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This supple, mellow claret hails from Bordeaux’s 2008 ‘sleeper vintage’. A wet flowering season led many people to disregard the year, yet over time wines like this gorgeous Graves have evolved into shining examples of wonderfully mature claret.
Tasting notes
Supple, evolved fruit cake with hints of leather and oak
Aroma
Leather, spice and red fruits
More information
Home to some of Bordeaux’s finest properties (including Premier Cru Haut-Brion), the Graves appellation is renowned for its ageworthy clarets. Château des Graves is the historic 16th century estate of the Butler family. Related to the aristocratic Butlers of Kilkenny Castle, this branch left Ireland for France in the 17th century. In Bordeaux they gained the noble title ‘de Butler’. Arnaud de Butler became proprietor of Château des Graves in 2008, bringing to an end the Lamothe family’s 200 year ownership of the estate. So this smooth, yet complex claret is Arnaud’s inaugural vintage, and it is approaching its drinking peak. Stand the bottle up for a few hours to allow any sediment to settle, before serving with hearty fare like game pie.