Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Now then, back to the topic at hand – Rosé. We will be taking your orders for Domaine de Tara’s Rosé and other delicious wines to the LCBO next Monday, March 18th. Domaine de Tara’s 2012 Terre d’Ocres Rosé is one of our favourites. Don’t overlook their Eclat(s) de Tara Rosé, a really tasty, festive sparkler. And, their other wines are terrific as well.
Domaine de Tara
Lying at the foot of the picturesque ochre hillside village of Roussillon-en-Provence in the heart of the Lubéron Regional Natural Reserve, Domaine de Tara faces the rolling hills of the Vaucluse, Mont Ventoux and the precariously perched village of Gordes.
Domaine de Tara’s vineyards cover about 30 acres entirely within the AOC Ventoux. The AOC Ventoux is located in the south-eastern section of the vast belt of Rhône Valley plantations that stretch from Vienne in the north to Avignon. The vineyards are some of the oldest in France. Recent archaeological finds trace winemaking back to around 30 BC. The climate is Mediterranean - dry in the summer and very sunny all year round. The Mistral, the prevailing (and often maddening) northerly wind, provides the vines with remarkable natural ventilation making it easier to farm organically or with minimal, gentle intervention. Eleven varieties of grapes are authorized for the blended wines of the AOC Ventoux.
Patrick and Michèle have other careers and three children to raise as well, so they needed someone to manage Domaine de Tara while they commuted from Milan (now Paris). As luck would have it, Mathieu Griveau, an oenologist spied the Folléa’s ‘help wanted’ ad and promptly applied. By coincidence Mathieu’s first job after graduation several years ago was at Tara. He fell in love with the property and its surroundings but moved on to Burgundy to broaden his wine making experience. But he wanted to settle back in Provence.
Mathieu made a great impression during his hour and a half long interview. At the end, Patrick asked his new regisseur if he knew anyone who could look after the commercial aspects of the business. By amazing coincidence he did! His wife Pascale, who also adored Domaine de Tara and the glorious Lubéron countryside had been waiting all the time in their car out in the parking lot. She fit the bill perfectly and soon the Griveaus moved onto the estate and took control. Patrick, Michèle, Mathieu and Pascale make a superb team. Together they are enhancing the fine wine making tradition at Domaine de Tara.
The Delicious Wines of Domaine de Tara Mathieu takes fastidious care of the vineyards and along with local helpers (could another Patrick Folléa be in their ranks?) harvests the grapes by hand. He allows nature to run its course as the grapes mature, adding a helping hand only when absolutely necessary. Yields from the veteran vines average a low 30 hectolitres per hectare.
Domaine de Tara offer two ranges of wines. The red, white and rosé Cuvée Terre d’Ocres are fresh, elegant, richly textured wines where the grapes are quickly pressed and the juice is fermented in temperature-controlled vats. They are perfect for immediate enjoyment. The red and white Cuvée Hautes Pierres are powerful, aromatic wines that receive up to a year in oak casks (one-quarter new) and can be cellared for several years.
We are featuring an extensive range of wines from Domaine de Tara – the 2011 Terre d’Ocres Rosé, 2011 White and 2011 Red along with the 2010 Hautes Pierres White and the non-vintage Eclat(s) Rosé sparkler. In addition, there is a Terre d’Ocres Sampler (two bottles each of the Terre d’Ocre rosé, white and red). All come in six bottle cases. If you love elegant, delicious, extremely well-made wines don’t miss these ones.
2012 Terre d’Ocres Rosé – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $18/$102 case of six This delightful quaffer (Vin de Pays de Vaucluse) is made from 55% Grenache and 45% Carignan, all hand-picked in the second half of September. The wine is a delicate pink with very expressive aromas of raspberries, strawberries, soft spices and minerals. In the mouth it is fresh, tangy and absolutely smashing with rich, smooth textures and well-defined fruit sensations including a citrus finish. It will go brilliantly with Asian cuisine, salmon dishes and baked ham or serve very nicely as an apéritif. Last year’s O!France guests drank it by the bucketsful as they relaxed by the pool after a long day touring Provence!. Serve around 10° Celsius. Best savoured within eighteen months of harvest. Order your bottles of pure pink happiness now (Gilbert et Gaillard 2012 selection).
