1996 Armagnac Delord

1996 年份 Delord——老窖藏的那股溫暖與深度。

為什麼選它？
1) 單一年份表現 -> 每一口都帶出特定年份的故事，不是混合調和的平鋪直述。
2) 細心橡木陳放 -> 木香、香草和烘焙香料互相堆疊，餘韻更耐人尋味。
3) 傳統＋選擇性蒸餾 -> 同時使用連續與二次蒸餾，口感成熟但不笨重。

侍酒師私房筆記：酒體呈深琥珀色，先是乾果、蜜餞和橙皮的果甜，接著滲出太妃糖、香草與烘木的香氣。入口圓潤、暖感強，酒精與香料平衡得好，中段帶杏仁與微乾皮革味，收結纖細而持久。建議用郁金香杯或細口球型杯，倒出後靜置約15分鐘讓香氣打開。

田間與釀造：Delord 家族源於 1893 年，酒莊位於 Lannepax，45 公頃分11 塊地，全年由專責管理人照料。葡萄分批壓榨、溫控發酵，再帶到蒸餾器；陳年在橡木桶與玻璃 bonbonne 中分門保存，部分最老年份還置於避光房間「天堂」。

場景化配餐指南：朋友小聚後當收官一杯；在中環或跑馬地的小酒吧，佐一片黑朱古力或片鵝肝；亦可在夜深看夜景時慢慢品嚐。

降維打擊對比：與大牌混調 Brandy 或同價 Cognac 比起來，1996 Delord 更有單一年份的不可複製性與工藝感，價值感突出。

Soul Hook: A single-vintage Armagnac from Delord’s historic cellars—1996, aged and articulate.

Why choose it?
1) Vintage character -> A true single-year expression offering focused, age-driven complexity you won’t get from blended bottlings.
2) Traditional cellar ageing -> Oak maturation and careful cellaring yield layered spice and toasted notes while keeping balance.
3) Handcrafted distillation -> Combination of continuous and double distillation produces depth and a warm mouthfeel.

Sommelier’s private note: Deep amber in the glass, it opens with dried orchard fruit, candied peel and a ribbon of toffee, then moves to warm vanilla, toasted oak and baking spice. The palate is plush and warming—silky mid-palate, concentrated but refined alcohol, finishing long with roasted nuts and leather. Best enjoyed in a tulip or snifter, give it about 15 minutes to breathe so the spice oils settle.

Producer & cellar highlights: Delord’s story begins in 1893; their cellars house over a thousand barrels and older vintages are protected in glass bonbonnes. Grapes are pressed and vinified separately, then distilled using both the region’s continuous method and selective double distillation—an approach that favors aromatic complexity and balance.

Vineyard & winemaking notes: Lannepax vineyards (45 ha across 11 parcels) are managed year-round for healthy fruit and precise ripeness. The house favors slightly acidic, low-alcohol base wines for best distillation yield; maturation is oak-led and meticulous.

Occasion (Hong Kong): A late-night digestif after a banquet, paired with chocolate or Cantonese roasted meats; also perfect as a contemplative pour on a cool harbour evening.

Competitive edge: Vintage focus and artisanal distillation give Delord’s 1996 more individuality and cellar-driven nuance than many larger-label brandies—approachable price vs. prestige Cognac with genuine provenance.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 40%
• Decant Time: 15 minutes
• Taste: dried apricot, prune, toffee, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spice, orange peel, almond, leather, long warm finish, silky texture
• Food Matching: Dark chocolate (70%+), Foie gras or pâté, Mature blue or washed-rind cheese, Roasted duck or game, Almond tart / dried fruit desserts, Toasted nuts and cigars (after-dinner)
• Grape Variety: Ugni Blanc : 58%, Colombard : 16%, Folle-Blanche : 14%, Baco : 12%,

Winery

Delord 家族酒莊自 1893 年起於 Lannepax 營運，45 公頃分散為 11 塊小地，結合傳統連續蒸餾與二次蒸餾技術，並以大量橡木桶與玻璃罐細心陳放各年份酒液。

Armagnac Delord — family house founded in 1893 in Lannepax. The estate maintains 45 hectares across 11 parcels, masters both continuous and double distillation, and ages eaux-de-vie in extensive oak cellars and glass bonbonnes.