Your intrepid imbiber with Charles and Huguette at their home

Hélène and I had the pleasure of visting Charles and his wife Huguette in Montpellier a couple of months ago (if you haven’t visited Montpellier, I would highly recommend you do so). Our first lunch there included duck served in six different ways including barbequed over glowing embers from their vineyard clippings. Out of duty to and respect for our wine club Members, we also sampled all of Charles’ latest vintages and over the course of the weekend tried them again just to make sure they would meet your high standards. You will be pleased to know that they all passed muster with flying colours.

Enjoy the Languedoc, from Andrew Jefford: Decanter January 2009 (pg 21)
"...Geologically, the Languedoc hills are a synopsis of everything which makes France so propitious for winegrowing... Surely in any other country, those Languedoc hills would have been a star region; their misfortune was to find themselves sharing a nation with Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire and the Rhône. And too far from Paris.

But where is the best spot in the Languedoc? My theory is that Terrasses du Larzac is the greatest spot in the Languedoc... Stone and slopes alone don't make for great wine - as much of Provence proves - but when skilled winegrowers grapple intelligently and sensitively with nature here, the results seem to me to have the same aromatic, textural potential as the best of the Rhône..."

You can read all about Charles and his winery in the October 2006 edition of ‘Selections’ or visit his website.  His wines come in convenient six-bottle cases. These are all terrific and each comes from an excellent vintage. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Friday, June 17th.

2009 “Les Sigillées” Rosé - 12.5% Alc./Vol.                                  $19 per bottle/$114 per case of six  A full-bodied, smashing rosé made by the saignée method, the 2009 “Les Sigillées” is truly the red wine drinker’s Rosé. It is a beautiful vibrant pink and is made from 60% Grenache Gris, 35% Carignan and 5% Syrah. Twenty percent is aged in new oak. Yields are less than 40 hl./ha. It has full, rich aromas of strawberries, raspberries and other red fruit along with a hint of citrus which carries through to the nice crisp finish. This is a very serious rosé that will keep for several years and will go well with pork, ham and Oriental dishes. Declared a ‘1er Grand Vin’ and given five stars by Guide Dussert-Gerbert. Latch on to some for yourself.

2009 Clairette de Languedoc Blanc - Vieilles Vignes - 13.0% Alc./Vol.   $21 per bottle/$126per case of six Made from old Clairette du Languedoc Blanc, the grapes are all hand picked and destemmed, pressed and left in contact with the skins for a very short time. It receives traditional vinification on its lees (28% in new oak and 72% in stainless steel tanks). Total production is only 8,000 bottles. A full-bodied, fresh and very clean white wine with tantalizing aromas of butter, toasted bread, almonds and citrus fruit. Very smooth, it finishes with a nice citrus aftertaste. It is a great wine to drink alone as an aperitif and will go well with shellfish, fish in white sauce or soft cheeses. It is drinking well now and will evolve to a hazelnut taste in a year or two (it then will go well with white meat accompanied by mushrooms in a white sauce), and later to walnut (then it will go well with a whole range of cheeses). I love this white! Get it while it lasts!

2007 Les Terrasses du Larzac - 13.0% Alc./Vol.                          $21 per bottle/$126 per case of six Like all of Charles' wines, les Terrasses du Larzac grapes are hand picked and hand sorted. It is made from 55% Grenache, 40% Carignan and the rest Syrah with yields between 35 and 40 Hectolitres per hectare. It undergoes a short aging period on oak. This is a fruity, dark red wine with aromas of cherry and coffee with a touch of spice. Ready to drink now (but it will keep for several years), this little treasure will go well with both white and red meats. Order some now.

2007 “Cuvée Charles” Rouge - 13.5% Alc./Vol.                                $26 per bottle/$156 per case of six This is a truly great wine from a great year. Made from equal parts Syrah, Carignan and Grenache, it is unfiltered and rested in oak barrels for a full year. The yield is only 32 hectolitres per hectare. It is deep ruby with aromas of raspberries, black berries, wild brush, vanilla, toasted coffee and fine spice. It has elegant, complex tannins and a long, lingering aftertaste. It will age brilliantly for many years. Serve with roasts, game and grilled red meat. Snag some of what will surely become a collector’s item.

Charles’ Sipping Sampler – 12.5%-13% Alc./Vol..                       $20 per bottle/$120 per case of six Two bottles each of the 2009 ‘Les Sigillées” Rosé, 2009 Clairette du Languedoc Blanc and 2007 Les Terrasses du Larzac in one handy six pack. What a great way to taste Charles’ masterpieces. Order yours now.

Note: all prices include a $1.00 per bottle handling fee. Please pass this bulletin on to others you think might like to take advantage of Charles’ great wines.

Now Taking Reservations for O! France - 2012 Tour de Provence!

Hélène is now taking reservations for next year’s Tour de Provence where once again you can live like kings and queens in a 12th Century château located in the enchanting Luberon. Her court will convene from September 15 to 22, 2012. Won’t you join in the fun and festivities?  Please contact Hélène to make your reservations or for more information.

Soon to Emerge from Arthur’s Cellar Next will be the fan-pleasing wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils including the ever popular, marvellous white with the impossible name - Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc from the splendid 2009 vintage. Then, it being springtime, one’s thoughts turn to robins … Château Robin that is, the terrific, well-priced Bordeaux from the Côtes de Castillon. Many thanks and cheers, Jim and Hélène Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.arthursellers.com www.ofrance.ca