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 They’re back – the glorious, well-priced wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils.
We first found out about this winery and the ebullient Chabrier brothers, Patrick (at left with Hélène) and Christophe (read all about them and their winery in the June 2007 issue of ‘Selections’ and at their website) from our friend and vinous mentor Christian Esparza, owner of the Inter Caves wine emporium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. From our first visit to their modern winery in Uzès (In 1661, Racine said that the wine of Uzès was the best in the realm!) we fell in love with these big, bold expressive wines, particularly the Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac white – the wonderful wine with the impossible name. It has since become by far our top selling white wine
We visited the Chabriers again last fall with our good friends Marjorie and Paul Alliston and had a chance to taste the 2007 La Garrigue from the cask. It was marvellous; perhaps even better than the delicious, unctuous 2006. We also tasted the juices from the 2008 harvest that had just been placed in the fermenting tanks. Believe me, there is nothing to worry about concerning the 2008 vintage from this part of France.
This Offering of the Wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils
Of course we are featuring the splendid 2007 La Garrigue as well as the fruitier, unoaked 2008 Vin de Pays Duché d’Uzès Blanc. And, for the first time we are offering one of the Chabriers’ excellent reds, the award winning 2007 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge. We also have the Patrick and Christophe’s Uzès Sampler – two bottles of each of the three wines on offer for those who haven’t yet tried the brothers’ marvellous wines or just want a couple of bottles of each. These wines come in six-bottle cases. We expect orders to be brisk and we are on a strict allotment basis with the winery whose wines are extremely popular world wine. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Friday, July 10th.
2007 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc – (14.0% Alc./Vol.) $21/bottle; $126/6-bottle case
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 This truly sensational white wine is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne with an average yield of only 35 hectolitres per hectare. Half of the Viognier was fermented in new oak barrels and left on its lees for a year. It is a pale yellow with an intense nose of vanilla, hazelnuts and dried apricots with a hint of hyacinths, lavender and Mandarin oranges. In the mouth it is full, buttery and very well balanced with pronounced flavours of stewed apricots and a hint of pineapple. It is elegant, full and long. It would work well as an aperitif, go wonderfully with any shellfish and, as a special treat be a divine partner with warm goat cheese. This is a great wine from a great year. Order now – first come, first served. |
2008 Vin du Pays Duché d’Uzès Blanc – (14.0% Alc./Vol.) $19/bottle; $114/6-bottle case
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 Over the years, this little beauty has filled up the Chabrier Brothers’ trophy cabinet with countless awards. It is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne and is not oaked. The yield is a low 40 hectolitres per hectare. It is a straw colour with hints of pale green. The nose is filled with grapefruit, passion fruit, bananas and sage. In the mouth it is very fresh, somewhat grapey, beautifully balanced and surprisingly complex. It would go wonderfully with any white fish and, as a special treat with a pélardon de Cévennes (a wonderful goat cheese from the mountains not too far from Uzès). This is an absolutely superb sipper at a most reasonable price. Order some of this little treasure now. |
2007 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge – (14.0% Alc./Vol.) $21/bottle; $126/6-bottle case
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 This luscious red has already won the prestigious Médaille d’Or au Concours General Agricole Paris 2008. A high-end red, it is a blend of 80% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 5% Carignan – all aged in various types of used oak containers. It is a beautiful garnet colour with violet tints. The nose is complex with aromas of cedar, blueberries and black olives. The attack (first impression in the mouth) is silky with smooth, agreeable tannins followed by a symphony of ripe berries, plums and exotic spices. It lingers in the mouth, long and elegant. This is an amazing wine, particularly considering the price. It will go wonderfully with leg of lamb, magret de canard and roast pork. Highly recommended! Try some for yourself and see. |
Patrick and Christophe’s Uzès Sampler – (14.0% Alc./Vol.) $20.33/bottle; $122/6-bottle case
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T wo bottles each of Domaine Chabrier Fils 2007 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc and Rouge and two bottles of the 2008 Vin du Pays Duché d’Uzès Blanc. What a great way to try the Chabriers’ wines (but you’ll wish you had ordered more!). Order your sampler now |
Note: The above prices include a one dollar per bottle handling fee.
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1er Cru Rosé Brut from Champagne Forget-Brimont Now Available at VINTAGES! |
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Page 17, Vintages February 14, 2009 Release
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Our most festive 1er Cru Rosé Brut from Champagne Forget-Brimont is available at many VINTAGES outlets across the province! This lovely effervescent wine is made from the traditional Champagne grapes - 40% Pinot Noir; 40% Pinot Meunier, and; 20% Chardonnay. While classified a premier cru, almost a third of the grapes are actually grand cru. It is a blend of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages. At only $53.95 a bottle, it represents terrific Champagne value.
Michel Forget makes wonderful Champagnes that have been a hit with our wine club members. Take a look at our May 2006 issue of ‘Selections’ to find out all about Michel and Champagne Forget-Brimont.
