CHÂTEAU DE LAUBADE, VINTAGE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION, BAS-ARMAGNAC

GASCONY, FRANCE

We know that many of you look for particular vintages to mark an anniversary, and with that in mind — and with 2022 still in its infancy — we bring you four great gifts to mark the special moments in your life, and the lives of your family and friends.

The quartet of vintages — 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 — come to us from the excellent Château Laubade, maker of some of the finest armagnacs in the world.

Located in Sorbets d'Armagnac, the heart of the noblest area of the appellation, Bas-Armagnac, Laubade has enjoyed a phenomenal run under the direction of brothers Arnaud and Denis, taking home more than 120 medals in spirits competitions and winning recognition at the World Spirits Awards as a "World-Class Distillery" — the only armagnac house to have been so honored.

The blend of grapes in these brandies might differ from one year to the next, but here's what doesn't change: the grapes are sourced only from the property, and only from that year, and the brandy is aged a minimum of 15 years and up to 50.

Speaking of 50: a few words about the ’72 — that year of bell-bottoms, long hair, and peace signs. Those didn’t age well, but this one has. It takes all of a second  to see what those five decades have wrought. This is an absolutely gorgeous sipper, with complex aromatics and a softness that can only emerge over time. In a recent tasting, the first word I scribbled into the page of my notebook to describe it was “luxuriant.” It deserves to be the last word, too.

Can we entice you even more? It normally commands upwards of $300, but we’re making it available at a best price per bottle of less than $220!

Of the ’82, just listen to what the Wine Enthusiast wrote, in a 96-100 point rave: “The initial bouquet offers wonderful aromas of pipe tobacco, nougat, almond paste and old, well-worn leather; aeration sees the nuttiness take precedence and a brown-butter element emerge. Palate entry is keenly nutty, moderately sweet, cocoa butter-like, and a touch oaky or resiny; midpalate adds a touch of toasted marshmallow. Full-throttle finish in terms of taste. Scrumptious.”

The ’92 earned the highest possible commendation from Spirit Journal: five stars. They hailed its complexity, balance, and soft tannins. In our tastings, we thrilled to a smoky undertone, to go along with the expected notes of dry prune and vanilla: a marvelous smoky undertone.

Not least, we have the ’02. You'll find an intense nose: citrus fruits, vanilla, cocoa, and wood. On the palate, much of that intensity vanishes, replaced by an elegance and delicacy that comes with relative youth, and that makes it a fine bookend to the bigger, richer '92.

Four gorgeous brandies, four paths to a more delicious downtime.

But don’t delay — our allocation isn’t large, and at prices like this, it won’t be long before these world-class spirits are gone.

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with items estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2022. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in CO, CT, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, NC, NM, NY, SC, TN, VA, WI. and limited stores in GA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.