Armagnac

The Definitive Guide to France's Premier Brandy

In this detailed study, Charles Neal takes us to Gascony, in the hidden backwoods of Southwestern France. All the factors that go into making a great Armagnac are explained, as are the differences between it and Cognac.

Insights into blending and the use of permitted additives are fully discussed. Also included are profiles of the region's most influential négociants, objective tasting notes on their products, even information on how to match Armagnac with your favorite cigar.

Biographies and reviews of over 140 producers and négociants.
Precise differences between Armagnac and Cognac explained.
Tasting notes of over 750 Vintage Armagnacs.
An indispensable guide for the serious spirit consumer.
320 pages

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Welcome to Charles Neal Selections

Charles Neal is an importer based in San Francisco, California who distributes estate-bottled wines from appellations in France. Welcome to Charles Neal Selections

While Charles Neal Selections deals with wonderful wines from nearly all the French wine regions, his specialties include the Southwestern part of the country (the Pyrenees) and the Eastern part of the country (the Alps). These lost regions of France contain relatively unknown appellations like Madiran, Cahors, Jurançon, Gaillac, Côtes du Frontonnais, Marcillac, and Béarn, as well as the unheralded Alpine crus of Chignin, Arbin, Apremont, Ripaille and Marestel.

In addition to these and many more intriguing wines, Charles Neal Selections is also the importer of the finest single-estate distilled and bottled brandies from Armagnac, Cognac and Calvados. These spirits are some of the most natural brandies available, made without the usage of boise, sugar or caramel. They are hand-bottled directly from cask in extremely limited quantities. Find out more by clicking Armagnac, Cognac, and Calvados.

By law, Charles Neal Selections can only import and distribute wines and spirits to licensed wholesalers, retail stores and restaurants. For information on how to purchase a specific wine or spirit, contact us and let us know your location and we'll inform you of the easiest way to obtain these wines.

Southwest France Detail

Bon voyage, and thank you for your interest in Charles Neal Selections!

A new AOC is born!

Believe it or not, a fellow wine scout and myself were driving toward Marseille in February when we pulled off the autoroute to grab a coffee at a truck stop. As we were parking, my companion demanded that I stop the car and back up immediately. Low and behold, spray painted on a wall just behind the truck stop was one of the more curious tags I had ever seen. I knew some people were beginning to appreciate the wines, but an AOC guys...c'mon! In any event, I kid you not, the grafitti on the wall was there when we arrived. Now who in France would write something like that next to the highway?