Expert: Paul Wagner - 6/5/2009

Question
I received a bottle of Cuvee Jean IV armagnac in 1977.  It was reputed to be over 100 years old at the time and was given to the person, who gave it to me, by Horst Dassler, the son of Adolf Dassler, the founder of Adidas.  It is a brown bottle with a dark gritty surface and has a wax coating over the cork or stopper with a seal imprinted in the wax on the opening and on the side below the opening.

The markings on the label, which is attached by a chain, are: X.O. (in the upper left corner), tres Vieil (?) armagnac,Cuvee Jean IV, Appellation Armagnac Controlee, 40(degree symbol), EMS.ducastaing, and 70cl in the lower left corner.  There is also something under the EMS.ducastaing that I can't make out.  The bottom of the bottle has Q71 or O.71 and a symbol similar to the wax imprint as a part of the glass.

Is there any value to this bottle of armagnac and if not would it still be drinkable?

Answer
Hi  Dave

This is very good stuff, but distilled products are so high in alcohol that they don't change much over time the way some fine wines do.  The good news is that this should be fine to drink.  The bad news is that it isn't worth much more than a current bottling.  I would estimate it at about $150.  

However, bottle collectors might feel differently.  Please check with the nice folks at antiquebottles.com.  They are very helpful, and you might find that the bottle is worth far more than the liquid inside.

Hope that helps.

Paul Wagner