About this release
Grape of the Art is back! After a small hiatus to regroup we are back with an amazing Armagnac. Easily one of my favorite Armagnacs so far, definitely top 3 from all GotA Armagnac releases!
In the late 1980s, Bruno Compagnon, convinced of the excellence of the terroir of Haut-Armagnac, threw himself into reviving Haut Armagnac which had all but disappeared from production since the Phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. He decided to replant the vineyards of LaRoche-Vacquié overlooking Lectoure, the historical capital of the Counts of Armagnac, eventually returning the entire estate to its original plantation as a vineyard. In 1997, the Minister of Agriculture bestowed the insignia of Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit – second in importance only to the Legion of Honor– to Bruno Compagnon for reintroducing Haut Armagnac. Since then, the family has carried on its traditions with dedication and respect for the exceptional terroirs and age-old know-how of the property. Since 2008, the Compagnons, father Bruno and son Morgan, have converted the vineyards of LaRoche-Vacquié into a fully organic estate. In order to reach full sustainability, one of the first solar farms of the area was built on the estate in 2011. Morgan officially relaunched the brand internationally in 2022.
Tasting Notes
The LRV is a proper Armagnac for American Whisky lovers! The nose starts with intense cherry notes, which remind you of old aged Bourbons from past times. It is a great mix of different fruits (mostly cherry, but also mango and prunes), spice from the cask and vanilla. The taste delivers an intense sensation, with well integrated ABV. The fruits and spice play well with each other and let you discover different notes in each sip. The aftertaste lets the oak and spice shine more and lingers for a long time. Overall it tastes far older than the 23 years of aging suggests.
| Spirit category | Armagnac |
| Producer | LaRoche-Vacquié |
| Origin | Haut Armagnac |
| Grape variety | Colombard and Ugni Blanc Grapes |
| Vintage | 2001 |
| ABV | 51.8 % |
| Still type | Alambic Armagnacais |
| Distillateur | Jean-Pierre Gimet |
| Aged for | 23 years |
| Cellar climate | dry |
| Cask number | #82 |
| Bottled in | January 2026 |
| Number of bottles | 150 |
Reviews
Coming soon…