Gaston de Lagrange, brand of Martini, produced at Otard

[There are several Lagrange’s and they are not to be confused: Chateau de la Grange, the company name of Bouron in St.-Jean-d’Angély; La Grange and Lagrange, two brands owned by Rouyer Guillet that have disappeared; Moulin de Lagrange in Lorignac, owned by Christian Thomas of Beaulon].

Gaston de Lagrange is a brand introduced by Martini & Rossi around 1961. It was housed on the Rue de la Pierre Levée in Chateaubernard. According to Paczensky the cognacs were made by Bache-Gabrielsen. When Martini acquired Otard, they housed Gaston de Lagrange at Otard’s. Otard, or baron Otard, is actually short for Baron (Jean Baptiste) Otard de Lagrange.
[Is must be said that there are some peculiar coincidences: Martini introduces Gaston de Lagrange, possibly in collaboration with Bache-Gabrielsen (according to Paczensky) who had bought Dupuy in 1905. Then in 1991 Martini takes over Otard, some thirty years after introducing Gaston de Lagrange, and houses Gaston de Lagrange at Otard (so actually Otard de Lagrange). Otard which was established in 1975 by Otard and two Dupuy brothers!!]

According to Conal Gregory (1997) the company does not own any vineyards, but Nicolas Faith mentiones in 1987 (The Mitchell Beazly Pocket Guide to Cognac and other brandies) that they have 15 hectares of Borderies; and we read at Paczensky (1988) that they own 65 hectares of wine, 13 in the Borderies area and for the rest Fins bois and that they also hold another 75 are Grande champagne in reserve. Probably some changes were made when they moved the company to Otard.

The cognacs are mostly blends of Grande champagne, Petite champagne, Borderies and Fins bois. They sell VS, VSOP and XO qualities. You sometimes can come across a Napoléon , a Fine Champagne XO or a Grande Fine Champagne XO and also an XO Rouge or XO Black (Grande champagne).

The Gaston de Lagrange firm also has the following brands:

  • Barriasson
  • Floquet
  • Comte de Lagrange
  • O’Tard de Lagrange

Gaston de Lagrange is currently no longer produced.

Gaston de Lagrange does not have its own website.

Website of Otard: http://www.baronotard.com/lda/
Address: Château de Cognac, 16100 Cognac. Telephone: 0545 36 8888. (visiting is possible all year long except labourday, 1 May. Guided tours).