• Grape harvest
    Grape harvest
  • Three generations of winemakers
    Three generations of winemakers
  • Armagnac maturing in oak barrels
    Armagnac maturing in oak barrels
  • Three generations of savoir faire
    Three generations of savoir faire
  • Armagnac distillation
    Armagnac distillation

    For three generations the Darbeau family has worked their land on the Gascony hillsides, a corner of south-west France famous for it’s grapes, oak woodlands and sunny autumns, passing their winemaking expertise from father to son.

    Today, it’s Jean-Christophe Darbeau who is carrying on the family tradition; cultivating his vines in harmony with nature to produce quality Côte de Gascogne wines; aperitifs and, of course, his Armagnac.

    The estate has slowly grown over the years and now covers some 40 hectares: 10 hectares of red grapes (7 ha Merlot, 1 ha Tannat, 1 ha Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 ha Syrah); and 30 hectares of white grapes (10 ha Colombard, 6 ha Gros Manseng, 6 ha Sauvignon Blanc, 6 ha Ugni Blanc, 1 ha Baco and 1 ha Petit Manseng).

    Armagnacs come from three defined regions in the south-west of France:

    • Haut Armagnac
    • Bas Armagnac
    • Ténarèze

    Maison Darbeau is in the Bas Armagnac region, to the west of the Gers and bordering the Pyrénées Atlantiques. It is a region with a light, loamy soil and a climate moderated by the ocean. The armagnacs from this region are renown for their fruity aromas and, as their character needs fewer years of aging to develop, they can be drunk slightly younger than the armagnacs from the adjacent Haut Armagnac and Ténarèze regions.

    Our wines

    Our wines are crafted in the most natural way possible.

    Our philosophy is to adapt to the vine, not to impose anything.

    Domaine du Loc

    Dessert wine

    Grape

    Gros Manseng

    Taste

    Candied fruit, vanilla, oak and honey. Fresh and tangy. Lingering finish.

    Goes well with

    Foie gras, duck à l’orange, desserts, pastries.

    Keeps for

    5 years.

    Serve at

    8-10°C

    Bottle

    75cl

    Claire de Lune

    White, Red, Rosé

    Grape

    Merlot (for the red), Colombard and Gros Manseng (for the white and the rosé)

    Taste

    Fresh, light, tangy and fruity.

    Goes well with

    Seafood, salads, pâté, savory tarts, even pizza, or on its own as an aperitif.

    Keeps for

    Drink young, keep for up to two years.

    Serve at

    8-10°C

    Bottle

    75cl

    Domaine La Chapelle

    Red

    Grape

    Merlot

    Taste

    Well structured palate, red fruit aroma, soft. Good finish.

    Goes well with

    Pâté, meat, cheese.

    Keeps for

    Drink young, keep for a maximum of 5 years.

    Serve at

    16-17°C

    Bottle

    75cl

    Le Raisin Oublié

    Sweet

    Grape

    Petit Manseng

    Harvest

    By hand, late in the season then vinified in the barrel for a year. Some 70g to 80g of sugar remains in the wine!

    Taste

    Elegant, lively aroma of candied and exotic fruits.

    Goes well with

    Foie gras, desserts or on its own as an aperitif.

    Keeps for

    Drink young, keep for a maximum of 5 years.

    Serve at

    8-10°C.

    Bottle

    75cl

    To BE

    Rosé

    Grape

    Merlot

    Taste

    Fresh, light, fruity and tangy.

    Goes well with

    Seafood, salads, pâté, savory tarts, even pizza, or on it’s own as an aperitif.

    Keeps for

    Drink young, keep for at most two years.

    Serve at

    8-10°C.

    Bottle

    75cl

    Our organic wines

    In 2018 Jean-Christophe Darbeau converted 7 hectares to organic cultivation with 7 grape varieties: Baco, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Syrah. We encourage you to try the results and are proud to present with our first organic wines.

