Laubade XO Bas-Armagnac 750ml

Château de Laubade was founded in 1870 in Sorbets, in the Gers department of Gascony, and spans 260 acres of contiguous single-estate vineyards, making it the largest single-vineyard producer in Bas-Armagnac. The estate has remained under the Lesgourgues family for three generations, with siblings Denis, Jeanne, and Arnaud Lesgourgues now at the helm, and Laubade is the only Armagnac house that coopers its own barrels from Gascony oak, giving it full control over the maturation process from start to finish.

This XO blend draws primarily from Ugni Blanc, supplemented by Folle Blanche, Colombard, and Baco, with grapes sourced exclusively from the estate's own vines. Each variety is distilled separately using a single-distillation method, then aged individually, grape by grape and vintage by vintage, for between fifteen and twenty-five years before the final blend is composed from more than forty distinct brandies. The estate's sustainable farming practices include natural fertilization from a flock of 600 ewes.

The color is a rich, shining amber, and the bouquet is layered with prune, vanilla, cinnamon, and cocoa, joined by orange peel, toasted almond, and hints of dried apricot. On the palate, the texture turns soft and velvety, with fine, elegant flavors that unfold gradually into a remarkably long finish. Pair this XO with a wedge of aged cheese or a warm chocolate soufflé.