Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
We will be taking your orders for the beautiful, pure wines from Château Romanin to the LCBO next Friday, December 21st.
Since the time the winery was established in 1988 they have followed biodynamic principles (certified biodynamic with Demeter in 1998); fully organic farming enhanced by the rhythms of nature and the position of the heavenly bodies (in response to cosmo-telluric influences!). Don’t miss out on these truly organic and delicious wines (perhaps via Pascal’s Château Romanin Sampler?).
Château Romanin
Wine has been produced from the land occupied by Château Romanin since at least 350 BC when the Greek, Theopolis was shipping wine-laden amphorae back home to his county men. Later the Romans took over, hence the name. The area abounds in myths and legends which are wonderfully described on the winery’s website.
In May of 2006 a major transition occurred – Anne-Marie and Jean-Louis Charmolüe sold their iconic Château Montrose (2nd Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe) vineyard in the Médoc and in turn purchased Château Romanin. Talk about a vote of confidence! While committed to the biodynamic principles well-practiced at their new acquisition, the Charmolües are determined to raise Château Romanin to even higher levels (my recent tastings suggest they are succeeding indeed). They are ably assisted in this quest by Manager Pascal Freychet, Oenologists Denis Dubourdieu and Denis Péraldi and a team of up to sixty-five or so at harvest time.
The Wines of Château Romanin
Each wine wonderfully represents the unique terroir of Baux de Provence and comes in a six-bottle case. And, to make it most convenient for you to try their wonderful wines, Pascal has created the Château Romanin Sampler – a bottle each of the featured wines and an extra of the 2007 Château Romanin Rouge.
2011 Château Romanin Blanc - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $25/$150 case of six This lovely white is made from 100% Rolle (Vermentino) with a frugal yield of between 30 and 40 hl/ha. It rested on its lees for six months and saw no oak. It is a brilliant clear straw colour with glints of green shining through. There is a pronounced note of almonds and citrus fruits on the nose that follow through in the mouth where the wine is round, fresh and very well-balanced, almost unctuous with lovely minerality. This elegant and complex beauty, served at between 10 – 12 °C will go wonderfully with seafood, roast chicken and mild cheese. Order your unique and splendid AOC Les Baux de Provence white now. You will be delighted you did.
2009 La Chapelle de Romanin Rouge - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $25/$150 case of six The 2009 La Chapelle de Romanin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (20 hl/ha), Mourvèdre (30 hl/ha), Grenache (30 hl/ha), and Syrah (35 hl/ha). This wine is not exposed to oak. It is a brilliant ruby colour. The first aromas that hit you are black berries and black currants followed by exotic spices, liquorice and incense. Black fruit and liquorice follow in the mouth where the sensation is fresh, beautifully balanced and elegant with lovely, soft tannins. This wine is delightful to drink now (with grilled meats, charcuterie and medium cheeses) and will keep happily for six to eight years. Order your most pleasing AOC Les Baux de Provence rouge now.
2007 Château Romanin Rouge - 14.0% Alc./Vol. $34/$204 case of six This fine AOC Les Baux-de-Provence is made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cabernet Sauvignon that spent eighteen months in tanks and oak vats before bottling. It is an intense ruby colour. The nose is first of strawberries and raspberries mixed with incense and then wisps of spices, smoke and blackberries join the medley. In the mouth it is full, unctuous, wonderfully balanced and refined with lovely tannins and the long finish ends with a hint of liquorice. It is also drinking very nicely now and will continue to evolve nicely for another eight years or so. This full, intense wine would be a perfect companion for game, roasts and stews. It needs a few hours in the decanter at present and will keep improving for another decade. Rated 92/100 by Gilbert et Gaillard. Order this big, wonderful taste of Provence now.
2011 Le Mas de Romanin Blanc - 12.5% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of six This Vin de Pays des Alpilles is refreshing, crisp, fruity white is made from 100% Rolle from vines averaging seventeen years of age. It is a beautiful clear straw colour and offers up vibrant aromas of spring flowers, peaches, almonds and wet pebbles. In the mouth the floral and peach sensations continue and finish with a delightful citrus note. It is very pure, well-balanced and surprisingly complex for a wine of this price. Not only a great sipper, this little beauty goes perfectly with shellfish, poultry dishes and vegetarian fare. Order your very refreshing taste of Les Alpilles now.
2011 Le Mas de Romanin Rouge - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of six This surprisingly pleasant and complex red is made from Grenache, Syrah and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon from what the winery calls ‘young vines’ – 18 and 19 years of age. This Vin de Pays des Alpilles is a bright ruby with a fruity, robust nose of red berries, Provençal herbs, liquorice and a trace of new leather. It is a medium-bodied wine, round and fresh with soft, elegant tannins and decent length. It seems to have been created for the grill and barbeque. It is drinking very nicely right now and will stay that way for at least another three or four years. Terrific stuff for the price. Order your barbeque mate now.
Pascal’s Château Romanin Sampler - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $26/$156 case of six Pascal’s Château Romanin Sampler contains one bottle of each of our featured wines – the delicious 2011 Château Romanin Blanc; the refreshing and satisfying 2009 La Chapelle de Romanin, the very special 2007 Château Romanin Rouge, the lovely 2011 Le Mas de Romanin Blanc and the barbeque friendly 2011 Le Mas de Romanin Rouge plus a second bottle of the 2007 Château Romanin Rouge. Discover the special charm of the Château Romanin terroir and biodynamic techniques for yourself.
Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Domaine l’Aiguelière Domaine l’Aiguelière produces superb red wines from the best parts of the Coteaux du Languedoc. Robert M. Parker, Jr. rates Domaine L’Aigulière as an ‘Excellent’ producer in his ‘Parker’s Wine Buyer’s Guide’. He has also rated their luxury cuvées, Côte Dorée and Côte Rousse in the mid-nineties as has ‘The Wine Spectator’. And, Stephen Tanzer in his ‘International Wine Cellar’ had this to say, “Imagine our surprise when 20 minutes later after walking into this cellar (Domaine l’Aiguelière) in the sleepy Languedoc town of Montpeyroux, we were tasting two special cuvées of virtually 100% Syrah whose density and sheer generosity reminded us of Guigal’s La Mouline and La Landonne” (along with La Turque regarded by most wine experts as the finest wines from the Côtes-Rôtie).
We would be most grateful if you would pass this bulletin on to anyone you think might be interested in some splendid wines from Provence.
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim & Hélène jaswalker@arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.arthursellers.com www.ofrance.ca
