Borderline Brandy Français Porto Blanc Finish - Darroze

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

For Borderline Porto Blanc Finish, Darroze follows traditional maturation in Gascon oak with a finishing period in casks that previously held white port. The base consists of 2018-vintage Armagnacs made exclusively from Baco grapes. Moving the spirit into these wine casks adds further aromatic dimensions; it also takes it outside the protected Armagnac designation, so it is bottled as French brandy.

The Porto Blanc bottling belongs to the second Borderline edition, which Darroze introduced in February 2025. It followed the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir finishes released in 2024. This variant comprised 993 bottles at 49% alcohol, each containing 0.7 litres. Its delicately fruity, honeyed character combines with almond notes and floral accents.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, delicate honey notes mingle with verbena and a light touch of anise. Nectarine and quince give way to liquorice and marzipan.
• Palate: The palate reveals honey, beeswax, almonds, frangipane almond cream and orange blossom. The tannins are silky and supple, and the alcohol is well integrated. A light sweetness accompanies the delicate flavours.
• Finish: Juicy light-fleshed fruits and floral notes linger through the long finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The history of Darroze begins in Jean Darroze’s family restaurant in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, where his son Francis became acquainted with the wines and spirits of Gascony. From the late 1960s, Francis actively sought out Armagnacs from Bas-Armagnac, selected them and took charge of their further maturation and bottling. His approach was to preserve the individuality of each estate in small, traceable lots rather than blend away their differences.

Today, Marc Darroze runs the house and oversees the selection and maturation of its spirits. The collection includes distillates from various estates, which continue to mature in the cellars at Roquefort and Labastide d’Armagnac. Darroze also works with small producers and travelling distillers. Its experience of maturation and the interaction between oak and spirit provides the foundation for the Borderline range, in which additional wine and spirit casks open up new flavour possibilities.

Facts: