Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
We will be bringing your orders for the superb 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape from Domaine Roger Sabon to the LCBO next Friday, September 28th. Don’t miss out on these extremely fine wines from an outstanding vintage created by a top notch winery. Simply stated, red wine doesn’t get much better than this. And, for world class wines, the prices are terrific; they are a fraction of the cost of equivalent Bordeaux or Burgundy. We have been able to secure a very generous allotment of these wines in a year when production was very low. However, quantities are strictly limited, so we encourage you to order soon to avoid disappointment.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. on the 2010 Vintage in the Southern Rhône
“This is a great vintage that comes close in quality to 2007 in the southern Rhône. Some producers think 2010 eclipses 2007 because of the wines vivid focus and freshness. Throughout the southern Rhône, the hallmarks of the vintage are very dense purple, sometimes even blue/black colors as well as higher acid levels that have not been seen since 2004 and 2001. In fact, 2010’s paradox is that I can’t remember a vintage so concentrated, powerful and rich that also has such zesty acidity. The pHs are lower across the board than in 2009 and 2007, and the acids are higher. The downside is that following the relatively moderate to small crop in 2009, the 2010 crop was very small, largely because 30-40% of the Grenache crop (the dominant grape varietal of the southern Rhône) was lost due to a coulure and millerandage. This has undoubtedly contributed to the level of concentration in the final wines. However, if a producer usually makes 1,000 cases in a normal vintage, his 2010 production will be closer to 500-700 cases.
Weather conditions were nearly as ideal as they were in 2007 with cool nights (which kept the acids up) and warm days. There was rarely any excessive heat, and the often frequent rain events that begin with the fall equinox never materialized. Average Mistral winds were present, but not as excessive as they were in 2008 and 2007.
The 2010s will have significant aging potential, which is obvious in the level of tannins, but the tannins are sweet with exceptional elegance and finesse. The ratio of High extractive and phenolic skins to the juice has produced wines of extraordinary intensity, freshness, aromatic potential and obvious longevity. This is another great vintage that offers an embarrassment of riches for this region that has enjoyed a succession of extraordinary years. Since 1998, the top years have been 1998, 2000, 2003 (for a dozen or so estates), 2005, 2006 (which is very underrated and probably the finest value among all of the appellations of the past 15 or so years) 2007 (the greatest vintage I have ever tasted in the southern Rhône), 2009 and 2010 (which is very close in quality to2007). Add the possible trifecta in 2011, and readers can see why more and more importers and consumers are beating a path to these outstanding wines that offer a terrific ratio in terms of value and pleasure, as well as the potential for moderate evolution in wine collection.”
Domaine Roger Sabon
This estate has been making exceptionally high-quality wines for years, but recent vintages seem to have risen to a new level of quality. Moreover, Sabon’s wines have not yet been discovered by the masses, so prices are surprisingly reasonable. Readers should be also be aware that Roger Sabon produces a very delicious Côtes du Rhône and Lirac from vineyards holding those appellations.”
The domaine occupies about seventeen hectares of prime vineyards in some of the best sites of Châteauneuf - Les Cabrières, La Crau, Courthezon and Nalys, and all with "galets roulés" the sizeable stones that soak up the sun and release the warmth to the vines at night. The vines are a minimum age of 50 years, with 90-year-old vines for the Cuvée Prestige. They are mainly Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, but Muscardin, Terret, Vaccarèse and Counoise are also included in their Cuvée Prestige. From 1997, all of the grapes have been totally destemmed. The fermentation takes place in small cement vats and small stainless steel cuves, with pumping over and a cuvaison that lasts for 20 days at a temperature of between 30° and 34°. The wine is matured in foudres and used barriques, and receives neither fining nor filtration
The Domaine Roger Sabon Wines on Offer
We are delighted to offer you three red Châteauneuf du Pape - 2010 “Les Olivets”, the 2010 “Réserve” and the 2010 “Prestige” as well as the white 2011 “Renaissance”. Each comes in a six-bottle case. The “Les Olivet” and “Réserve” also come in magnum format – three magnums to the case. Can’t make up your mind which to select? Why not try them all in the Sabon Châteauneuf du Pape Sampler?
We have also been able to reserve a few bottles of the highly sought after 2011 Le Secret des Sabon. And, a few more cases of the wonderful 2010 Rhône By Roger Sabon have been secured.
While the winery was generous to us, quantities are strictly limited. So please order early to avoid disappointment. These wines are being offered at very favourable prices – consider that a 2010 Château de Beaucastel, rated 92-94 by Mr. Parker currently sells at the LCBO for $88.95 the bottle!
