Spirits / Vin de Liqueur / Floc de gascogne / Château de Ravignan
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac
As you turn off the main road in tiny Perquie (population 350), you see a community center and a couple of other structures surrounded by corn fields. As you make your way along the narrow country road, you enter more forested grounds, then a clearing opens on the left. As if rising from nowhere, there it is! The illustrious Château de Ravignan!
It's quite a shock to see such a majestic castle in this part of the Les Landes department, and area more known for its pine forests, corn fields, and intermittent vineyards. Yet castles have graced this property since the 12th century. The name Ravignan originates from the two deep ravines that surround the property that once served as a natural defense. And while Ravignan is a historical site, it has also produced armagnac for centuries, and their large, humid chai houses nearly 320 barrels of precious brandy. Their armagnacs, made in strict accordance to tradition, are distilled with a traveling alembic at a low ABV, enter new casks and, with a few rotations during their lives, left in ideal aging conditions, where only evaporation lowers their alcohol levels, and nature renders the spirits exotic nectars.
Since 1732, Ravignan has been inhabited by the La Croix de Ravignan family. The current château was originally a manor house built on the ruins of a castle owned by feudal barons burned during the Wars of Religion of the 16th century. Its Louis XIII-style façade dates to 1663, but it was built in several stages between the 17th and 19th centuries. In the mid-17th century, a Louis XIII manor was built on the property.
Its French garden, modified in the 20th century, contains trees from all over the world, including a sequoia from California.
Vineyards were planted in 1732. Around the same time, the property was sold to Jean La Croix, who later took the name Ravignan, and from whom current owner Louis de Ravignan and his son and maître de chai Josselin de Ravignan are descended.
The chateau is open to the public a couple of times a month. Inside the wood paneled walls are often covered by colorful tapestries or paintings. Tasteful period-piece furniture adorns the rooms. Perhaps most memorable are the 400 plus pieces of art featuring the hero of region, Henri IV, who later went on to become King of France.
Josselin presides over the estate's 20 hectares of vineyards surrounding the château, covered with iron-rich, tawny-colored sand (sables fauves) and sand with small pieces of limestone and clay (boulbènes). There they grow ugni blanc, baco, colombard and folle blanche grapes, which are distilled by the traveling distiller St. Martin that arrives at the property each November to convert their wine into between 15 and 20 barrels of viscous Armagnac.
The Ravignan chai
The chai stands between the impressive château and a 16th-century church. The space is cool and well-ventilated with open windows, stone walls, and a dirt floor—factors help promote evaporation and oxidation.
The chai stands between the impressive château and a 16th-century church. The space is cool and well-ventilated with open windows, stone walls, and a dirt floor—factors help promote evaporation and oxidation.
Ravignan oak
Wood comes from both trees grown on the property and the Limousin forest. 10-15 new barrels are made each year by master cooper Gilles Bartholomo at his cooperage in Le Frêche. This new oak ensures good color and tannin dosage. Barrels are aerated once a year and monitored frequently.
Wood comes from both trees grown on the property and the Limousin forest. 10-15 new barrels are made each year by master cooper Gilles Bartholomo at his cooperage in Le Frêche. This new oak ensures good color and tannin dosage. Barrels are aerated once a year and monitored frequently.
Characteristics of Ravignan armagnacs
Ravignan garners tremendous respect within the Armagnac region. The distillation at a low degree ensures lots of fruit, new oak gives wonderful structure, and long aging ensures a natural concentration of flavors. A large array of subtle flavors always weave their way in and out of the glass. The Ravignan Armagnacs normally receive top marks in important French magazines like Gault-Millau and Revue des Vins de France.
The family also produces an impressive Floc de Gascogne, which is the local vin de liqueur (sweet, fortified wine made with unfermented grape must fortified with the brandy of the given region). In Ravignan’s case, they use their Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes and ⅓ Armagnac eau de vie to stop the fermentation around 17% alcohol. This has enough sweetness to make it a nice accompaniment to foie gras.Floc de Gascogne. What's more, they also produce small quantities of raspberries immersed in their armagnac.
Ravignan garners tremendous respect within the Armagnac region. The distillation at a low degree ensures lots of fruit, new oak gives wonderful structure, and long aging ensures a natural concentration of flavors. A large array of subtle flavors always weave their way in and out of the glass. The Ravignan Armagnacs normally receive top marks in important French magazines like Gault-Millau and Revue des Vins de France.
The family also produces an impressive Floc de Gascogne, which is the local vin de liqueur (sweet, fortified wine made with unfermented grape must fortified with the brandy of the given region). In Ravignan’s case, they use their Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes and ⅓ Armagnac eau de vie to stop the fermentation around 17% alcohol. This has enough sweetness to make it a nice accompaniment to foie gras.Floc de Gascogne. What's more, they also produce small quantities of raspberries immersed in their armagnac.
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1981
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1985
(41% ABV) Dark amber with deep golden highlights. Round, creamy notes emits aromas of plum, vanilla, toffee, and spice. Great balance on the soft palate, with additional notes of walnut, pepper and a touch of smoke. The flavors linger on the palate for over a minute.
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1986
(43% ABV): Dark amber with deep golden highlights. Rich nose shows notes of dried plums, leather, vanilla and spice. Palate is round and soft, with mouth-coating flavors that include cocoa, almonds and oak. Finishes long. Good stuff!
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1998
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Folle Blanche 2002
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1985
(41% ABV) Dark amber with deep golden highlights. Round, creamy notes emits aromas of plum, vanilla, toffee, and spice. Great balance on the soft palate, with additional notes of walnut, pepper and a touch of smoke. The flavors linger on the palate for over a minute.
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1986
(43% ABV): Dark amber with deep golden highlights. Rich nose shows notes of dried plums, leather, vanilla and spice. Palate is round and soft, with mouth-coating flavors that include cocoa, almonds and oak. Finishes long. Good stuff!
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 1998
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Folle Blanche 2002
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 2006
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 2009
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Sélection 2010
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Sélection 2012
Château de Ravignan Floc de Gascogne NV
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac 2009
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Sélection 2010
Château de Ravignan Bas-Armagnac Sélection 2012
Château de Ravignan Floc de Gascogne NV