Hontambère – RAC Spirits – Armagnac – 2010 – Ugni Blanc – Hontambère Reserve #M3 – Clos des Spiritueux Cuvée – 53.5%
The Hontambère estate, in the heart of Armagnac’s historic terroir, has partnered with RAC Spirits to reveal highly precise cask selections of Armagnac, crafted for lovers of rare spirits. Here, each eau-de-vie is distilled and aged with utmost respect for Gascon traditions, with obsessive attention to barrel selection and cellar maturation.
From the 2010 vintage and a single unique cask, this new bottling for our Clos des Spiritueux boutique highlights the refined expression of Ugni Blanc grown on the clay-limestone soils of Bas Armagnac. The extremely confidential bottling — only 18 individually numbered bottles worldwide — makes it as much a collector’s item as a great tasting spirit. This is a characterful, signature Armagnac, embracing a resolutely contemporary style for enthusiasts of Armagnac and fine spirits.
This Hontambère 2010 for Clos des Spiritueux is bottled at its natural strength of 53.5% to preserve the full density of the vintage. Distilled in 2010 from carefully harvested Ugni Blanc, it was aged for many years in Gascon oak, in cellars where time acts as a true revealer of texture and complexity. The aging has allowed the wood to blend harmoniously with the spirit, bringing spicy, lightly vanilla and subtly toasted notes without ever overpowering the dominant fruit. No blending, no forced reduction — only the full personality of a cask chosen for its exceptional balance. Making it an exclusive for the Clos des Spiritueux boutique in Bordeaux further reinforces the uniqueness of this cuvée. It is a rare expression of auteur-style Armagnac, fully embracing its status as a true favourite.
On the palate, this 2010 Armagnac displays a deep colour with copper highlights. The nose is elegant and very fruity (plum, dried apricot, orange peel, chestnut honey, vanilla, and a subtle touch of wax and blond tobacco). On the palate, the attack is broad and straight, carried by the 53.5% which melt into a velvety texture with notes of candied fruit, walnut and lightly spiced caramel. The structure remains tense and precise, with controlled warmth and a lingering finish of sweet spices. The finale is long, enveloping, almost meditative, leaving an impression of depth and harmony that invites slow tasting. At the table, this cuvée pairs wonderfully with grand cru dark chocolate, walnut tart, lightly peppered semi-cooked foie gras or a refined cigar — and above all, it stands beautifully on its own for a moment of rare contemplation.
Limited edition: only 18 bottles.