2011 Terre d’Ocres Blanc – 13.0% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of six Made from a blend of 70% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette and 10% Roussanne, this luminous, straw coloured wine with glints of light green has a refined bouquet of grapefruit, other citrus fruits, white flowers and a touch of mineral. It is clean and refreshing in the mouth with a fine balance of fruit and acidity with lingering hints of honey and citrus fruit. It will be a wonderful match for fish and other seafood, Asian dishes, poultry or just plain sipping. This is a smashing wine for the price – it will cellar nicely for up to four or five years. It has been cited by both the Guide Gilbert et Gaillard (2013) and the Guide Dussert & Gerbert (2013). Order your delightful Provençal sipper now.
2011 Terre d’Ocres Rouge – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of six This gorgeous, fresh red is made from 45% Grenache, 45% Carignan and 10% Syrah with an average yield of only 35 hl/ha. It is bright garnet with ruby highlights. On the nose it exhibits lovely scents of ripe berries, blackcurrants, morello cherries and hints of toasted brioche and pepper. In the mouth it is fresh and richly fruity, balanced elegantly by soft tannins with a finish of exotic spices. Served around 15° Celsius, it will go brilliantly with roasts, charcouterie and medium, soft cheeses. It will keep quite happily for four or five years. It too has been recognized by both the Guide Gilbert et Gaillard (2013) and the Guide Dussert & Gerbert (2013). Order your beautiful, fresh Ventoux red now.
The Terre d’Ocres Sampler – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $18/$108 case of six If you don’t know which of the above marvellous Terre d’Ocre wines from Domaine de Tara to choose, this might do just the trick – two bottles each of the cuvee 2012 Rosé, 2011 Blanc and 2011 Rouge. Order your six-pack of value-priced Provençal pleasure now.
2011 Hautes Pierres Blanc – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $24/$144 case of six This very big, serious white wine is made from 45% Roussanne and 35% Grenache Blanc. With a miserly yield of only 30 hl/ha, it is aged in French oak barrels (20% new) for twelve months. I advise that you decant it at least an hour before serving! It is a light golden-yellow with amber highlights. It offers up an intense and elegant nose of grapefruit, apricots, pineapple, ripe peaches and a hint of honey and toast. In the mouth it is full, balanced and extremely pleasing with a lingering, velvety finish that contains traces of citrus and honey. Serve at about 11°C. It will go marvellously with sole meuniere, fresh trout amandine, richly flavoured poultry or veal dishes, foie gras and chevre cheese. There will be no problem keeping this for five or six years … providing you have stupendous will power. As the ‘Guide Dussert-Gerber des Vins de France’ has said about other vintages of this wine, “Why resist?” The 2013 Guide Hachette awarded it one star. Order your voluptuous, classy white now.
2009 Hautes Pierres Rouge – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $24/$144 case of six This is a great wine from a great year. Made from 80% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 10% Grenache with a yield of but 30 hl/ha. It matured happily in French oak (one quarter new) for a year. It is a deep purple with ruby highlights on the rim. It has an intense, rich bouquet of black currants, black cherries, plums, garrigue, spices and caramel. In the mouth it is full, elegant and very well-balanced with silky tannins and a delicious, lingering aftertaste of blackberries and spice. It will go perfectly with game, roasts and richly flavoured dishes. It will keep nicely for at least ten years and probably longer. This tour de force would be much more expensive from a better recognized appellation. It took a gold medal at the Avignon Wine Challenge (2012) and earned recommendations from both the Guide Gilbert et Gaillard (2013) and the Guide Dussert & Gerbert (2013). Order your very stylish, most delicious red now.
Eclat(s) de Tara Rosé – 12.0% Alc./Vol. $24/$144 case of six I just adore this festive pink sparkler. Crafted from 65% Grenache and 35% Carignan, it is made using the ‘méthode traditionnelle’. It is a delicate rose petal pink colour and sports very expressive aromas of summer berries and strawberries with a delicate mineral note. The lovely, refined, tiny bubbles presage a most refreshing and fine balance of fruit and acidity in the mouth – very clean and refreshing indeed. I can’t think of a better way to start off a summer party or to accompany your favourite desserts. Serve around 10° Celsius. Order your very well-priced pink sparkler now.
We will be taking your orders for these delicious wines to the LCBO next Monday, March 18th. Please note that our prices include one dollar per bottle handling fee.
Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Domaine Chabrier Fils It is always a special treat when the Chabrier brothers’ latest vintages become available. It is no different this year. Of course, we will be featuring their zesty 2012 Duché d’Uzès Rosé. But the other four wines we will be offering, including the 2011 Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac, are smashing as well.
Hélène still has some wonderful accommodations for a few more guests on her 2013 Tour de Provence. Please contact her to book your expedition to paradise.
Please pass this note on to anyone you think might be interested in some very special, well-priced and well made wines from the AOC Ventoux.
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim & Hélène www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca
