Domaine Louis Dupuy

The Armagnacs of Louis Dupuy are perhaps some of the most under-the-radar spirits in the Charles Neal Selections’ stable. Located in the Bas-Armagnac appellation in a lieu-dit (the traditional French term for a small geographical area) called Lamoulette, just outside of Saint-Justin, the Dupuy property totals just two hectares of Baco vines planted on very sandy soils known as sables fauves. These soils help produce grapes with high acidity and low alcohol that are ideal for distillation.

Distilling heritage runs deep in Louis’s family; his grandfather put his first Armagnac-filled barrel in his chai in 1872. In 1920, Louis left his native Cutxan in the Gers and moved to Les Landes, where he worked on a farm that grew grapes and cut pine trees in the local Landes forest. In his thirties, he was able to scrape together enough money to buy an old house on the Lamoulette property and several hectares of vines. From that point on, he began distilling every year, eagerly awaiting the traveling alambic that would convert his wine into precious Armagnac. Louis passed away in the late nineties, and his daughter Agnes (now 91), her husband, Roger (the same age), and their son Bertrand have continued selling the barrels distilled by Louis. Additionally, they sell more recent vintages distilled from grapes grown in the same vineyards that Louis carefully worked. 

When approaching the domaine, only a small sign stating “Armagnac” will give you a hint of what might be expected at the end of their yellow-brick road. Dupuy Armagnacs are released at cask strength, with no coloring or additives. They are pure and intense, with mouthcoating textures and long finishes.