One of our favourite Rosés, ‘La Soif’ is back and along with it a new vintage of ‘100% Chardonnay’ from the over-achieving Les Lys winery located near the enchanting town of Uzès in southern France. These wines are real crowd pleasers – ready to drink and excellent values.

Les Lys

The irrepressible Olivier Privat along with Eileen and Ray Monahan acquired the old vineyards and winery they renamed Les Vignes du Lys in 2008. For years the winery had sold the majority of its wines in bulk to the SAQ in Quebec. But like their good friends, the nearby Chabriers who also make excellent wines, they knew that with a little care and attention, not to mention oodles of Euros, they could produce excellent wines from the mature Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Petit Grain and Pinot Gris planted on their properties.     

Jim, Olivier and la Soif!

Here’s what the hyper-critical French wine press has been saying recently about Les Lys:

“We have been charmed by the wines. You must come to Blauzac for a tasting but be forewarned, you will stay for more than 30 minutes! ”
Terre de Vins, January 2012

“The renaissance of a vineyard….”
Bettane and Desseauve (Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve)

“A remarkable addition to these pages”
Guide Hachette 2012

The Wines of Les Lys

We are delighted to bring back the 2011 ‘La Soif’, a perennial favourite Rosé. In addition we are offering the beautifully made, crisp 2011 100% Chardonnay. Of note, 2011 was a very good vintage in the southern Rhône. Both wines come in six-bottle cases. We will be taking your order for the fine wines of Les Lys to the LCBO on Friday, April 5^th.

2011 Rosé “La Soif” - 12.5% Alc./Vol.                               $16/$96 six-bottle case
Strange name, “La Soif” (the thirst) for a marvellous wine whose primary purpose will be to slake your thirst during the dog days of summer. Made from Grenache and Syrah from vineyards converted to totally organic farming in 2009. It is a most refreshing, satisfying rosé that is showing gobs of red fruit with light citrus nuances and a nice crisp finish. While a fashionably pale salmon colour, this is not weak stuff made from young vines. The Syrah is between twenty-five and thirty-five years old and the Grenache thirty-five (average yield is only 35 hl./ha.). And, 2011 was a very, very good vintage for these varietals in southern France. This Vin de Pays des Cévennes comes with a convenient screw cap to preserve its freshness (and make it wonderfully easy to get at!). I love this wine! It will go brilliantly with Oriental cuisine, ham and salmon or by itself on a hot summer’s day. Order your thirst-quenching six-pack (or two, or three) of Rosé heaven now!