An Interview with Fine Wine & Rare Spirits Director, Mark Solomon
Julia: Good Morning, Mark. Thanks for sitting down with me.
Mark: Hi Julia, I’m happy to be here.
Julia: I’m very glad to be able to talk with you today about this beautiful collection that’s coming up for sale on November 14th. This is a Single-Owner auction featuring exclusively Armagnac and Cognac, is that right?
Mark: Yes, that’s correct.
Julia: Wonderful. Maybe you could start just by answering some basic questions for those of us who are new to this world. What exactly is Armagnac? And how does it differ from Cognac?
Mark: Both are France’s great brandies – distilled from grapes, aged in oak, and steeped in centuries of tradition. Cognac comes from the Charente region in western France, double-distilled in copper stills for a refined, polished spirit. Armagnac is born farther south, in Gascony – often single-distilled, richer, more rustic, and deeply aromatic.
Julia: And what makes this particular collection so special?
Mark: This single-owner collection brings history to life – it includes over a dozen bottles that were distilled before 1900, including a Cognac made in 1806. Imagine holding a liquid time capsule preserved for over two centuries! That’s what this auction includes.
Julia: Wow, so are these the original bottles from the 1800s? They look like they’re in fantastic condition.
Mark: No, it’s common in cases like this for producers to hold their spirits in cask and then bottle at a later date. So although many of these Armagnacs and Cognacs were distilled in the 19th century, most were bottled in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
Julia: Ah, that makes sense! Is there anything else our collectors and connoisseurs should know about this sale?
Mark: This extraordinary collection of 200 lots includes names like Laubade, Lagarde, Baron de Saint-Feux, and Pierre Ferrand – among the most respected houses in France. Each bottle tells a story of craftsmanship, patience, and heritage.
Mark: Hi Julia, I’m happy to be here.
Julia: I’m very glad to be able to talk with you today about this beautiful collection that’s coming up for sale on November 14th. This is a Single-Owner auction featuring exclusively Armagnac and Cognac, is that right?
Mark: Yes, that’s correct.
Julia: Wonderful. Maybe you could start just by answering some basic questions for those of us who are new to this world. What exactly is Armagnac? And how does it differ from Cognac?
Mark: Both are France’s great brandies – distilled from grapes, aged in oak, and steeped in centuries of tradition. Cognac comes from the Charente region in western France, double-distilled in copper stills for a refined, polished spirit. Armagnac is born farther south, in Gascony – often single-distilled, richer, more rustic, and deeply aromatic.
Julia: And what makes this particular collection so special?
Mark: This single-owner collection brings history to life – it includes over a dozen bottles that were distilled before 1900, including a Cognac made in 1806. Imagine holding a liquid time capsule preserved for over two centuries! That’s what this auction includes.
Julia: Wow, so are these the original bottles from the 1800s? They look like they’re in fantastic condition.
Mark: No, it’s common in cases like this for producers to hold their spirits in cask and then bottle at a later date. So although many of these Armagnacs and Cognacs were distilled in the 19th century, most were bottled in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
Julia: Ah, that makes sense! Is there anything else our collectors and connoisseurs should know about this sale?
Mark: This extraordinary collection of 200 lots includes names like Laubade, Lagarde, Baron de Saint-Feux, and Pierre Ferrand – among the most respected houses in France. Each bottle tells a story of craftsmanship, patience, and heritage.
From the elegance of Cognac to the soul of Armagnac – this is not just an auction. It’s an invitation to taste history. For a closer look at this collection, watch our recent video, or explore the full catalogue. This Single-Owner Prized Armagnac & Cognac Auction opens for live-online bidding on Friday, November 14th at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.
Single-Owner Prized Armagnac & Cognac Auction
November 14 at 10:00 am ET
November 14 at 10:00 am ET
