used as a curative, since 1411. The Armagnac region is located in Gascony, South-West France and is divided into three sub-regions.
Bas-Armagnac is a lower-lying region and is considered to be the most important area, or “sous-appelation”. The best and most typical brandies come from this area and are supple, relatively quick to mature and have notes of prunes, plums and tobacco.
Ténarèze produces slightly more elegant brandies that are rounded, with more finesse, and have an aromatic, fruity style with notes of violets.
Haut-Armagnac is the least important area but can still produce very good brandies.
All three are differentiated by having different soils and microclimates or terroirs.
Armagnac production begins with a dry white wine made from local grapes such as Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard and Baco 22A. This is then distilled in either continuous single column or pot stills.
Once the clear, colourless distillate is obtained it is then aged in 400 litre oak barrels. Typically these are made of a local dark oak called Monlezun which gives the brandies further richness. In the barrel the Armagnac leaches vanillins and tannins from the toasted oak which lend the spirit colour and flavour. The depth of colour and complexity of flavour increases all the time the spirit is aged in cask, the colour can can range from pale straw to rich amber. Part of the alcohol evaporates naturally during the long years in cask – this is known as “la part des anges” (the angel’s share).
Armagnac labels have to give an age statement and geographical origin. These are policed, to ensure what you have in the bottle is what it should be, by the Bureau National Interprofessional de l’Armagnac (BNIA).
The age designations, the time the Armagnac is barrel-aged, are –
VS / Three Star – Minimum 2 years
VSOP – Minimum 5 years
XO / Napoléon – Minimum 6 years
Hors d’Age – Minimum 10 years
Single Vintage Year / Age Statement – either a single vintage or an age statement such as 10 or 20 years old.
Many commercial producers will release their Armagnacs when the brandies are just old enough to qualify for these age designations. Smaller, artisanal, producers will age their Armagnacs for much longer than the bare minimum.
An ideal 40th Birthday Present or Ruby Wedding Anniversary Present
Vintage Armagnac makes an ideal present for a special anniversary or birthday. There are rarely any poor vintages of Armagnac – the production / ageing of the spirit is just as important as the raw product (white wine) that is used for the distillation process. A bottle of Armagnac can also be savoured over a period of months, unlike an old Vintage Port, and is often much better value for money than a Cognac or Single Malt Whisky of the same age.
Serving Armagnac
Armagnac is traditionally served at the end of the meal and makes a perfect digestif. Armagnac is also a very good base for cocktails, it is best to use a younger Armagnac for such purposes. It can be drunk as a long drink with ice and sparkling water or tonic and a slice of lemon. For more sophisticated cocktails an older Armagnac can be used. From the Drinks Mixer website -
Lazy Lover recipe
1 1/2 oz Southern Comfort® peach liqueur
1/2 oz armagnac
1 oz pineapple juice
3/4 oz lime juice
1/2 oz passion-fruit syrup
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a speared cherry, and serve.
Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Baron-de-Lustrac-1969-Vintage-Armagnac
Fine dining in Manila Philippines, wine and dine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar, great wine list
Many tourists traveling north to Baguio or Bataan make a stop at Clark Philippines to relax and unwind at this famous fine dining restaurant. Conveniently located in the Mimosa Leisure Golf Estate, next to the Casino and the well known 36-hole championship golf course of Mimosa, frequently visited Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar is a well known destination for tourists and residents of Angeles City Pampanga and Manila to be one of the best fine dining restaurants in the Philippines. Wine lovers from Manila and all other cities in Asia already know of Yats Restaurant for its award winning 2700-item wine list. This resto bar is generally regarded as the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga.
Places to go during holidays in Philippines, wine & dine in Clark at Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge, one of 600 restaurants in the world to win Wine Spectator’s Best of Awards of Excellence Wine List.
Recent opinion survey of frequent travelers heading north towards Subic and Clark Pampanga revealed that the number one most frequently visited fine dining restaurant in Pampanga is Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar located in Clark Philippines. Reasons given include good food, excellent service, an elegant, cozy and upscale ambience, availability of exclusive private dining rooms, a nice garden for outdoor alfresco dining and cocktail parties. There are two very impressive wine cellars that contain some of the world’s finest wines and rare vintages. Yats Restaurant is already recognized as one of the top rated restaurants in the Philippines. It is frequently visited not only by local residents but also tourists arriving in the Philippines for a memorable dining experience.
The best place to hold group dinners in Clark Pampanga is Yats Restaurant and Wine Lounge. Located in the upscale and quiet location of Mimosa Leisure Estate that is famous for its Championship golf course and the Clark casino, this top rated restaurant is highly recommended for event organizers looking for a good restaurant to hold group dinners. Companies in Subic and Angeles City Pampanga frequently choose this restaurant in Clark for meetings, parties and functions. Residents of nearby Angeles City, San Fernando and other cities of Pampanga travel to Clark to hold their group dinners and social gatherings in this popular restaurant in Clark. Yats Restaurant is well known among residents of Manila to be a place to visit whenever they travel out of town on a getaway to the north towards Subic, Tarlac, Baguio or Pampanga. Very often, group dinners, family gatherings and social functions are held in this famous restaurant in Clark Philippines.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Pampanga? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
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For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
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