Domaine Boingnères. Armagnac Region. Village: Le Frêche (Landes) Other production: None

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1 Domaine Boingnères Armagnac Region Proprietor: The Lafitte Family Village: Le Frêche (Landes) Hectares of vines in production: 22 ha (54.5 acres) Other production: None Wine production: 1800 hl Percent of production used for distillation: 50% Grapes: Folle Blanche (50%), Ugni Blanc (25%), Colombard (25%) Soil: Sables Fauves (iron-rich sand) Production of armagnac per year: hl a.p.(30-40 barrels) Distillation: Armagnacaise Distiller: The Lafittes themselves Degree of spirit upon exiting the still: 52 (104 proof) Barrels: Gascon Oldest spirit still in cask: 1964 Youngest spirit in cask: 1999 Commercialized armagnacs available: Réserve Spéciale (5 years old) Vintages available: Many between 1959 and 1985, including pure Folle Blanche, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Mauzac and Bacco. Stock: 1,150 hl a.p. (575 barrels) During the distillation of the 1994 vintage, Armagnac lost one of its great personalities, Léon Lafitte. Lafitte, son a local merchant, was also an army officer and Mayor of Labastide for 18 years, taking over Domaine Boingnères when his father-in-law passed away in That same year, he purchased another parcel of land lying adjacent to an existent parcel in Le Frêche. With the encouragement of Raymond Baudoin, founder of the Revue de Vins de France, Lafitte began bottling his armagnacs and selling them from the domaine. Soon every major restaurant in Paris carried his vintages. Several years later, however, he fell ill and was bedridden for nearly half a decade. Understandably, he could not give his armagnacs the attention they deserved. At the end of the fifties, cured of his illness and with newfound life, Lafitte returned his attention to his properties. He removed the Bacco and began replanting with what he considered to be the Cépages Nobles Page 1 of 6

(Folle Blanche, Colombard and Ugni Blanc). He constructed a new chai with two horizontal presses so that he could control the vinification of his base matter.

Its plates each contain nine exiting pipes for the vaporous spirit, something that gives greater contact with the incoming wine and, along with a low distillation temperature, ensures lots of

2 (Folle Blanche, Colombard and Ugni Blanc). He constructed a new chai with two horizontal presses so that he could control the vinification of his base matter. In 1975, an a gas-fueled alambic was built for the domaine. Its plates each contain nine exiting pipes for the vaporous spirit, something that gives greater contact with the incoming wine and, along with a low distillation temperature, ensures lots of potential flavorants. Today, Marguerite Lafitte and her daughter Martine run the domaine. After the deaths of other family members and the burden of financial paperwork, the future looks bright for Boingnères. The one remaining hectare of the rare grape Mauzac has been ripped up and replanted with Folle Blanche. "This grape produces the best Armagnac," claims Martine. "It's fine, elegant, very complex: Bacco, on the other hand, is rich and deep, but somewhat one-dimensional. Commendable attributes but, for me, just not very refined." The dry conditions in the Lafitte chais (the older is pictured at the top of this page, the newer chai, which also houses the alambic, is pictured below) allow for very slow alcoholic reduction. Consequently, the armagnacs of Boingnères normally reach the market between 96 and 100 proof, their cask strengths. The Lafitte's use a good deal of new oak. They purchase between 10 and 15 new barrels per year most of which is from a neighboring commune; 50% rests in this oak for twelve months, then the other 50% spends the second year in this same oak. This ensures good color, spice and vanilla extraction which is always present in their armagnacs. They eschew boisé and caramel additives. Page 2 of 6

The armagnacs of Boingnères display good depth of focussed fruit while retaining plenty of finesse. Their vintages are always bottled in their natural state.

3 The armagnacs of Boingnères display good depth of focussed fruit while retaining plenty of finesse. Their vintages are always bottled in their natural state. Their single varietal releases, particularly Folle Blanche, are unequaled and remain references for the region. The Press Floods In! 1985 Folle Blanche High-pitched aromatics with a touch of almond and vanilla. Very delicate on the palate, with additional touches of vanilla and cocoa on the palate. Elegant and very long. "Beautiful combination of bright, fresh fruit (orange) aromas and lightly toasted oak, blond tobacco, vanilla bean and almond brittle. Good sweetness on the palate, with a taut balance of alcohol, fruit, and oak. Touches of coffee and cocoa emerge with aeration. An elegant armagnac, with a very long, spicy (clove, pepper) finish. Superb folle blanche." --92 Points, The International Wine Cellar (March-April 1999) "Simply one of the finest armagnacs yet to be reviewed in the Spirit Journal; fantastically complex and satisfying; bravo!" --Spirit Journal, June 1999 "If not the best armagnac we sampled this year, then certainly in the top three. What turned us on most was the bacon fat/seared meat fragrance, and then the tastes of ripe grapes, raisins, oak, and more bacon fat. Outstanding! ***** 1999 Brandy Runner-up of the Year --Spirit Journal, December 1999 "Literally fills a room with its intoxicating perfume of almonds, vanilla and poached pears; it smells like a rich dessert, but on the palate its sweet caramel flavors are checked by a firm minerality." --Wine & Spirits, December Folle Blanche Page 3 of 6

