Jean Danflou is a big name for those who enjoy a grape-based tipple. Cognac and brandy are just some of the treasures that can be unearthed at auction and enjoyed in a contemplative tasting.

A very old Jean Danflou Armagnac distilled in 1865. This Armagnac was probably produced with the Folle Blanche grape variety, which plays only a very minor role in the production of Armagnac today (approximately 1%) but which was a leading grape before the arrival in the 1860s of Phylloxera, an aphid that ravaged the vineyards of France and Europe. In response to this phenomenon, which had a major impact on Armagnac production, a teacher from the Landes region of France, a certain Mr Baco, created a hybrid of Folle Blanche and Noah in 1878 which he named after himself. It is now one of the leading grape varieties in the appellation, alongside Ugni Blanc.