Delord Epopee 130 Year Anniversary Armagnac 750ML

Delord Epopee 130 Year Anniversary Armagnac 750ML is a limited Bas-Armagnac blend of four historic vintages bottled at 43% ABV in a 750ml presentation. What distinguishes this expression is its singular concept: each component vintage — 1900, 1938, 1973–1974, and 2004 — was distilled by a different generation of the Delord family, spanning 130 years of unbroken family stewardship at their estate in Lannepax.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43%  |  Origin: Bas-Armagnac, France  |  Multi-Vintage Blend (1900, 1938, 1973–1974, 2004)  |  Distillery: Delord, Lannepax

Production & Heritage

The Delord family has been distilling Armagnac in Lannepax, in the heart of Bas-Armagnac — widely regarded as the most prized sub-region for the spirit — since the late 19th century. The Epopee is produced using traditional continuous column distillation on "Sier" stills dating from 1900, fitted with distinctive "spider plates" that the house considers ideal for producing spirit destined for long aging. The grape varieties across the blend reflect the classic Bas-Armagnac palette: Ugni Blanc (58%), Colombard (16%), Folle-Blanche (14%), and Baco (12%). Delord is notable among Armagnac houses for employing both double distillation and traditional continuous distillation methods, giving the master blender an unusually broad spectrum of distillate styles to draw from when assembling a blend of this complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with pronounced rancio — that oxidative, mushroomy complexity that signals genuinely old spirit — layered over dried fruits and warm baking spices. Beneath those deeper tones, delicate dried flowers emerge alongside vanilla and cocoa, contributions from the younger 1973–1974 and 2004 vintages respectively.

Taste: The palate enters with rich dried fruit and spice, immediately revealing the depth of the oldest components. At mid-palate, the blend finds its balance: woody finesse and floral elegance from the mid-century vintages give way to gourmand sweetness — vanilla, cocoa, and a soft caramel quality. The integration across more than a century of distillation is remarkably cohesive, with no single era dominating.

Finish: Long and evolving, the finish lingers on rancio, subtle woodspice, and a trailing sweetness of dried fruit. The texture is silky and measured, gradually fading to a quiet warmth that invites reflection.

How to Drink Delord Epopee

A blend of this age and rarity merits neat service in a tulip glass at room temperature; a few drops of water can open the more reticent aromatic layers, but ice would obscure the nuance of the oldest components. While this is primarily a contemplative pour, those inclined to mix with exceptional spirits might consider a Sidecar, where the rancio and dried-fruit character would replace standard cognac with far greater depth; a Vieux Carré, where the spice and woodiness complement rye and sweet vermouth; or a Sazerac variation using Armagnac instead of cognac, where the cocoa and vanilla notes provide a lush backbone against Peychaud's bitters.

Best For

• Marking a milestone anniversary or retirement with a spirit that itself spans generations
• Gifting to a serious Armagnac collector seeking rare multi-vintage blends
• After-dinner contemplation among fellow spirits enthusiasts
• Adding a centerpiece bottle to a curated home bar or spirits library

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Delord Epopee taste like? Delord Epopee delivers layers of rancio, dried fruit, baking spice, vanilla, and cocoa, reflecting the distinct character of four vintages spanning 1900 to 2004. The overall profile is rich and complex, with a silky texture and a long, spice-driven finish.

How does Delord Epopee compare to Marie Duffau Armagnac? Marie Duffau is produced by the same Delord family — the brand was named after Prosper Delord's wife — so the two share production methods, stills, and terroir in Lannepax. The Epopee, however, stands apart as a special-edition multigenerational blend unavailable under the Marie Duffau label.

Is Delord Epopee good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is designed as a contemplative, neat-sipping Armagnac, with the complexity and age of its components rewarding slow, attentive tasting. A tulip-shaped glass at room temperature is the ideal serve.

Where is Delord Epopee made? Delord Epopee is distilled and blended at the Delord estate in Lannepax, located in the Bas-Armagnac sub-region of Gascony in southwest France. Bas-Armagnac is considered the most prestigious production zone within the Armagnac appellation.

What foods pair well with Delord Epopee? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and vanilla notes; aged Comté or Mimolette cheese echoes the rancio character; duck confit or foie gras mirrors the spirit's Gascon roots; dried fig and walnut tart bridges the dried-fruit and woodspice elements; and roasted hazelnuts bring out the toasty, nutty undertones in the finish.

What sizes does Delord Epopee come in? The Delord Epopee 130 Year Anniversary Armagnac is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Delord Epopee worth the price? This expression positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier, justified by the inclusion of spirit distilled as far back as 1900 and the rarity of a blend representing four distinct generations of a single family's work. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a one-of-a-kind Armagnac experience, the provenance and complexity support its price point within the category.

Why Delord Epopee?

No other Armagnac on the market presents a single-family narrative quite like the Epopee — each of its four vintage components was distilled by a successive generation of the Delord family on the same estate in Lannepax, using stills that date to 1900. The grape blend of Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle-Blanche, and Baco captures the full range of traditional Bas-Armagnac varietals, while the house's mastery of both continuous and double distillation methods gives the blender tools few competitors possess. The result is an Armagnac that functions as both a remarkable spirit and a tangible artifact of 130 years of family craft — a bottle where history is not merely referenced but literally contained.