1983 Armagnac, J. Nismes-Delclou, (40%) (Gillings)

Nismes-Delclou is the oldest firm producing Armagnac, founded in 1832 by Baron Hausmann, then Chief Commissioner of Police in Paris. It has since remained in the hands of the same family. Today, Florence Castarede, the sixth generation continues the tradition of producing wonderfully rich, perfumed and smooth Armagnacs which are amongst the finest in the region. The house of Castarede enjoys an enviable reputation for holding impressive stock of old vintages, going back to 1881. Only the finest fruit from the Bas Armagnac region is used and the eaux-de-vie are matured slowly in wooden casks and demejans in two different locations: In the old Nismes-Delclou cellars by the Baise river at the Pont de Bordes in Lavardac and in Château Maniban at Mauleon d'Armagnac. This old magnificent castle of Maniban was built in the 16th century, and is a classified historical monument. The estate is surrounded by vineyards planted with Folle Blanche (aka Piquepoul), Colombard, and Ugni Blanc (Saint-Emilion).