The tasting notes and ratings by Robert M. Parker Jr. that are included in the following listings come from Issue 197 of his Wine Advocate – 31/10/2011.
2010 Châteauneuf du Pape “Les Olivets” – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $39$264 for 6 Magnums $90/$270 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 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Olivets reveals a dense purple color, crisp acids, greater delineation and freshness than the heavier 2009, and plenty of full-bodied cherry fruit intermixed with garrigue and loamy soil notes. Rating (90-92)” Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Order your 750 ml bottles now; or your Magnums.
2010 Châteauneuf du Pape “Réserve” – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $47/$282 for 6 Magnums $106/$318 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 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Réserve exhibits an inky purple colour followed by notes of melted licorice, creosote, Provençal herbs, black currants and black cherries. It is an impressive, concentrated, vibrant rich wine that is more vibrant and focused than its 2009 counterpart.” Rating (91-93)” Robert M. Parker, Jr.
2010 Châteauneuf du Pape “Prestige” – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $70/$420 for 6 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.
“Once again the Sabons have hit a home run with their 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Prestige. Opaque purple-hued with a full-bodied mouthfeel, massive concentration, abundant tannin and good acidity, it will not be as drinkable early on as the 2009 Prestige. The 2010 possesses some of the structural characteristics of the 2005, and thus requires 5-6 years of patience. It should keep for an atypically long time for a Châteauneuf du Pape – 25-30 years. It is a brilliant, majestic, massive Châteauneuf du Pape from the Sabons.” Rating (94-96+) Robert M. Parker, Jr. Order your 750 ml bottles now.
2010 Châteauneuf du Pape “Le Secret des Sabons” – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $205 the bottle “Even more backward and tasting like dry vintage port is the 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon. This beauty has extraordinary intensity as well as a nose of smoked meats, tobacco leaf, kirsch, graphite, ink and something that seems to be in many great vintages of Le Secret des Sabon, the smell of lacquered Peking duck. Massive and full-bodied, it needs 8-10 years of cellaring and should last for 40years or more. Assuming you can find any of the 150-300 cases produced, it should only be purchased by patient connoisseurs who can wait for its magic to unfold. Kudos to the Sabon family for producing wines of consistently brilliant quality.” Rating (96-99+) Robert M. Parker, Jr. If interested, please contact me at jaswalker@arthursellers.com.
2011 Châteauneuf du Pape “Renaissance” Blanc – 14.0% Alc./Vol. $48/$288 for 6 2011 was another superb vintage in the southern Rhône. This fabulous white is made from 50% Roussanne and completed with Clairette, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc. This beauty offers up aromas of honeysuckle, pears, peaches and fresh flowers that seem to leap from the glass. It is a full-bodied stunner, crisp, clean, subtle and elegant that sees no oak. This wine is meant to be drunk young – over the next year or two. What a treat!! Order a real treasure now.
Sabon Châteauneuf Sampler $53/$318 for 6 What a veritable treasure trove of fine Châteauneuf du Pape this is … two bottles each of the 2010 “Les Olivets” and 2010 “Réserve” and one bottle each of the 2010 “Prestige” 2011 “Renaissance” Blanc and. 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.
2010 Rhône By Roger Sabon – 14.0% Alc./Vol. $20/$120 for 6 The 2010 Rhône By Roger Sabon is a truly lovely wine! It is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault. The grapes were destemmed and hand sorted. It is a dense ruby colour with pure aromas of raspberries, ripe cherries, garrigue, Provençal spices and minerals. It is well-balanced with silky tannins and gobs of red and black fruit flavours – it is extremely elegant! It goes perfectly with bistro fare which might help to explain why it is so popular at Le Sélect Bistro. I find this wine is a bit closed and clumsy at the moment and would wait about six months before consuming. I think it will develop into a very, very fine Côtes du Rhône, one that will cellar quite happily for up to a decade. It will go perfectly with grilled meats, barbeques and charcuterie.
So far we have ordered over 1,800 bottles of this delicious crowd pleaser for our Members and restaurants; there are very few bottles left. If you haven’t tried it already, you can do so accompanied by a great meal at Le Sélect Bistro in Toronto. Order your delicious Rhône from a great year now. Please note that there is a $1 per bottle handing fee included in the above prices.
Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Domaine Palon Gigondas, Vacqueyras (both red and white) and Côtes-du-Rhône don’t get much better than those from Domaine Palon. This time they will be from the excellent 2010 and 2011 vintages.
Cheers!
Jim and Hélène jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.ofrance.ca
