Grande & Petite Champagne

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Cognac & Pineaux

Petite Champagne

Spring 2001 No.1

   Brandy@Books     continued from page 9  But from a consumer point of view it is a key requirement.         Philippe Gélas' Guide meets those requirements and more.There are lots of producers statistics from the vineyard size to a mix of grapes used. If we have a small quibble that is the use of rating scale out of maximum 100 points. Same as practically all wine ratings use. It is true that Armagnac is a derivative of wine but since it is a spirit it needs a different ratings scale. It offers different sensations.

The top range in Gélas' Guide are Armagnacs that score 94 or higher, Quintessence:"Le Must" he calls them. They are: Claude Pasternak's Les Très Rares, family Beraut' Chateau de Pellehaut, Pierre Gélas' Chateau de Martet, Francis Deche' Chateau de  Millet,   family Lafitte' Folle Blanche 1978 Domaine Boignères, Gilles de Luzes' Chateau de Briat and Comte J.V. de Boisséson' Chateau de Lacquy 1985.

At the border line of average/below average (assez bon/passable) rating of 60 we found Gérard Faget and Michel Fezas' Viel Armagnac 1979.

This Guide is a little gem that everyone with even the slightest interest in Armagnac needs to ad to their bookshelf. Or better, buy it and visit Philippe Gélas' 100 Armagnac producers. They are all friendly and entertaining in the style of Charles de Bats a.k.a. d'Artagnan. The Guide has also a web site at www.occitania.com/armagnac.   Mac Andrew

Cognac Tastings continued from page 9

Here are results from our Tulip-to-Tulip tasting:

A summary of Gerard Allemandou' Tasting@La Cagouille 2000 are below:

page 10