4 Amber with gold highlights. High-pitched aromatics with a touch of almond and vanilla. Plenty of vanilla and spice on the palate, yet with a lightly honeyed texture. Encapsulating all the top aromatic qualities of the 1985 Folle Blanche, yet slightly softer. Elegant and very long Cépages Nobles: "Hints of peppermint, licorice and toffee on the nose, along with a touch of almond and orange peel. Excellent penetration on the palate. Round and medium-bodied. Subtle vanilla note on the long, pure finish." --90 Points, The International Wine Cellar (March-April 1999) 1979 Folle Blanche "Deep amber with gold highlights. Intense aromatics include creamy toffee, pepper, vanilla, spice and a touch of almond. In the mouth, extremely fine texture with plenty of attack. Shows additional hints of vanilla, dried herbs and spice. The power of this spirit carries through its extremely long finish." --91 Points, The International Wine Cellar (March-April 1999) 1977 Pur Bacco A rare bottling of 100% Bacco. The five cases that made their way to the United States were the last of the cask) : Deep amber. Preserved plum and mashed almond aromas. Additional note of cocoa surfaces with aeration. Soft mouthfeel with good sweetness. Finishes with recurring spice notes Ugni Blanc: Amber. Complex nose hints at preserved plum, apricot, flowers, roasted almond and cocoa. Lovely texture on the palate, and with plenty of length. "Amber with gold highlights. Rich aromatics include English toffee, flowers, vanilla and spice. Still shows a firm attack, although there is also budding viscosity on the palate. Reveals slightly less alcohol than the other varietal bottlings. The finish is soft and long." --89 Points, The International Wine Cellar (March-April 1999) 1973 Cepages Nobles Made with a blend of Folle Blanche, Colombard and Ugni Blanc. Deep amber with gold highlights. Dark, hard toffee with additional notes of orange, cocoa, vanilla and spice. Rich texture, with plenty of finesse. Loaded with peppery spice. Very long, spicy finish with a recurring vanilla and smoke note. Awards Page 4 of 6

5 Paul Pacult, author of Kindred Spirits: "The Armagnacs of Domaine Boingneres are cutting edge and fabulous." 1974 Pur Colombard, Gold Medal, Wine and Spirits Challenge 1996: "Golden orange in appearance with a rich, refined nose of caramel and wood giving way to powerful sumptuous flavors of prunes and violets." 1980 Cépages Nobles, Gold Medal, Wine and Spirits Challenge, 1997: "Deep, golden orange in appearance. An armagnac with a subtly caramel perfumed nose which integrates well to wood overtones giving way to a sumptuous mouthful of prune and violet flavors". Fax received from Martine Lafitte May 27, 1999 "We just won our fourth Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge in London for the 1985 Folle Blanche. Since 1996, 4 Armagnacs presented, 4 Gold Medals and the trophy! Long Live Folle Blanche! Long Live Leon!" Page 5 of 6

Martine Lafitte in 2004 Did you know? Of the more than 4,000 restaurants in France and Monaco rated by the Michelin Guide, only 21 were awarded their highest ranking of three stars.

6 Martine Lafitte in 2004 Did you know? Of the more than 4,000 restaurants in France and Monaco rated by the Michelin Guide, only 21 were awarded their highest ranking of three stars. Domaine Boingnères is present on the spirits list in 14 of these grand restaurants including: Alain Ducasse, Michel Guérard, Troisgros and Taillevant. Want to buy? us for info at Shipping laws vary from state to state. To best serve you, please send us your location and we will send you information on the nearest retail source. Copyright 2005 Charles Neal Selections Visit us online at Page 6 of 6

Tel: + 33 (0)

Tel: + 33 (0) CHATEAU LEOGNAN nestle in the heart of a pastoral estate, teeming with wildlife and protected from the Atlantic by pinewood forests. This estate is a small gem: prior to the acquisition of the estate by