“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 featuring their 2012 Duchè d’Uzès Rosé along with the latest vintage of Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac Blanc – the wonderful white with the impossible name.  The big news is these wines are no longer classified vin de pays – they have all been awarded ‘Indication Geographique Protégée Duché d’Uzès’ status.

We discovered Domaine Chabrier Fils and the ebullient Chabrier brothers, Patrick (at left hosting a riotous Swiss fondue party) and Christophe a little over six years ago thanks to our friend and vinous mentor Christian Esparza. Christian owns a marvellous 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 the Chabrier’s big, bold expressive wines.

A Brief History of Domaine Chabrier Fils

Hélène and Patrick in the Chabrier chais

This Offering from Domaine Chabrier Fils

Of course in preparation for summer, we are featuring the delightfully refreshing 2012 Duché d’Uzès Rosé. Then there is the always popular 2011 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc along the fruitier, unoaked 2012 Duché d’Uzès Blanc.  And this time we are offering two Chabrier reds – the big 2011 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge and the lively 2012 Duché d’Uzès Rouge. These wines come in six-bottle cases. 2011 and 2012 were both very good vintages in the Duché d’Uzès region. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Wednesday, March 27th.

2012 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, pleasingly dry 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.

2012 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. 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.

2012 Duché d’Uzès Rouge – (13.5% Alc./Vol.)      $18/$108 case of 6
This succulent little red sipper is fashioned from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. A bright ruby colour with glints of purple, it has aromas of red berries, cassis and vanilla. In the mouth it shows lots of fresh fruit along with mocha and tobacco. It is very well balanced and shows amazing length. It is a simply delightful wine and veritable bargain at this price. Order your little red treasure from the land of Oc now.

The Chabrier Sampler – (13.5% Alc./Vol.)           $18/$108 case of six
 What a great way to try several of the fine wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils! You get two bottles each of the 2012 Duché d’Uzès Rosé, 2012 Duché d’Uzès ‘Blanc and 2012 Duché d’Uzès Rouge all in one handy six-pack. Order your Duché d’Uzès treasure trove now.

2011 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. Order now – always offered to us on a strict allotment basis - first come, first served.

2011 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge – (13.5% Alc./Vol.)       $21/$126 case of six
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, vanilla 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, exotic spices and pepper. 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.

Note: The above prices include a one dollar per bottle handling fee.

We would be most rapturous 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