Originally Posted by
number_6
Armagnac has always had more fire than cognac, being earthier, heavier and more pungent.
Ah, not always. Generalization have their limits. There are some fine Armagnacs that show subtlety, refinement and delicacy. Surely with a single distillation most of them are as you say. I have before me right now a bottle of 1977 Cépage Bacco of Baron de Lustrac, and another of 1982 Domaine de Jaurrey of Laberdolive. I challenge anybody to find a cognac that begins to comapre in precisely the terms of refinement, smoothness, delicacy
"Germain-Robin is a fabulous maker of "cognac"
Germain-Robin contributes several of my favorite bottles, but they are not "cognac" even in parentheses. Even the maker calls them alambic brandies but does not confuse the issue by using an incorrect name. I am disinclined to accept the idea that they are 'the best in the world' but they certainly have some excellent choices.
http://www.germain-robin.com/