Founded in 1832, Castarède is the oldest Armagnac trading house in France and one of the most historic names in Gascony. Based around Château de Maniban in the Bas-Armagnac region, the house is known for elegant eaux-de-vie, long oak ageing and an exceptional collection of vintage Armagnacs. Castarède offers a complete range, from VS and VSOP to XO, Hors d’Age, rare carafes and old vintages dating back to the late 19th century. Its style combines fruit, spice, mellow oak, glazed plum, rancio and a smooth, lingering finish. With deep roots in Bas-Armagnac and a reputation built across six generations, Castarède is a benchmark producer for lovers of traditional, age-worthy Armagnac.
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Brand
Price
Growth area
Bottle size
Vintage year
ABV
Availability
Castarède Today: Maison Castarède is one of the great reference points of Armagnac. Founded in 1832, it is recognized as the oldest French Armagnac trading house, with nearly two centuries of experience selecting, ageing and presenting eaux-de-vie from southwest France. The house is closely linked to Château de Maniban, located near Mauléon-d’Armagnac in the Gers, in the heart of Bas-Armagnac. This terroir is prized for producing refined, aromatic and long-lived Armagnacs.
Castarède’s identity is built on time, patience and Gascon character. Its Armagnacs are aged in oak casks, with many expressions kept far longer than the legal minimum. The range includes accessible blends such as VS and VSOP, mature selections such as XO and Hors d’Age, special carafes, aged gift sets and an impressive collection of vintages. For collectors and enthusiasts, the vintage selection is a major part of the house’s appeal, offering bottles that capture the personality of one year and the slow evolution of Armagnac in wood.
The Castarède house was officially established in 1832 and became the oldest trading house in the Armagnac region. Over the generations, the family developed a strong reputation for old Armagnacs, careful cellar ageing and a deep attachment to Gascony’s art de vivre. The family coat of arms, including a greyhound, a helmet and a heraldic shield, reflects the Castarède family’s long history, with the family ennobled in 1818.
Château de Maniban adds another important chapter to the story. The estate dates back to the 17th century and once belonged to the Maniban family, who are associated with introducing Armagnac to the court of Toulouse. The Castarède family acquired the château several decades ago and made it a central part of the house’s identity. Today, Château de Maniban represents the rural heart of the brand, while the Paris showroom gives visitors another way to discover the range in the capital.
Castarède is especially known for its long ageing. The house offers blends that go beyond the required ageing periods, including a VSOP made with eaux-de-vie aged at least eight years and an XO/Hors d’Age expression aged for a minimum of 20 years. This patient approach gives the Armagnacs greater roundness, depth and aromatic persistence.
The Castarède tasting style is generous and elegant. Younger expressions show a golden color, fruity aromas and a mellow mouthfeel, making them suitable for cocktails or relaxed tasting. The VSOP brings amber color, light pepper, coconut, walnut, honey and glazed plum. The XO and Hors d’Age expressions are fuller and warmer, with fruit, spice, toasted oak, nutmeg, ripe plum, rancio and a long, smooth finish.
Vintage Armagnac is one of Castarède’s strongest signatures. The house presents a broad selection of vintage Armagnacs, with official listings mentioning vintages from 1893 to 1999, while press material also refers to a cellar collection ranging from 1888 to the present day. These bottles are particularly attractive for anniversary years, birth years and collectors seeking Armagnacs with a strong sense of time and place.
Castarède also offers distinctive aged bottlings such as Réserve de la Famille, aged at least 30 years and bottled at natural cask strength, and La Favorite, aged at least 50 years in oak. These expressions highlight the house’s ability to preserve old stocks and release Armagnacs with maturity, power and elegance.
Castarède is a strong choice for anyone looking for classic Bas-Armagnac with depth, authenticity and historical weight. Its portfolio covers both approachable bottles and rare collector releases, making the brand suitable for newcomers, connoisseurs and gift buyers alike. From fruit-driven blends to old vintages with rancio and polished oak, Castarède expresses the traditional soul of Armagnac with a refined and memorable style.
