Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
We will be taking your orders for the glorious 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape wines from Domaine Roger Sabon to the LCBO this coming Friday, November 18th.
Many responded to our recent bulletin about Robert M. Parker’s take on the 2009 (excellent) and 2010 (great) vintages in the southern Rhone and asked if we would make the 2009 Sabon wines available for a second time. We are delighted to report that the winery has set aside a few more cases of their much sought after wines for us for the next few days. I think the prices are very reasonable for wines of this quality. As a benchmark, the regular 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape from Château de Beaucastel (rated 92-95 by Robert Parker) has just been released by the LCBO at $89.95 the bottle – almost twice the price of Sabon’s 2009 ‘Les Olivets’ and $12.95 more than the 96 rated 2009 ‘Prestige’. They all come in six-bottle cases.
The Domaine Roger Sabon Wines on Offer
Robert Parker’s following tasting notes and ratings come from Issue 197 of his ‘Wine Advocate’ – (10-31-11).
2009 Châteauneuf du Pape “Les Olivets” – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $44/$264 for 6 Magnums $95/$285 for 3 “Les Olivets” comes from an 8.5 hectare plot of vines averaging 40 to 60 years of age. It is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault and is aged in oak foudres for six to eight months.
“The dark plum/ruby-hued 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Olivets exhibits notes of incense, camphor, truffles, herbs, black cherry jam, strawberries and a hint of charcoal. The wine is rich and dense with supple tannins as well as a textured, lush mouthfeel. Consume it over the next decade. Rating (90 - 92)” Robert M. Parker, Jr.
My notes … A brooding brick red with a nose of sweet red fruit, new leather, currants and garrigue that carries forward into the mouth. It is full-bodied and very, very smooth with silky tannins. Get yours now.
2009 Châteauneuf du Pape “Réserve” – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $52/$312 for 6 Magnums $115/$345 for 3 The “Réserve” comes from a small three hectare piece of land with vines averaging sixty to seventy-five years of age. It is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault and is aged for twelve months in oak barrels ranging from two to four years of age.
“The 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réserve is more restrained aromatically and appears to be holding more in reserve than the Les Olivets. Its dense ruby/purple colour is followed by elegant, discrete aromas of grilled herbs, aged beef, smoked game, black currants, kirsch and garrigue. With an opulent attack, moderate tannins and multiple dimensions, it should rival the 2007. It should drink well for 15+ years. Rating (90 - 93+)” Robert M. Parker, Jr.
My notes … This is a lot of Châteauneuf for the money. It has a nose of black cherries, plums and licorice along with a hint of strawberries and a whiff of pepper. In the mouth it is velvety, well-rounded and full-bodied with lovely tannins and a long, long aftertaste. This belongs with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, peas and mashed potatoes. I can hardly wait till it gets here. Why not join me?
2009 Châteauneuf du Pape “Prestige” – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $77/$462 for 6 Magnums $165/$495 for 3 Grenache is the predominant grape in the blend and is joined by Syrah, Cinsault, Terret, Counoise, Vaccarese and Muscardin – all from vines averaging ninety years of age. It was matured in 40 hectolitre barrels and in oak casks for 16 to 18 months.
“The sensational 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Prestige has an opaque ruby/purple color and offers up notes of incense, charcoal, black currants, plums, figs, soy as well as other Asian spices. Deep, thick, full-bodied and muscular with sensational concentration and length, silky tannins, low acidity and high glycerine (the alcohols must be 15+%), it will be drinkable at an early age and should keep for 15+ years. Rating (92-95)” Robert M. Parker, Jr.
My notes … this is a bit of a brooding monster; round, rich, strong and very, very elegant. It has a complex, delightful aroma of strawberries, black cherries, tangy spices, wildflowers, old leather and just a touch of black pepper. In the mouth it is quite voluptuous and pleasing with a bit of warmth to go with the Sabon’s lovely tannins. It is surprising long and concentrated. This is really, really good Châteauneuf du Pape and it will go well with wild game, roasts and, particularly, lamb shanks. You won’t find many other top of the line Châteauneufs that are this good at this price. Order your hedonistic treasure now.
Sabon Châteauneuf Sampler $58/$348 for 6 What a veritable treasure trove of fine Châteauneuf du Pape this is … two bottles each of the 2009 “Les Olivets”, 2009 “Réserve” and 2009 “Prestige”. This would be a great gift for the connoisseurs, a terrific start to a wine collection or simply a wonderful way to try some very, very good Châteauneuf du Pape. Order your splendid six-pack now.
2009 Châteauneuf du Pape “Le Secret des Sabon” – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $225/$1350 for 6 “I was surprised by the softness and silkiness of the 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon (95+/100). Largely a field blend estimated to be 90% Grenache and 10% unidentifiable varieties, it is the most accessible Secret des Sabon made to date. Its opaque purple color is followed by hints of coffee beans, new saddle leather and vanillin (the wine was aged in 1-2 year old 600-liter demi-muids), broad, powerful, concentrated flavors and tannins in the finish. Although it is not currently strutting its stuff as impressively as the Prestige, it should come close to equalling that wine in another 3-4 years, although it is drinkable already. This beauty of full-bodied power and great Provençal complexity should last for two decades.” Please contact me if you are interested – jaswalker@arthursellers.com.
Please note that there is a $1 per bottle handing fee included in the above prices.
If you know any fanciers of superb Châteauneuf du Pape, we would really appreciate it if you would pass this note on to them.
Soon to Emerge from Arthur’s Cellar Our next featured wines will be the vaunted Gigondas from Domaine du Cayron and then the terrific Barbera d’Asti from Poderi Rosso Giovanni.
Cheers!
Jim and Hélène
jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.ofrance.ca
