Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
“The wine of Uzès is the best in the realm.”
(Racine – 1661)
It is with great pleasure that we bring back the ever popular wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils including the latest vintage of Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac Blanc – the wonderful white with the impossible name.
We discovered Domaine Chabrier Fils and the ebullient Chabrier brothers, Patrick (at left hosting a riotous Swiss fondue party) and Christophe a little over five years ago thanks to our friend and vinous mentor Christian Esparza. Christian owns the Inter Caves wine emporium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. From our first visit to their modern winery near Uzès, a beautiful town situated roughly between Avignon and Nîmes near the majestic Roman aqueduct called Pont du Gard, we fell in love with their big, bold expressive wines.
A Brief History of Domaine Chabrier Fils
Before describing the wine, here is a little background about the winery. Grandfather Louis Chabrier settled in Bourdic (a small village near Uzès) in 1925 and became one of the founders of the local wine co-op in 1928. He left the estate to his sons, Louis and Robert who replanted the vineyards with new grape varieties. Louis’ sons, Patrick and Christophe took over in 1988 and they built the current modern winery in 1998 when they decided to produce their own wine from the best grapes (about 20 percent – the remainder still goes to the co-op or is shipped to other producers around the world). They own 60 hectares of vineyards (a mosaic of terroir) and grow a wide variety of grapes including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Carignan and Muscat Petits Grains. The Chabriers produce about 4,000 hectolitres of wine each year. Their new winery contains the most modern winemaking equipment and the Chabriers meticulously maintain their vineyards with minimum chemical intervention.
This Offering of the Wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils
2011 Vin du Pays Duché d’Uzès Blanc – (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $19/$114 case of 6 Over the years, this little beauty has filled up the Chabrier Brothers’ trophy cabinet with countless awards. This vintage has already won a silver medal at the Concours Général Agricole Paris 2011. It is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne and is not oaked. The yield is a low 40 hectolitres per hectare. It is a straw colour with hints of pale green. The nose is filled with peaches, passion fruit, pineapple, smoke, and sage. In the mouth this French-styled white is very fresh, beautifully balanced and surprisingly complex with a gentle finish. It would go wonderfully with any white fish and, as a special treat, with a pélardon de Cévennes (a wonderful goat cheese from the mountains not too far from Uzès). This is an absolutely superb sipper at a most reasonable price. Order this little treasure now.
2011 Vin du Pays Duché d’Uzès Rosé – (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $17/$102 case of 6 This is a really good, lively Rosé made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache. It is a lovely medium salmon colour with a fresh and lively nose of raspberries, strawberries, vanilla and a trace of violets. In the mouth it is full, round, almost unctuous (without being cloying) and very refreshing. Not only a hot weather sipper, this lovely rosé will go smashingly well with oriental cuisine, pork (particularly ham) and most omelettes. Order your bottles of cheerfulness now.
2010 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc – (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $21/$126case of six This is one of my very favourite whites and has been a huge success with our wine club over the years. This truly wonderful white wine is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne with an average yield of only 35 hectolitres per hectare. Half of the Viognier was fermented in new oak barrels and left on its lees for a year. It is a medium straw colour with an intense nose of almonds, papayas and vanilla with a hint of hyacinths, anise and lavender. In the mouth it is full, buttery and very well balanced with pronounced flavours of stewed apricots and a hint of pineapple. This New World-styled white is elegant, big and long. It would work well as an aperitif, go wonderfully with any shellfish and, as a special treat, be a divine partner with warm goat cheese. I find that it is very reminiscent of the glorious 2007 vintage. Order now – always offered to us on a strict allotment basis - first come, first served.
2010 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge – (13.5% Alc./Vol.) 20/$120 case of six This luscious red won a gold medal at the Concours Gardois des Jeunes Agriculteurs – Nîmes 2011. A high-end red, it is a blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 5% Carignan – all aged in various types of used oak containers. It is a beautiful purple colour with violet tints. The nose is complex with aromas of plums, myrtle and roasted coffee beans. The attack (first impression in the mouth) is silky with smooth, agreeable tannins followed by a symphony of ripe berries, plums and exotic spices. It lingers in the mouth, is long and elegant. This is an amazing wine, particularly considering the price. It will go wonderfully with leg of lamb, magret de canard and roast pork. Highly recommended! Try some for yourself and see.
The Chabrier Sampler – (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $20/$120 case of six What a great way to try several of the fine wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils! You get one bottle each of the 2011 Duché d’Uzès Rosé and 2010 Duché d’Uzès ‘la Garrigue d’Aureillac Rouge and two bottles each of the 2011 Duché d’Uzès Blanc and 2010 Duché d’Uzès ‘la Garrigue d’Aureillac Blanc all in one handy six-pack. Order your Duché d’Uzès treasure trove now.
Note: The above prices include a one dollar per bottle handling fee.
We would be most grateful if you would pass this note on to others you think might enjoy some delightful, expressive wines from Uzès.
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim and Hélène jaswalker@arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.arthursellers.com
