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Armagnac XO classification increases to 10 years
New regulations dictate that all XO Armagnac must be aged for a minimum of 10 years, as opposed to six, bringing the classification in line with XO Cognac.
Armagnac XO’s minimum age has moved up from six to 10 years
The Armagnac industry has increased the XO age, which came into effect on 1 April. The move follows a similar change to Cognac’s XO classification, which was also raised to 10 years from April.
Trade body the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA) said the change “raises the value of the appellation” and emphasises the “real differences” between products of other classifications such as VS, VSOP and Napoleon.
As a result, the minimum age of the youngest eau-de-vie in an Armagnac must be 10 years in order to be marked XO.
However, operators with Armagnac XO below the minimum age and packed before 1 April can continue to sell them until stocks run out.
Marc Darroze, president of the BNIA, said: “It had become essential to bring the reality of the Armagnac maturation and the blends from our operators closer to the denominations.
“Thus, this is a way for all operators to clearly valorise these Armagnacs, which, for the most part, are blends of eaux-de-vie older than 10 years. It is also more coherent to offer spirit enthusiasts in France and particularly on the export markets a certain homogeneity in the denominations.”