Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive

Bulletin Detail Date January 9, 2008  Title Capture Some Château Robin Before Spring Arrives!  Attachment   Bulletin For those who keep track of Bordeaux vintages, 2005 was an exceptional year. Here are some excerpts from Robert Parker’s assessment of the vintage in his April 30, 2007 edition of the 'Wine Advocate': "Retasting all the 2005’s a few months before they are bottled confirmed just about everything the pundits had declared last year. It is an extraordinary vintage and one that is different from anything I have tasted in the past twenty-eight years. As a general rule, the wines are very concentrated, extremely high in tannin, and backward, but the fresh acids combined with massive concentration and higher than normal alcohols make for a distinctive vintage that will probably be one of the longest-lived I have ever tasted. Margaux, Pessac-léognan/Graves, Pomerol and St.-Emilion. All four appellations have produced exquisite wines that possess exceptional longevity as well as remarkable fruit concentration, precision and freshness. Côtes de Castillon (adjacent to St.-Emilion). Now the most fashionable of all the Bordeaux satellite appellations, the Côtes de Castillon has been a hot bed of exceptional activity over the last decade. There are many top estates, all somewhat under the consumers’ radar, that sell for a song considering their exceptional quality. This is an exciting appellation that serious students and consumers of Bordeaux should be following with increasing interest." Jérôme Caillé has just bottled his 2005 Château Robin, and he tells us that it is his best yet. While very young and restrained at the moment, this Côtes de Castillon hatchling will open up and become a high flying beauty (sorry, I couldn’t resist) over the next twelve months or so and keep wonderfully for many years thereafter. Its composition is the customary 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and this year Jérôme is making it available in three formats – half-bottles, regular 750 ml bottles and magnums. And the really great news is that for Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club he is keeping the price the same as for previous vintages! We are also bringing back the very good and very popular 2003 and 2004 vintages (currently drinking very well) of Château Robin as well as a mixed sampler case of four bottles each of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages. In addition to winning numerous awards and earning many citations, Château Robin is served in business class on Singapore Airlines. For additional information about the winery, please see 'Selections'. 2005 Château Robin – 14.0% Alc./Vol.) – 750 ml bottles – $26.00 per bottle; $312.00 per case of 12 (Order) 2005 Château Robin – 14.0% Alc./Vol.) – 375 ml bottles – $15.00 per bottle; $360.00 per case of 24 (Order) 2005 Château Robin – 14.0% Alc./Vol.) – 1500 ml bottles – $53.00 per bottle; $318.00 per case of 6 (Order) 2004 Château Robin – 13.5% Alc./Vol.) – 750 ml bottles – $26.00 per bottle; $312.00 per case of 12 (Order) 2003 Château Robin – 13.5% Alc./Vol.) – 750 ml bottles – $26.00 per bottle; $312.00 per case of 12 (Order) Mixed Sampler Case - 4 bottles of each of the 2005, 2004 and 2003 vintages – 750 ml bottles – $26.00 per bottle; $312.00 per case of 12 (Order) Note that a $1.00 per bottle handling fee is included (50¢ per half-bottle) in the above prices. We will be taking our order for these superb wines from Château Robin to the LCBO on Tuesday, January 22th, 2008. Please pass this note on to others who you think might be interested in some wonderful Bordeaux from some excellent vintages at very reasonable prices. Cheers, Jim & Hélène Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com