Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
“Wino Forever” – Johnny Depp (The tattoo once read 'Winona Forever'!)
We will be taking your orders for the superb Burgundies, including the stellar 2010 Bourgogne Chardonnay from Domaine des Terres de Velle to the LCBO on Friday, January 25th. We hope you will take this opportunity to acquire some lovely Bourgs at very reasonable prices.
Domaine des Terres de Velle We first met Sophie and Fabrice Laronze when they were marketing manager and wine-maker respectively for the successful Burgundy vintner, Alex Gambal. After an amicable parting with Alex in 2009, the Laronzes and Junji acquired eleven separate plots of mature vines in choice areas of the Côtes de Beaune in Burgundy (about five hectares in all). More recently they have purchased a village parcel in Chassagne-Montrachet and two neighbouring premier crus in Meursault, Les Charmes and Puligny-Montrachet, Les Referts. They have also sold some small parcels so their total estate now stands at almost six hectares which yields around 30,000 bottles annually. Construction has been completed on their new winery, offices and tasting room located at the entrance to the village of Auxey-Duresses. Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Members are welcome to visit, but please called ahead for appointments.
While the brand might be new, (the Velle River runs through the domaine; hence ‘the lands of the Velle’) the partners are no neophytes when it comes to producing first-rate wine. Fabrice studied oenology in Beaune and Montpellier and then toiled at a few Burgundy houses and at Mirimar Torres in Sonoma. He joined forces with Alex Gambal in the late 1990s and helped him find juice and grapes throughout Burgundy, acquire vineyards and produce ten vintages of stellar Burgundy that have garnered well-earned international acclaim.
Sophie did marketing work for Albert Bichot in Beaune and the barrel-maker, Tonellerie de Mercury before joining Fabrice at Maison Alex Gambal. Junji arrived in Burgundy in the late nineties after a sales career with Suntory, Japan’s oldest beverage alcohol distributor. He then worked for several top-notch vintners and attended viticulture school in Beaune.
The trio are committed to the principles of sustainable viticulture, eschewing chemical intervention in favour of natural processes in the vineyards and chais. They rigorously debud their vines during the growing season in order to improve ventilation (reducing the chance of mildew) and to concentrate the juice thereby enhancing the complexity of the remaining grapes. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted. The wine is neither fined nor filtered and is produced in very small quantities. They firmly believe that great wine is created in the vineyard, not manufactured in the winery. To sum up, they make very, very serious wine.
The Domaine des Terres de Velle Burgundies on Offer Here’s what we have selected in addition to the lovely 2011 Bourgogne Chardonnay and 2011 Bourgogne Pinot Noir: three whites (Chardonnay) – 2009 Meursault, 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet La Platière, and 2010 Puligny-Montrachet; and three reds (Pinot Noir) – 2009 Pommard, 2010 Volnay Ez Blanches and 2010 Volnay 1er Cru Le Ronceret.
For those who would like to try each of the older wines, Sophie, Fabrice and Junji have created a special mixed case - the Terres de Velle Grand Sampler. All of the wines come in six-bottle cases. We will be taking your orders for these glorious wines to the LCBO on Friday, January 25th.
2011 Bourgogne Chardonnay (white) – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $27/$162 case of 6 This is a really lovely, classic Chardonnay that will be a real crowd pleaser. There isn’t much of it in that the yield was very low – under 40 hectolitres per hectare. It has a surprisingly big bouquet of pineapple, peach and spices that carry through nicely in the mouth. It has a pleasant underlying acidity and minerality and is wonderfully balanced. This very serious Chardonnay will go delightfully with shellfish, oriental cuisine and roast chicken. Order your scarce little treasure now!
2011 Bourgogne Pinot Noir (red) – 13.0% alc./Vol. $28/168 case of six This is really good basic Pinot Noir. The wine spent twelve to fifteen months in oak, 10% new and like all the Domaine des Terres de Velle wines was neither fined nor filtered. A brilliant ruby colour, the nose offers up fresh, vibrant scents of red berries, particularly raspberries, a touch of leather and delicate spices. In the mouth it is simply delightful – beautifully structured with light to medium weight and very soft tannins. This very pleasing wine is drinking beautifully now and would be an ideal accompaniment for roast chicken. Order your most delightful little red Burgundy now.
2009 Meursault (white) – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $49/294 case of 6 This gorgeous village Meursault is a real Chardonnay pleasure and is drinking wonderfully right now. The grapes come from parcels of land in Les Luchets and Les Vireuils. It was aged for several months in oak, 25% of which was new. It is a brilliant medium straw colour with full aromas of pineapple, pear, spice (including nutmeg), a touch of vanilla and a nice nip of minerals. It is reasonably big, voluptuous and fully satisfying in the mouth. It is hard to believe that this is not a 1er Cru. This splendid bit of Chardonnay will go wonderfully with scampies (I am starting to drool!), trout sautéed in butter and roast chicken. Order your classic Meursault now.