    Logo agriculture biologique

    Terre de Rencontre N°18

    White, Red, Rosé

    Grape

    • Gros Manseng (dry white)
    • Cabernet Sauvignon (rosé)
    • Tannat, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (red)

    Bottle

    75cl

    Our aperitifs

    Floc de Gascogne

    White, Rosé

    AOC Floc de Gascogne

    The classic aperitif of south-west France, made of one-third Bas Armagnac and two-thirds fresh grape juice.

    Grape

    White: Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng.

    Rosé: Merlot, Tannat and Cabernet.

    Taste

    Fresh, light, fruity and tangy.

    Goes well with

    Melon, foie gras, desserts and on its own as an aperitif.

    Keeps for

    Two years maximum.

    Serve at

    Chilled at 8°C.

    Bottle

    75cl

    Le Darbi

    Sweet

    An original creation by Jean-Christophe Darbeau. Like the Floc de Gascogn, the Darbi comprises one third Bas Armagnac. The originality lies in the two-thirds fresh grape juice: Jean-Christophe has chosen a single grape variety, the Gros Manseng. The the result is then aged 10 months in barrels.

    Taste

    Candied fruit, sweet, vanilla, honey and hints of oak. Very rich.

    Goes well with

    Foie gras, desserts, pastries, or on its own as an aperitif.

    Keeps for

    No limit: it ages very well.

    Serve at

    Chilled at 8°C.

    Bottle

    50cl

    Our armagnacs

    The oldest French brandy, Armagnac can trace its origins back to 1310 and the town of Eauze in the south-west of France.

    It is produced by distilling white wine, typically of the grape varieties Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Baco 22A and Folle blanche. Armagnac is distilled only once which results in a more fragrant spirit than Cognac which is distilled twice. The spirit is then aged in oak barrels where it develops its special and distinctive flavour.

    In a region marked of hills and valleys, the grapes ripen under the Gascogne sun on the hillsides, while the woodlands that occupy the hilltops provide the wood used to make the barrels used to age the armagnac.

    How to read a label

    The different categories refer to the minimum duration the spirit spent maturing in wooden barrels:

    • VS or Three Stars: At least two years of age
    • VO (Very Old), VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) or Reserve: At least five years of age
    • Extra or XO: At least 6 years of age
    • Hors d’âge: At least 10 years of age
    • Millésimes: An older, vintage armagnac from a single year

    Hors d'âge (12 ans d'âge)

    Fruity, complex, slightly woody and with hints of vanilla.

    Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes.

    Bottle

    35cl, 70cl

    Vieille réserve (25 ans d'âge)

    A blend of 25 year old armagnacs.

    Time has done its work resulting in a complex layering of flavours.

    This armagnac is for connoisseurs.

    Bottle

    70cl

    Darbeau JC millésimes

    We have vintage armagancs from virtualy every year from 1900 to the present day.

    We can personalise the label for you if you wish.

    Available to order only.

    Bottle

    70cl

    22 A

    A blend of armaganacs over 30 years old.

    Pure, expressive, warm and long lasting.

    Made from Baco 22A grapes hence the name 22 A.

    Bottle

    70cl

    Number One

    A young armagnac that’s an excellent base for mixing your cocktails and aperitifs.

    Bottle

    50cl

    Our gift boxes

    We can tailor make gift boxes for your events, for your clients, as presents etc.

    Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

    Where to find our products

    Maison Darbeau has stands at various markets, festivals, fairs and events across France throughout the year.

    There are also occasional special events and open days on the estate.

    You can also buy at Jean-Christophe Darbeau’s own shop Lou Ptit Mercat, Route Principale (D931), 32370 Manciet. In addition to his own wines and spirits there is a selection of locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, meat, foie gras. See below for more details.

    Come back to this section from time to time for details of the latest events.

    Summer markets

    Marché à Vieux-Boucau (40480)

    Tous les samedis matin à partir du 8 avril

    Marché traditionnel.

