Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
So, what better way to mark our fourth anniversary than by once again (the twelfth time) bringing you Graham’s delicious and delightful wines? “By doing so at the same price as four years ago”’ you say? Okay, we’ll do it; with the exception of the La Chapelle, which due to world-wide popularity has really escalated in price (but we will offer it for five dollars less than last time)!
Graham and Béatrice along with Marc and Martine Bonnevenc have been very busy over the past four years. They have greatly improved the original vineyards and have added several new parcels of land with old vines, renovated and enlarged the main buildings and expanded the range of wines from four to seven. The original rosé now has red and white siblings, all Vin du Pays d’Oc that share the Petit Saint-Jacques brand. The Syrah and Carignan driven Clos de Garric was added a year or so ago to join the original three reds – Le Domaine, Le Château and La Chapelle.
The Wines
I have been reporting to you about the uneven results I have experienced with wines from the 2008 vintage. Don’t worry about the ones from Ch. St Jacques d’Albas. 2008 was actually a very decent year in the Minervois and Graham’s team made sure that only the best fruit made it into their wines. And, at great personal sacrifice, I have tried each and every one of these wines and enjoyed them immensely.
We are offering two samplers this time to make it easier than ever for you to try all of Graham’s treasures – The Petit Saint-Jacques Plus Sampler (three bottles each of the Petit Saint-Jacques rosé, red and white plus three bottles of the Clos de Garric) and Graham’s Luxe Red Sampler (three bottles of Le Domaine, two bottles of Le Château and one bottle of La Chapelle).
The three Petit Saint-Jacques and the Clos de Garric come in handy screw-top bottles … as they should.
We will be bringing your orders to the LCBO on Thursday, April 29. The following prices include a one dollar per bottle handling fee.
2008 Le Petit Saint-Jacques Rosé – 12.5% Alc./Vol. $12.95/$155.40 case of 12 This is an elegantly fruity and refreshing rosé made from 100% Syrah. A beautiful salmon hue, this crisp, dry wine is a perfect summer sipper destined for the back patio or cottage dock. For those of you familiar with previous vintages of Graham’s rosé, this is not as serious and complex due to the absence of Grenache. But, it is very well made and delightful. Order your case load of summer now!
2009 Le Petit Saint-Jacques Blanc – 12.5% Alc./Vol. $12.95/$155.40 case of 12 This is Ch. St Jacques d’Albas’ first white and what a pleasant surprise it is!! Made from 80% Vermentino (Rolle) with the remainder being Viogner and Roussanne, it is wonderfully complex and aromatic for a little wine. Straw yellow, it exhibits aromas of peaches, pebbles and white flowers and finishes with a crisp, dry tang – perfect for shellfish or simply snacking on whilst making supper. Order this little white gem now.
2008 Le Petit Saint-Jacques Rouge – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $12.95/$155.40 case of 12 Now this is what I call a ‘nice little quaff’! A young wine, made from equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, it is delightfully fresh and ready to drink. A clear ruby red, it has aromas of red berries, Provençal spices and a hint of new leather that persist in the mouth. It doesn’t linger long, but seems to cry out for the next sip. At this price it can be consumed with anything, even breakfast of bacon and eggs if you are in the mood. Order your new ‘red du jour’ now.
2008 Clos de Garric – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $14/$168 case of 12 The 2008 AOC Minervois Clos de Garric is made from 60% Syrah, 30% Carignan and 10% Grenache. Basically, this wine is made from younger vines with all of the care and attention that goes into the more senior St Jacques reds (no oak). This is a very easy drinking red with good structure and balance. It has aromas of red and black berries, black currents and a trace of mocha that carry through in the mouth. Of moderate length, it is a lot of wine for the money. It would be ideal with pizza, pasta dishes and roast chicken. Order this lovely, lively lip-smacker now.
Le Petit Saint-Jacques Plus Sampler – 12.5-13.5% Alc./Vol. $13.25/$159 case of 12 Three bottles of the Le Petit Saint-Jacques triad – rosé, blanc et rouge plus three bottles of the yummy Clos de Garric, all for only $159. This is a vinous no-brainer if ever there was one!! Order your twelve-pack of fun now – Bacchus will be proud of you.
2006 Le Domaine – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $14.95/$179.40 case of 12 This has become THE favourite wine of a good number of our Members and now it is available at a very special price. This edition of "Le Domaine" is made of 20% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 40% Carignan and it is as good as ever. . It has been traditionally fermented for over twenty days and the Syrah aged in oak barrels for more than six months. This is a very expressive, well balanced wine that is drinking well now and will keep quite happily for several years. Order your supply of the people’s favourite now.
2007 Le Château – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $21.95/$131.70 case of 6 This excellent wine from an excellent vintage is made from 35% Syrah, 55% Grenache and 10% Carignan. The Syrah rested for 12 months in oak. Yields were a miserly 35 hl/ha. This easy drinking, medium-bodied wine is deep ruby with a taste of ripe raspberries, liquorice, Provençal spices, black pepper and a hint of vanilla. It exhibits a fine balance of fruit and plush, velvety tannins. It will pair superbly with roasts, poultry and casseroles. A lot of wine for the buck, it will cellar well for at least five to seven years. Order your six-pack of vin par excellence now.
2006 La Chapelle – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $37/$222 case of 6 This is definitely the king of castle St Jacques d’Albas and the fact that it has already garnered a gold medal at the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles amply supports its stature. Made from 99% old vines Syrah (aged in oak casks for eighteen months) and 1% Grenache, it is reminiscent of both a fine Côte Rôtie and a smashing Aussie Shiraz. An inky dark red colour, black currents dominate the nose with hints of red berries, new leather and vanilla. It is a real mouthful of pleasure, well-balanced, long and satisfying. My tasting notes show an underscored Superb! This is lovely stuff and I highly recommend it. Order 4,500 ml of hedonistic delight now.
Graham’s Luxe Red Sampler – 13.5-15.0% Alc./Vol. $21/$126 case of 6 A great way to try Graham’s senior reds – three bottles of the 2008 Le Domaine, two bottles of the 2007 Le Château and one glorious bottle of the 2006 La Chapelle. Order your little collection of superb Minervois reds now.
Splendid Italian Reds from Azienda Agricola Ferro Carlo and Poderi Rosso Giovanni
Just a reminder – we will be taking your orders for the lovely Piedmontese red wines from Azienda Agricola Ferro Carlo and Poderi Rosso Giovanni on Thursday. April 15th.
Don’t forget ‘A Châteauneuf Evening at Bodega’ on Thursday, April 15th. There are still a few spots remaining for this great wine and food pairing event. Please call Leona at Bodega (416) 977-1287 to reserve your spot at the Châteauneuf groaning board.
Please pass this note on to anyone you think might be interested in some great wines from the Minervois at vary special prices.
Many thanks for our first four exciting years.
Cheers!
Jim and Hélène www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca