There are still places available for the fabulous wine and food pairing evening at Bodega Restaurant on Tuesday, November 1^st. Won’t you join us?

Our old friend Graham Nutter, owner of Château Saint-Jacques d’Albas in the Minervois area of the Languedoc-Roussillon will be visiting us then. What a perfect excuse for a grand wine and food pairing evening! Here is what Bodega proprietor Paul Biggs and I have conjured up -

Graham Nutter and Château Saint-Jacques d’Albas

Your humble taster, Graham and Hélène at Vinisud

 Château Saint-Jacques d’Albas lies in the Minervois appellation of the Languedoc, situated some 15 kilometres to the north-east of Carcassonne, the historic and somewhat funky 13^th century walled city in the department of Aude, France.

The Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest wine-growing area in the world, characterized by a reputation for “vin ordinaire” but within which one can find oases of wines of high quality and excellent value-for-money. The Minervois, an appellation within the Languedoc, is one source in particular for outstanding red.  Attention to soil quality, low yields, hand-picking and temperature-controlled fermentation can produce wines that are highly expressive of fruit and are very food-friendly.

Featuring the Splendid Wines from Château Saint-Jacques d’Albas
We have selected four smashing Ch. St Jacques d’Albas wines for your dining pleasure – the 2010 Petit Saint-Jacques Rosé, the 2009 Le Domaine, the 2004 Le Château and the amazing 2006 La Chapelle.

2010 Le Petit Saint-Jacques Rosé – 13.0% Alc./Vol.  This is an elegantly fruity and refreshing rosé made from 50% Syrah, 45% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre. A beautiful salmon hue, this crisp, dry, surprisingly complex wine is a perfect summer sipper destined for the back patio or cottage dock. It is very well made and delightful. Most importantly, it has, as Graham puts it, “Mrs. Nutter’s seal of approval. And, you can trust her taste … after all”, as Graham notes, “she picked me, didn’t she?”

2009 Le Domaine – 13.5% Alc./Vol. This has become THE favourite wine of many of our Members. This edition of Le Domaine AOC Minervois rouge comes from a very good vintage and is made from 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre and is as good as ever. The yield was kept to 35 hectolitres/hectare. The wine has been traditionally fermented 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. Need more convincing?? It was selected as one of the Languedoc’s best value-for-money reds: Revue du Vin de France June 2010.

2004 Le Château - 13.5% Alc./Vol.                             This excellent wine is made from 70% Syrah and 15% each of Grenache and Carignan. The Syrah rests for 12 months on oak. Yields are 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. Acclaimed by Jancis Robinson, it exhibits a fine balance of fruit and plush, velvety tannins. This goes superbly with roasts, poultry and casseroles. Gold Medal - Macon 2007 and Concours des Grands Vins, Languedoc Roussillon 2007. One of James Lawther's Top 10 Minervois to Try, Decanter, March 2008.

2006 La Chapelle – 15.0% Alc./Vol.    This is definitely the king of castle St Jacques d’Albas and the fact that it garnered a top medal at the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles amply supports its stature. Made from 98% old vines Syrah (aged in oak casks for 24 months!) and 2% Grenache, it is reminiscent of both a fine Côte Rôtie and a smashing Aussie Shiraz. The yields were between 30 and 35 hectolitres/hectare and the vines averaged over 30 years of age. 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. Here is what Stephen Brook says about this wine in his article ‘Top 50 Syrahs under 25₤’ that ran in the February 2011 issue of ‘Decanter’ – “This cuvee is almost pure Syrah, which is unusual for the Minervois. The nose is firm, dense and peppery, while the palate has a fresh note, with some peppery fruit, good depth, and a long finish. Nicely balanced with plenty of aging potential - Drink 2011-2015” It was rated four stars out of five and 17/20 – only 14 of the 50 top Syrah/Shiraz from around the world rated higher.

And, the supporting cast of wines for the evening are the 2007 Blanquette de Limoux from Château Rives-Blanques and the 2004 Duff Gordon Vintage Port.

2007 Blanquette de Limoux – Château Rives-Blanques - 12.5% Alc./Vol.  
This delightful sparkler is made by close neighbours and friends of Graham’s - Jan and Caryl Panman.

The world's oldest sparkler is still made to this very day in Limoux, under the strictest AOC rules. Blanquette de Limoux is the oldest appellation in Languedoc-Roussillon (declared in 1938), and one of the first in France. It has the lowest permitted maximum yield of any sparkling wine in the country, and is made exclusively from hand harvested grapes. Made from 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, it is a beautiful luminous light yellow colour. The deep nose mixes fruity notes and lightly toasted touches of vanilla. The mouth is seductively round, full and deep. It goes wonderfully with pan fried trout, shellfish and oriental cuisine. It has won numerous medals and awards and has been a huge success at our various dinners and tastings. “Light, fresh nose with real bite and length – well done, very refreshing” – Jancis Robinson.

1994 Vintage Port – Duff Gordon – Osborne – 20.5% Alc./Vol.
From the classic 1994 vintage, this wine presents a fitting end to a delightful evening. 'Highly Recommended' by England's Decanter magazine. Their tasting panel described the wine as a Port with a fat nose and very soft, plump palate. Easy tannins come through on the finish and the fruit flavour is clean, with all the right attributes.

The Site of the Festivities

We knew where to go to find exactly the right cuisine to match Graham’s marvellous Minervois wines and a place in keeping with the discerning tastes of our wine club members – the newly redecorated Bodega Restaurant. Paul Biggs was more than up to the task and as the result a very special evening awaits.

The price for absolutely everything is $140 per person. Please call Bodega at (416) 977-1287 to make your reservations (have your favourite credit card ready). Bodega is at 30 Baldwin Street in Toronto, not too far from the AGO.

Hélène and I look forward to seeing you at 'A Minervois Evening with Graham Nutter at Bodega' on Tuesday, November 1st. With the help of Paul Biggs and his great staff along with Graham Nutter, we promise to make it a very special evening.

Please pass this invitation on to others you feel would enjoy a grand wine and food pairing event.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim & Hélène
www.arthursellers.com
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca