Award Winning Claret from a Beautiful Old Domaine – Now £7.99

Over the past few weeks we have been adding to our Christmas Offers, building a range of lovely wines for you to choose from. We have selected old customer favourites alongside new discoveries and hope that they bring you much enjoyment over the festive break. Our last offer is something a little special. We have chosen Chateau de Hartes.

This claret is not from a high flying, well promoted estate but from a beautiful old domaine whose consistently good wines have racked up more than 50 awards over the years in its native France.

Chateau de Hartes lies in Targon and the domaine dates back to the 12th century. The domaine is part of the Chateau Toutigeac estate which was once a tiny hamlet complete with the ruins of an ancient Romanesque church. The site is very old and is thought to have been founded by the monks of Saint Gerard who had a small community there, planted vines and built the church, dedicated to Saint Genesius.

Since obtaining her qualifications in both viticulture and oenology Oriane has worked amongst the old Spanish vineyards of Rioja and now manages wine making at de Hartes and Toutigeac.

Not only does Oriane respect her family’s wine making traditions but she also respects the organic and biological life of the vineyard soil and maintains a natural habitat that has been unbroken for 40 years. Birds of prey, herons and ospreys soar over the domaine and wild boar, deer and hare can be found amongst the vines. She has also added to the domaine’s impressive pedigree of trophies and accolades.

Chateau de Hartes 2009 is a lovely claret made distinctive by its superb structure. It has floral aromas of violets with flavours of ripe blackcurrant, damson, blackberry, spices, herbs and a hint of pepper. With velvety tannins this is a complex and supple claret that will age well.

Particularly good with food de Hartes will compliment roast beef, sirloin steak, rich casseroles, game pie, venison, rabbit, duck and strong cheeses.

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