Baron Gaston Legrand 1952 Vintage Appellation Bas Armagnac Controlee 40%

The 1952 harvest came in off the fields of Gascony, went through the copper before the cold set in, and then disappeared into the dark behind a cellar wall. There it stayed while the world outside changed face several times over. What you pour today is that one harvest and not a drop from any other year.

The expert's description

Baron Gaston Legrand 1952 Vintage Appellation Bas Armagnac Controlee 40% is a Vintage Bas Armagnac from Gascony in south-west France, single distilled on an alambic armagnacais, matured in black oak casks and bottled at 40%.

Baron Gaston Legrand is a series of single vintages from Bas Armagnac, run by Lhéraud, a French house that has worked with grapes and spirit since 1680. The grapes are Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard, grown in the western part of the appellation where the soil is sandy and the spirits finer than further east.

Distillation happens once, on an alambic armagnacais. The low distillation strength lets far more of the grape carry over into the spirit, which is why young Armagnac tastes forceful and a little raw, while old Armagnac gains a body you will not find in a spirit run twice through a pot still.

The casks are black oak, holding between 700 and 1200 litres. The spirit sits first on new wood, which gives tannins and the dry timber note, and is then moved to older casks where the pace drops and maturation turns quiet. There it rests all the way to bottling. The bottle arrives in a wooden case with a spare stopper and a canvas bag.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and ripe peach sit on top, and underneath them a nutty tone close to a freshly cracked hazelnut. Vanilla comes in from behind, soft and without sweetness, and right at the back a trace of violet.

Palate

Soft on entry but with weight behind it. Plum and yellow fruit carry the middle, the hazelnut returns halfway through, and a careful dusting of pepper keeps the whole thing dry.

Finish

Long and unhurried. The nuts hold on longest, the wood lays a dry frame around them, and at the very end a tart note of lime turns up and opens the mouth again.

Specifications

Name: Baron Gaston Legrand 1952 Vintage Appellation Bas Armagnac Controlee 40%
Bottler: Lhéraud
Region/Country: Bas Armagnac, Gascony, France
Type: Vintage Bas Armagnac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Black oak casks of 700-1200 litres
Distillation method: Single distilled on an alambic armagnacais
Distilled: 1952
Edition: Baron Gaston Legrand Vintage 1952

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Vanilla · Dry · Smooth

Investment potential

Medium. The vintage cannot be made again, and the casks left from the early 1950s grow fewer with every bottling.

Did you know?

Armagnac is France's oldest spirit and was being drunk long before Cognac existed at all. In Gascony it was first written about as medicine rather than as something to enjoy.

See our full range of Armagnac

Frequently asked questions about Baron Gaston Legrand 1952 Vintage Appellation Bas Armagnac Controlee 40%

Is a Bas Armagnac from 1952 worth investing in?

The potential is rated Medium. The vintage is closed, nothing more will ever be made from 1952, and the remaining casks from that decade are emptied slowly. Together with Bas Armagnac's standing as the finest corner of the appellation, that makes the bottle worth putting away.

What does Appellation Bas Armagnac Controlee mean?

It is the protected French designation of origin for spirit from Bas Armagnac. The designation fixes geography, grape varieties and production method, so nothing from outside the area may carry the name. Bas Armagnac is the westernmost of Armagnac's three sub-regions.

Which grapes went into the vintage?

Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard. Ugni Blanc brings acidity and staying power, Folle Blanche contributes flowers and finesse, and Colombard lays in fruit and spice. All three are grown in Bas Armagnac.

How is an old Bas Armagnac best drunk?

Neat and at room temperature. Pour a small measure and let the glass stand for five to ten minutes so the heavy aromas get air. Ice shuts the nose down, and water is rarely needed at this strength.

What is the difference between Armagnac and Cognac?

Armagnac is distilled once on an armagnac column, Cognac twice in a pot still. The single distillation gives a fuller spirit with more grape character. On top of that, the Armagnac region is considerably smaller than Cognac and has always bottled single vintages. The large Cognac Houses and Distilleries also work on a completely different scale, where consistency from year to year matters more than the character of a single harvest.

Why is there no age statement on the label?

Because the bottle is a single vintage. The age is read from the year on the label up to the day the cask was emptied, and no younger spirit has been blended in. That is exactly why the tradition states a year rather than a number of years.