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PAUL-LOUIS AMMEUX, LEFT,<br />
THE OWNER OF THE DAMES<br />
BLANCHES DISTILLERY WITH<br />
HIS BROTHER AUGUSTIN<br />
the plants are macerated in the alcohol and distilled with it”. The traditional recipe is available<br />
in a French version, with no colourings or flavourings, but with the aromas instilled<br />
through maceration and distillation. “We position our products in the premium segment<br />
and work with manageable volumes”, adds Augustin Ammeux. “We prioritise quality over<br />
volume which I believe is a guarantee of quality”.<br />
ARMAGNAC<br />
VEUVE GOUDOULIN: WHERE THE TERROIR TALKS<br />
Prominent women continue to be a part of the collective psyche here. When she founded<br />
her distillery in 1935, Jeanne Ménal Goudoulin did not necessarily anticipate that 88 years<br />
later her name would conjure up the sheer pleasure of a fine Armagnac. In 2009, Michel<br />
Miclo, the owner of a family-run distillery in Eastern France, acquired the company. His<br />
aim was to ensure renewed exposure for the brand whilst at the same time safeguarding<br />
its authenticity and quality through a premium positioning. “Our range shows distinctive<br />
terroir features”, stresses Miclo. “We take our time. The vintage labels spend many<br />
long years in barrels before being released for sale so that our casks can enhance our<br />
brandies. This is essential for modernising our company’s image, which is starting to<br />
happen. However, we still have a lot of work to do to improve awareness, particularly in<br />
the domestic market. Storing 400 to 450-litre barrels allows the Armagnac to develop<br />
76 WINTER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE