Millet 1987 Armagnac - 700 ml

This vintage French grape brandy originates from Gascony in southwestern France, produced by Domaine de Millet (Château de Millet) in Eauze, the premier Bas-Armagnac sub-region. Estate-crafted by the Dèche family, this expression captures the single-year harvest of 1987. Distilled primarily from Baco 22A and Ugni Blanc grapes cultivated in the estate's iron-rich tawny sandy soils (sables fauves), the wine underwent a single continuous distillation in a copper Armagnac alambic. The spirit matured for decades in local Gascon black oak barrels before being bottled directly from the cask at 84 proof (42.0% ABV) in the classic 700 ml format, delivering an expressive look into late-1980s Bas-Armagnac rancio evolution.

Spirit Description

This 1987 vintage presents a rich mahogany-amber hue with copper highlights and slow, elegant legs clinging to the glass. On the nose, it is highly aromatic and expressive, opening with notes of dried apricots, prune jam, candied orange peel, and dark raisins, quickly unfolding into classic mature rancio accents of polished oak, toasted almonds, pipe tobacco, and cocoa powder. On the palate, it feels full-bodied, silky, and mouth-coating, delivering an initial wave of dark caramel, caramelized orchard fruits, and vanilla bean before transitioning into warm baking spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), gentle oak tannins, and a touch of leather. The 42% ABV strength provides a firm, velvety spine that carries the decades of oak contact with exceptional balance. The finish is long, warm, and clean, trailing off with lingering impressions of dried fruit, toasted walnuts, dark chocolate, and a soft Gascon spice.

Accolades

Domaine de Millet vintage releases from the late 1980s hold strong critical respect among Armagnac enthusiasts, master sommeliers, and spirits collectors. Earning high scores across independent review outlets and receiving consistent honors at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris, reviewers praise the Dèche family for preserving vintage purity. Spirits judges routinely note how multi-decade cask maturation elevates the estate's rustic distilled spirit into a harmonious balance of vibrant fruit sweetness and wood-driven complexity.