CA Spirits

BRANDY ARMAGNAC / CALVADOS DOMAINE D ESPERANCE FRANCE, ARMAGNAC In 1990, Claire de Montesquiou returned to her family tradition of Armagnac distillation, but had stalled in the 1960s with a sale to Pernod Ricard. She and her husband purchased the small Domaine d’ Esperance estate, located on a hillside of Gascony’s renowned Bas-Armagnac area. Of the 30 hectares of vines, about 8 are dedicated to making

ROGER GROULT FRANCE The Groult Family Distillery began in the eighteenth century when the Family Groult settled in the “Clos de la Hurvaniere,” a beautiful farm located in the hills of Pays d’Auge, in St. Cyr du Ronceray. Calvados Groult was then officially born in 1860 when Pierre Groult decided to distill his farm’s cider and age that eaux de vie in oak barrels.

Armagnac - growing Baco 22 A and Folle Blanche. Domaine d Esperance Bas Armagnac 5YO DEE5YONVC / 750ml / $51.00 Distilled from Baco grape varietal at 54% ABV before first aging in a new cask made of local wood from the Gascony forest for about one year. It is then moved into older Gascony wood barrels for the remainder of the aging process. As per regulation, the youngest armagnac in the blend has been aged 5 years in gascony oak, with other armagnacs in the blend showing greater age. 80PF PM PROJECTS FRANCE, ARMAGNAC PM Spirits is an uber small operation importing and distributing geeky spirits in the US. Products are produced in extremely limited supply because the independent distillers who make them own a tiny parcel of land (or buy a limited amount of materials to distill). They work with products that have been made, aged, and bottled with ZERO additives. PM Projects VS Armagnac Overproof PMPVSANVC / 750ml / $43.00 PM Spirits has teamed up with acclaimed producer Claire de Montesquiou of Domaine d’Espérance to craft an exclusive custom blend overproof VS offering at 52% ABV. 104PF

Roger Groult 3YO Calvados RGLCVSNVC / 750ml / 41.00

This 3-year-old Calvados reveals intense aromas of tart fresh apple. Very smooth and sweet, it will be ideal in a cocktail or as a digestif, chilled or at room temperature. 40PF

Roger Groult 8YO Calvados RGL8YRNVC / 750ml / 46.50

At 8-years-old, this Calvados reveals intense notes of lightly cooked apple, vanilla and cinnamon. With its beautiful aromatic structure and length in mouth, it will be an ideal digestif at room temperature, or a perfect accompaniment to cheeses. 82PF

Roger Groult 12YO Calvados RGL12YNVC / 750ml / 66.00

This 12-year-old Calvados reveals floral, white-fleshed fruit and sweet spice aromas. With its lightly candied final notes, it will be ideal as a digestif at room temperature, or a perfect accompaniment to chocolate desserts. 82PF Roger Groult 18YO Calvados RGL18YNVC / 750ml / 72.50 Finessed by age, this warm and spicy calvados is an ideal digestive. 82PF Roger Groult 25YO Calvados RGL25YNVC / 750ml / 127.33 The most elegant of the blends, fruit and spice notes make this calvados the perfect after dinner digestive. 82PF LIMITED AVAILABILITY DISTILLERIE COQUEREL FRANCE Since 1937, Manoir du Coquerel has been producing AOC Certified Calvados in Normandy from a variety of different apples grown on their estate, as well as on neighboring farms that they have been working with for several decades. Calvados Coquerel Fine CQLCVFNVB / 375ml / $20.00 CQLCVFNVC/ 750ml / $26.00 Made with naturally fermented, then distilled apple cider. Aged for 2 years in French Oak Barrels. 80PF Calvados Coquerel VSOP RGLCVSNVC / 750ml / $39.00 A VSOP known for its fruity and floral aromas resulting from a blend of Calvados aged of a minimum of four years. Slightly ambered tints with mahogany glints. A complex nose opening on candied fruits and gingerbread notes evolving towards wood and vanilla scents. 80PF

Kindred Spirits:

Calvados

F R A N C E

Cognac

When it comes to brandies, nothing competes with France’s amber trio; Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados, each a pure product of its own terroir.

Armagnac

Cognac comes from a sector of chalky soil near the town it’s named for, in the Charentes region north of Bordeaux. Armagnac’s territory lies south of the Garonne river in the Midi- Pyrénées region once known as Gascony, of Musketeer fame. Made with white wine from three areas—in ascending order of excellence, Haut- Armagnac, Ténarèze and Bas Armagnac Apple orchards replace vineyards in Normandy, where Calvados , familiarly called calva, was named after one of the departments in which it’s made—double-distilled from apple mash fermented with yeast. First recorded in the 16th century, calva is the basis of the trou Normand, the pause during a hearty meal for a nip. —FRANCETODAY.COM

CALIFORNIA SPIRITS PORTFOLIO

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