341466 Fri Nov 10 00:44:19 -0800 2006 16 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2010206 vintage and possibly a good selection. I want to treat my boyfriend to a really good bottle for his birthday. I have only had really good Armagnac twice and it was 10 years ago. I think I drunk a 1970 and cannot remember what it was, it was about 150.00 a bottle would recognize the lable if I saw it but it was to die for. thanks! Fri Nov 10 00:44:19 -0800 2006 52212 Lori SF 1 2010215 K&L in SF or Redwood City. http://www.klwines.com/find/search.asp?id=50 D&M in SF: http://www.dandm.com/category_products_list.php?cPath=23_74&cat=brandy&subcat=Armagnac Fri Nov 10 00:47:12 -0800 2006 2010206 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2010327 Robert, I appreciate that, thank you. I remember Wallys wine and spirits in LA had some nice bottles but would like to go and look somewhere close so I see the labels. Fri Nov 10 01:42:44 -0800 2006 2010215 52212 Lori SF 3 2011372 As I noted, those are both local stores. I just posted the mail-order links so you could see what large selections they have. K&L is at 638 4th in SF and 3005 El Camino in Redwood City. D&M is at 2200 Fillmore in SF. Fri Nov 10 16:21:23 -0800 2006 2010327 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2010247 I've purchased many-an-Armagnac from D&M on Fillmore -- they have more than several dozen, some going back almost a hundred years. Highly recommended them! Fri Nov 10 01:05:51 -0800 2006 2010206 16933 Carrie 218 2 2010323 Carrie, Jackpot! Thank you so much... Fri Nov 10 01:40:54 -0800 2006 2010247 52212 Lori SF 1 2010517 D and M is The Liquor Store of The Gods for just three things; single malt whiskey, champagne and other sparklies, and cognac/armagnac. The latter is the entire wall behind the counter and if you don't find what you are looking for there you will not find it. Fri Nov 10 03:30:21 -0800 2006 2010206 49748 Boythefoodtalksto 1 2010537 Is D&M that corner liquor store on Sacramento? If so, go have a chat with the proprietor. If he is not America's formost expert on Armagnac, he's close. Also, great guy. I walked in accidentially one time years ago to buy a six of something. Two hours later, I left with three bottles of this "Armagnac" stuff I'd only distantly heard of and never tried. And been a big fan ever since. A local treasure. Fri Nov 10 03:40:31 -0800 2006 2010206 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 2010560 Chuckles great to know. I have had really good stuff but do not know much and very little info on the web. I look forward to going there. Fri Nov 10 03:54:41 -0800 2006 2010537 52212 Lori SF 2 2014887 Does this place have a selection of Calvados as well? I'd choose that over almost anything else in the brandy area. I have a wonderful bottle that's near the end...less than a cup left. Sun Nov 12 06:20:04 -0800 2006 2010537 10245 oakjoan 3 2021418 According to their website they do: https://www.dandm.com/category_products_list.php?cPath=23_75&cat=brandy&subcat=Calvados I haven't been to the store yet, but will soon, as thanks to my learning about D&M in this thread, they now have a new member of their single malt club.... Tue Nov 14 20:37:56 -0800 2006 2014887 14221 adampaul 1 2011080 Weimax in Burlingame has some good bottles. I bought a nice one called Pellehaut recently at the suggestion of someone there. Boingieres and Laberdolive are top estates and I got one of the former for Christmas last year. Ravignan is another good estate as is Briat. I noticed some nice vintage dated bottles, too. Fri Nov 10 14:41:37 -0800 2006 2010206 52276 Marleau 1 2011197 I used to drink a lot of armagnac and cognac. It's kind of hit or miss, but with a little research you can find some great armagnacs for $100-150. Armagnac has a much greater range of flavor and intensity than cognac, as well as a more reasonable price range than cognac. While I used to buy from D&M and K&L, good bottles would sometimes be sitting unrecognized on the shelves of tiny liquor stores. Charles Neal wrote an excellent book reviewing hundreds of vintage armagnac's. While the book is good for the collector, I would suggest e-mailing Charles Neal and asking his advice. Although I haven't communicated with him for a few years, he was always responsive to e-mails. He is an expert and an importer based out of the SF Bay Area and can make some suggestions based on what he's brought in and who might have it on the market. I believe he was the one who brought in the Chateau Ravignan and Boingneres mentioned above. I wouldn't buy just on estate name. Estates is that the vintages differ greatly from year to year. http://www.charlesnealselections.com/ Fri Nov 10 15:26:14 -0800 2006 2010206 44835 jkt 1 2011648 Thanks everyone for the tips. I will email Charles Neal. I had the most outstanding bottle 10 years ago I wish I could remember what it was, very smooth, butter, wood, walnut flavors. The label was like a handmade one all in french with old school cursive writing and the color was very amber. I appreciate the help. Fri Nov 10 17:39:28 -0800 2006 2010206 52212 Lori SF 1 2014699 I'm curious what you end up getting... My guess is that the hand writing on your old bottle was a Darroze label, which could have been one of many armagnac. Sun Nov 12 03:30:54 -0800 2006 2010206 44835 jkt 1 2015312 This thread got me craving some Armagnac and I headed to D&M on Saturday. Their oldest bottle is from 1922 but I opted for a 1980 Cepage Bacco from Baron de Lustrac. The very informed dude behind the counter explained that the bacco grape is set to be discontinued by 2010 (or something like that) so this will become a rare offering. For about $85.00, I found this to be heady, complex, and perfectly fabulous -- hoping I can keep my hands off it long enough for there to be some around at Turkey Day for my family to enjoy. Sun Nov 12 17:12:43 -0800 2006 2010206 16933 Carrie 218 1 2021049 D&M did have the best selection I have seen in the city. I ended up getting the Chateau de Ravignan 1979. We have not tried it yet perhaps we will this evening after we get back from the Truffle dinner at Oliveto. I will post back. Thanks again for all the good tips. Tue Nov 14 19:00:11 -0800 2006 2010206 52212 Lori SF