2010 Chassagne-Montrachet La Platière (white) – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $53/318 case of 6 This gorgeous wine, the first vintage for the winery, comes from 22 year old vines situated near the Abbaye de Morgeot. It is a classic Chassagne-Montrachet with aromas of green herbs, white fruit, wet pebbles and exotic spices. In the mouth it is not quite as rich as the Meursault but has more depth with penetrating, fine acidity and good, sweet length. It will go wonderfully with seafood and medium cheese. If you enjoy Chassagne-Montrachet, you’ll certainly be pleased with this one. Order your elegant dollop of Chardonnay now.
2010 Puligny-Montrachet (white) – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $56/336 case of 6 I’m a sucker for good Puligny-Montrachet and this is indeed good, very good. It comes from Les Noroyes under the Clos des Mouchére and Les Levrons. There was a serious frost in 2010 that really affected Les Levrons and as a result the yield was very low – only one or two clusters per vine. This wine spent several months in lightly toasted oak, a third of which was new. It has lovely aromas of peaches, a hint of pineapple, minerals and spice. In the mouth it is medium weight, full and fresh with lovely acidity. This splendid wine would be marvellous arm candy for roast fowl, white fish and medium cheese. Order your sunshine in a glass now.
2009 Pommard (red) – 13.0% alc./Vol. $49/294 case of 6 This is a classic village Pommard. I was smitten by it (I must confess that I am a huge fan of the wines of Pommard). It rested in oak for twelve to eighteen months, 20% new. It is an intense ruby with delicate aromas of blackberries, plums, raspberries, exotic spices and a hint of vanilla. In the mouth it is full of ripe fruit, complex and medium-bodied with really lovely tannins and good length. This wonderful red will go perfectly with pork dishes, although I’d wait a year or two before the feast (assuming I had the self-control!!). Order your splendid, luscious Pommard now.
2010 Volnay Ez Blanches (red) – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $49/294 case of six Anyone who loves Volnay (count me in) will be delighted with this brilliant village wine. It spent sixteen to eighteen months on oak, 30% of it new. This beauty is a sparkling, clear ruby with aromas of fresh, delicate red fruit (raspberries and strawberries), wet pebbles, spices and a bit of rawhide. In the mouth it is simply elegant - medium-bodied with supple tannins and satisfying length. Drinking well now, I would try to resist it for another year or two. This really delightful red is a perfect match for roast chicken, a creamy veal stew or a plate of medium cheeses. Order your bottles of satisfying elegance now.
2010 Volnay 1er Cru Le Ronceret – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $59/354 case of six This is a simply wonderful Volnay. Once again, yields were low and the wine rested in oak for many months, 25 percent of it new. It is a vibrant medium ruby colour and offers up elegant aromas of raspberries, new leather, spices and minerals. In the mouth it is wonderfully concentrated, elegant and fresh with a nice mineral finish. I personally would sip this slowly by itself (giggling contentedly all the while), but it will go smashingly with Coq au Vin and other traditional Burgundy fare. Yum! Order your excellent Volnay now.
2010 Terres de Velle Grand Sampler – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $53/318 case of six What a great way to try each of the lovely Domaine des Terres de Velle village and 1er Cru Burgundies on offer. You get one bottle each of the 2010 Meursault, 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet La Platière, 2010 Puligny-Montrachet, 2009 Pommard, 2010 Volnay Ez Blanches and 2010 Volnay 1er Cru Le Ronceret in one convenient six-pack. This would also make a great gift for any Burgundy lovers you might know. Order your Burgundy tasting kit now.
Coming Next – Awesome Alsatians from Domaine Vincent Stoeffler I think that wines from the Alsace region of France are terribly under-appreciated and represent some of the finest values available in the wonderful world of wine. This is certainly true of the organic ones produced by Vincent Stoeffler at Domaine Stoeffler, particularly his delicious Reisling Lieu dit “Muhlforst”. We will also be bringing you three Grand Cru whites and a zippy Cremant d’Alsace.
We would be most grateful if you would pass this note on to anyone you think would be interested in some beautiful Burgundies from an exciting new vineyard. Also, please invite your friends, relatives, acquaintances and casual strangers to join Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club – no annual fees or other obligations; just great wine.
Many thanks and cheers!
Jim and Hélène jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.ofrance.ca