    Place de la mairie
    40480 Vieux-Boucau

    Shows

    Foire aux vins de Wanze, Belgique

    le 28 au 30 Avril, 2023

    Les Bacchusards sont heureux de vous inviter à participer à leur 20ème Foire aux vins, les 28, 29 et 30 avril 2023.

    La partie restauration est assurée par l’équipe du restaurant ‘Qui Ramène Bobonne’ de Hannut.

    Vendredi 28 Avril de 18h à 22h.
    Samedi 29 Avril de 15h à 21h.
    Dimanche 30 Avril de 11h à 20h.

    Salle Communale Jacques Brel
    Rue Pol Jaspart
    4520 Wanze
    BELGIQUE

    Restaurants

    Bistro Brocante Cave

    Bistrot - Brocante - Cave, the BBC is a place for sharing and conviviality with a mission: to eat well while having fun; with a lunch and dinner service and a wine cellar with more than 80 wines to consume on the spot or to take away.

    Plus a range of Christmas present ideas are currently for sale.

    Open from Thursday evening to midday Monday.

    14 Place du Colonel Parisot
    32290 Aignan

     +33 6 44 72 29 28

    Shops & wine merchants

    Cavutopie

    Cavutopie sells a choice selection of wines created by winemakers respectful of their terroirs, passionate and concerned about the quality of their products.

    Cavutopia is also:

    • A Betty partner boutique with a selection of raw and matured milk cheeses
    • A selection of over 100 beers, which you can also taste on site!
    • A selection of spirits: whiskey, rum, gin, armagnac, etc.
    • Cheese platters
    • Bellota ham Pata Negra
    • A wine bar to taste everything on site!
    • And a friendly atmosphere!

    36 avenue Georges Pompidou
    31270 Cugnaux

     09 81 89 31 39

     contact@cavutopie.com

      cavutopie.com

    Chai Hossegor

    We don’t leave our product selection to chance!

    The range of wines well sell are from small regional producers through famous grand cru. Every wine is tested and reviewed by the team before we stock it.

    Throughout the year there are tasting evenings and events.

    119 avenue Tisserands
    40150 Soots Hossegor

     05 58 41 92 02

     contact@le-chai-hossegor.fr

      le-chai-hossegor.fr

    Jean-Christophe Darbeau’s own deli shop 'Lou Ptit Mercat'

    When you pass through Manciet you can’t miss Lou Ptit Mercat located in the heart of the village on the main road (the D931). Opened in July 2016, the store was born from Jean-Christophe Darbeau’s desire to have a space to present his products and those of his many friends.

    Fresh produce

    The store is divided into two parts. One side is devoted to fresh farm products (fruit and vegetables), bread, cheese, honey and eggs. There is also fresh meat, supplied by David Pérencin, and you can place orders for cuts not available in-store.

    Local specialties

    The other part of the store showcases the products that make the Gascogne region so special: local wines, Armagnac, Floc, foie gras, and gift boxes. In addition to the full Maison Darbeau range there are organic wines from Jean-Yves Millere, Francis Cabrel; the Jurancon wine of Jean-Marc Grussaute; Pacherenc and Madiran from Gabriel Hughes; and champagne from Eric Bonnevie. Foie gras and preserves are from Pierre-Laurent Larrieu whose reputation is well established.

    Food and conviviality

    “We regularly organise events and tastings” says Jean-Christophe Darbeau, “I want this space to be a place where we can get together and discover these products”.

    The dynamic team of Monique, Virginia and Émeline look forward to welcoming you to the store.

     Location

    Lou Ptit Mercat
    Route Principale (D931)
    32370 Manciet

     Opening times

    Mornings (including Sunday)
    09:00 – 12:30

    Afternoons (not Tuesday or Sunday)
    15:30 – 19:00

     Telephone

    +33 5 62 08 15 08

     Email

    louptitmercat@gmail.com

     Facebook

    Lou Ptit Mercat

    Contact

    Head Office

    Maison Darbeau
    Place du Monument Aux Morts
    32370 Manciet
    FRANCE