De Montal Armagnac Vintage Showcase

De Montal Armagnac Vintage Showcase is a three-bottle collection of single-vintage Bas-Armagnacs from 1970, 1980, and 1990, each bottled at 40% ABV in 200ml format. Drawn from 17th-century cellars housing an extraordinary library of Armagnacs dating back to 1893, this set traces three distinct decades of Gascon brandy through one of the region's most recognized houses.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Bas-Armagnac, Gascony, France  |  Vintages: 1970, 1980, 1990 (3×200ml)  |  Producer: Compagnie des Produits de Gascogne

Production & Heritage

The De Montal brand is owned by the Compagnie des Produits de Gascogne, established in 1981 and custodian of one of Armagnac's most comprehensive vintage archives. Production follows traditional Bas-Armagnac methods: dry white wines made from Folle-Blanche, Ugni-Blanc, Colombard, and Baco grapes undergo a single continuous distillation through a copper column still — the classic alambic armagnacais — before entering oak casks for extended maturation. The cellars hold every vintage from 1960 onward in active aging, with stocks reaching as far back as 1893, and each bottling in this set has matured well beyond the minimum requirements of the Armagnac AOC. Bas-Armagnac, widely regarded as the most prestigious sub-region of the appellation, contributes sandy and silty soils that produce particularly refined, aromatic eaux-de-vie.

Tasting Notes

1970 Vintage — Aroma: The nose opens with warm, complex spice — think cinnamon bark and nutmeg — before settling into rich dried fruit aromas, suggesting fig and raisin. Over fifty years of oak aging have woven these elements into a deeply layered bouquet.

1970 Vintage — Taste: The palate carries concentrated dried fruit sweetness tempered by baking spice and a hint of old leather. Mid-palate weight is substantial, with tannin structure that has softened considerably over its long rest in cask.

1970 Vintage — Finish: Long and warmly spiced, with lingering dried fig and subtle oak tannin. A contemplative, quietly powerful conclusion.

1980 Vintage — Aroma: Pronounced prune and stewed plum dominate the nose, accompanied by distinct licorice and dark toffee. Swirling reveals secondary notes of aged tobacco leaf.

1980 Vintage — Taste: The entry is round and fruit-forward, with prune sweetness giving way to herbal licorice at mid-palate. Texture is silky, with gentle oak influence adding structure without heaviness.

1980 Vintage — Finish: Medium-long, marked by a persistent licorice thread and a dry, clean fade. An elegant, well-integrated spirit after more than four decades in wood.

1990 Vintage — Aroma: Bright vanilla and toasted almond greet the nose, with a lighter, more approachable character than the older vintages. Subtle floral and honeyed notes emerge after a few minutes in the glass.

1990 Vintage — Taste: Clean vanilla sweetness transitions into toasted nuts and a touch of caramelized oak at mid-palate. The overall impression is polished and balanced, with a slightly fresher fruit character than the 1970 and 1980 expressions.

1990 Vintage — Finish: Medium in length, finishing with toasted hazelnut and a whisper of warm vanilla. Approachable yet unmistakably mature.

How to Drink the Vintage Showcase

All three vintages are best appreciated neat in a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature; a few drops of water can open the older 1970 expression further. The 1990 vintage, being the lightest of the three, works beautifully in a Sidecar, where its vanilla and nut notes complement Cointreau and citrus. The 1980 vintage's licorice depth makes an exceptional Sazerac variation when substituted for rye. For an elegant after-dinner serve, try the 1970 in a Brandy Alexander, where its dried fruit richness pairs naturally with cream and nutmeg.

Best For

• Gifting a brandy or whisky enthusiast who appreciates aged spirits and vintage character
• Hosting a guided tasting flight comparing three decades of Bas-Armagnac evolution
• Celebrating a milestone birthday for someone born in 1970, 1980, or 1990
• Building knowledge of Armagnac as a category through direct decade-by-decade comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the De Montal Vintage Showcase taste like? Each bottle delivers a distinct profile: the 1970 centers on concentrated dried fruit and warm spice, the 1980 on prune and licorice, and the 1990 on vanilla and toasted nuts. Together they demonstrate how vintage variation and aging length shape Bas-Armagnac character.

How does De Montal compare to Delord Bas-Armagnac? Delord is another well-regarded Bas-Armagnac house offering vintage bottlings, typically in single-vintage 750ml format. The De Montal Showcase differs by bundling three distinct decades in smaller 200ml bottles, making it a more accessible entry point for exploring vintage variation side by side.

Is the Vintage Showcase good for sipping neat? Absolutely — each 200ml bottle is designed for contemplative sipping, and the smaller format allows exploration of three rare vintages without committing to full-size bottles of each.

Where is De Montal made? De Montal Armagnacs are produced in the Bas-Armagnac sub-region of Gascony in southwestern France, widely considered the finest terroir within the broader Armagnac appellation due to its sandy, silty soils.

What foods pair well with the Vintage Showcase? The 1970's dried fruit richness pairs with aged Comté or Roquefort cheese. The 1980's prune and licorice character complements dark chocolate truffles or fig tart. The 1990's vanilla and nut profile works alongside crème brûlée, almond biscotti, or foie gras on toasted brioche.

What sizes does the Vintage Showcase come in? The De Montal Armagnac Vintage Showcase is packaged as a set of three 200ml bottles (1970, 1980, and 1990 vintages), totaling 600ml.

Is the Vintage Showcase worth the price? This set positions in the premium gift tier, and its value lies in offering access to three decades of single-vintage Bas-Armagnac — spirits with 30 to 50-plus years of cask aging — in a format that would cost significantly more if purchased as individual full-size bottles.

Why the De Montal Vintage Showcase?

What distinguishes this collection is the sheer depth of the De Montal cellar reserves. With continuous stocks dating to 1893 and every vintage from 1960 onward still aging in oak, few Armagnac houses can assemble a trio spanning three decades with this kind of provenance. The 200ml format solves a real problem for collectors and curious drinkers alike: it removes the financial risk of committing to a single full-size vintage while delivering the same liquid quality. For anyone seeking to understand how Bas-Armagnac evolves across time — from the concentrated intensity of the 1970 to the lighter refinement of the 1990 — this showcase is one of the most instructive and enjoyable ways to do so.