Here is what Bruce Sanderson said about this festive Champagne in the October 31 issue of the Wine Spectator:
“Fruity and open, but also fresh and tangy. Flavors of citrus peel, berry and spice play off one another as this glides to the chalky finish. Drink now.” Score - 89
Click here to find the stores that have this delightful Champagne (just type in 95059 in the ‘Product Name or Item #’ box at the upper right of the page). If your favourite VINTAGES location doesn’t have it, please ask them to order it for you. Don’t miss out on this sparkling opportunity to acquire a few bottles to drink now and to hold in reserve for other joyous occasions.
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Beautiful, modern two-bedroom apartment in Paris - available to rent
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 Our good Parisian friends, Diran and Mimi Loris have completely renovated an apartment in a 17th century building on a quiet cobble stone street in one of liveliest districts of Paris, quartier Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondissement. Montorgueil is a vibrant pedestrian area in the heart of the capital. Close by is everything you could want - renowned pastry shops, cozy bistros and cafes, gourmet shops, fabulous boutiques, jazz clubs and spas. It is an easy walk to Notre-Dame, the Louvre, l'Opéra, Île de la Cité, Latin Quarter, le Marais, Place des Victoires and many other attractions in the City of Lights. It is also close to the RER line that goes directly to Charles de Gaulle Airport and to metro and train stations for local commuting.
This is a beautiful renovation carried out by Diran, an award-winning architect (including a Governor General’s Award for Architecture when he lived in Canada). The thoroughly modern first floor apartment (click here to see the floor plan and photos and book your reservations) has two bedrooms with queen size beds, two full bathrooms (one w/shower, one w/bath) and open concept living/dining area with fully equipped kitchen that includes a dishwasher and washer/dryer. Mimi has made sure it is beautifully decorated. And, it has all the modern conveniences - flat screen television with multiple channels including CNN and BBC, wireless internet and free, long distance phone calls to 37 countries including Canada and the US.
Your home away from home when visiting the City of Lights!
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Recent vintages in Arthur’s realm.
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2007 was a wonderful vintage in southern France, particularly for white grape varieties and Grenache. This means that the white wines from Domaine de Tara, Château de l’Isolette, Château Rives-Blanques and Domaine Chabrier Fils (their ’07 La Garrigue is amazing) will be in absolutely top nick. And, the Grenache-based red wines of the Southern Rhône will truly be classics. Robert Parker says that the wines from Châteauneuf du Pape are the best he has tasted in his 30 year career as a wine critic. We have reserved as much Châteauneuf du Pape as we can from Domaine Roger Sabon and Château Fines Roches as well as the Vacqueyras and Gigondas from Domaine Palon. The reds from throughout the Languedoc will also be top notch.
Things get a little more difficult in 2007 as we go further north and this is where superior field and winery management really pays. Everything got off to a good start in Beaujolais and Burgundy but there was a lot of rain during the summer and the fall was not as hot and dry as would have been ideal. So, manual harvesting and hand-sorting was necessary to produce high quality wine; something that Les Vins du Penlois, in Beaujolais and Maison Alex Gambal in Beaune routinely do. The result is very good wine, but volumes are down by twenty percent or more.
Except for the Languedoc and Alsace, 2008 was a real trial. There was simply too much rain and cool weather; not enough sun and heat. The harvest was delayed as long as possible to get the sugar content up. Once again, it will be the small artisan winemakers who will make the good wines.
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O! France |
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 Would you like to visit the source of many of Arthur's Cellar wines? Does a relaxing week living on a luxurious Provençal country estate appeal? Do markets in quaint villages, visits to our vineyards, lunches in restaurants perched on hillsides or cantilevered over streams, gourmet dinners with a local flair and so much more sound tempting? You can with Hélène's tours of Provence
The 2008 tour, a resounding success, has come and gone, but there is still
some room left for fall 2009. Two excellent bedrooms including the master
suite on the second floor are available for the week of September 5 to 12;
the weeks of September 12 to 19 and September 19 to 26 are sold out. Please
contact Hélène for inquiries at hbuisson@cogeco.ca.
Please see www.ofrance.ca for all the delicious details and be sure to click on 'Our brochure' at the bottom of the homepage.
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Selections - Our Newsletter
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Our first newsletter introduces Arthur Sellers & Co. and how we hope to become an important part of your wine life. Click here to share our joy of wine and life! And, please share Selections with others who might be interested. |
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Share a Case! |
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Are twelve bottles too much of a good thing? Read how you can arrange to share your wines of choice with other Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Members here. |
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Where’s My Wine??
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Generally, it will take three to four months from the time you order your wine till it is delivered. To find out where your next treasure is on its long journey from Europe, just click on Delivery Status in the side bar to the left. We update it regularly. |
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About our website |
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Our web site will grow and change as we respond to the needs and preferences of our members. We appreciate the time you take to tell us about how we can improve our web site, and invite you to pass your comments and suggestions along to us. Click here to send us an e-mail and let us know what you think.
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