Well, it was a spiffy try. Adhering to the old keep it simple, stupid adage, we tried featuring just a mixed sampler case to introduce you to the six outstanding wines from Domain Grande Maison located in the Bergerac wine region of south-western France. But I should have known – eight of the first ten orders were for something other than the sampler. So, it’s back to our usual practice of listing each wine so it can be ordered separately – you will find them all below. We have also created red and white wine samplers to add to your ordering joy and our administrative merriment.  If you would like to read the thrilling preamble about Bergerac and Domaine Grande Maison, please refer to our previous bulletin.

The Wines of Grande Maison
Robert Parker in his in his "Wine Buyers Guide" number 7 rated Domaine Grande Maison a five star winery - one of only four "Outstanding" producers in the south-west of France.

We are now offering two whites, three reds and one succulent Monbazillac along with not one, but three mixed-case samplers – white, red and the full monty that includes one of each of the featured wines.  Each is certified organic (Ecocert), very, very well made and absolutely delicious. All come in 750 ml format and are from very good vintages. We are going to take your orders to the LCBO on Friday, August 9th.

2011 Cuvée Sophie (White) – Bergerac Sec – 13.5% Alc./Vol.          $22/$132 for six
Crafted from 80% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle, this bright straw coloured white stunner is rich, well-rounded and fresh. The wine (70%) was aged for 12 months in new French oak barriques. The nose offers up rich, complex aromas of ripe fruit (apricots, mangoes, grapefruits and lemons) with notes of vanilla and wet pebbles. In the mouth it is full, beautifully balanced with tangy edges and just plain delicious. It would go marvellously with shell fish, roast chicken and creamy pasta dishes. It is drinking delightfully well now and will evolve and keep nicely for at least another six years. Order your zesty Bergerac white now.

2010 Tête de Cuvée (White) - Bergerac Sec – 13.5% Alc./Vol.      $27/162 for six
This is Grande Maison’s finest white and is made from their best Sauvignon Gris (50%), Sauvignon Blanc (30%), Sémillon (15%) and Muscadelle (5%). This wine is aged for 12 months in new French oak. It is a bright, clear yellow with green tints. The nose contains rich aromas of peaches, pears, mangoes, almonds and lemon zest. In the mouth it is full and fruity with a delicate silky texture and pleasant acidity; the finish is long and persistent – a simply delicious white. It too is drinking wonderfully now and will keep for at least another five years. It seems to have been made just for fish in sauce, lobster, crab and shrimp dishes. Order your very special Bergerac white now.

2009 Cuvée Opéra (Red) – Bergerac – 13.5% Alc./Vol.      $20/$120 for six
Made completely from hand-picked Merlot, the wine rested in oak barrels for nine months. It is a bright ruby colour and presents fruity aromas of raspberries, strawberries, plums, exotic spices, cocoa and a trace of new leather. All of this carries through in the mouth to be joined by silky smooth, soft tannins, excellent depth and surprising length. This most pleasant sipper is just screaming out for the barbeque or a roast chicken.  It will keep for another couple of years; but why wait. It tastes great right now. Order your Bergerac red charmer now.

2010 Cuvée Antoinette (Red) – Côtes de Bergerac – 13.5% Alc./Vol.      $23/$138 for six
This truly yummy red is made from 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. This is very serious stuff – hand-picked fully ripened grapes, eighteen months of barrel aging and no filtering. It is a deep purple-red and shouts out aromas of strawberries, plums, tobacco and a hint of rawhide. It is a medium-bodied wine with excellent balance, lovely tannins and a wonderful lingering finish. It is very elegant and reminds me of a good Graves. It will be a perfect match for game, roast beef and lamb. Right now it needs a least a couple of hours in a decanter before diving in and will keep happily for at least ten years. Order your terrific Bergerac red now.

2010 Tête de Cuvée (Red) - Côtes de Bergerac – 13.0% Alc./Vol.      $32/$192 for six
Oh boy! This stunner made completely from hand-picked Merlot that comes from Benjamin’s finest parcel of land is really something. A dark purple red, it rested in new oak for a year and a half and was not filtered before bottling. It yields powerful aromas of ripe plums, strawberries, exotic spices, cocoa, anise and leather. This is a very elegant medium-bodied wine, smooth and supple with rich tannins, great balance and a long, lingering aftertaste.  It will go brilliantly with grilled meats, medium cheese and most meat-based pasta dishes. It really is too young to drink now, but if you must, open it in the morning of the day you are going to drink it. Otherwise, keep your cotton-pickin’ hands off it for two or three years; better yet cellar it for a decade. Order your case of Domaine Grande Maison's best Bergerac red now.

2009 Cuvée du Château (Sweet) – Monbazillac – 13.0% Alc./Vol.      $39/$234 for six
All righty then, here is Grande Maison’s piece de resistance – the 2009 Monbazillac Cuvée du Château. They make five different Monbazillac wines; this is their premium cuvée that is exceeded only by their very rare Cuvée du Monstres which costs more than twice as much. This elegant, powerful bottle of succulent sweetness is created from 60% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Muscadelle from grapes that have been subjected to that Noble Rot – Botrytis Cinerea. Are you ready for the yield – 10 to 12 hl/ha! The grapes of course are all hand-picked with several passes through the vineyards to collect only truly ripe grapes and it rests in new oak barrels for up to three years. This is very, very serious stuff. It is a light amber colour and emits wondrous aromas of honey, apples, candied fruits, bees wax and a hint of smoke. In the mouth it is simply heavenly – rich, full, sweet (natch), elegant and pleasing crisp. Drink this wine as an aperitif, with foie gras, spicy cooking, fermented blue cheese, courses or desserts with fruit... It is drinking well right now and will mature nicely for at least ten years. Marvelous stuff. Order your most memorable Monbazillac now.

Grande Maison Bergerac White Sampler – 13.0 - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $27/$162 six-bottle case
You get three bottles each of these yummy Grande Maison whites: the 2011 Cuvée Sophie – Bergerac Sec and the 2010 Tête de Cuvée - Bergerac Sec. Order your six pack of white wine heaven now.

Grande Maison Bergerac Red Sampler – 13.0 - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $27/$162 six-bottle case
You get two bottles each of these delicious Grande Maison reds: the 2009 Cuvée Opéra – Bergerac; the 2010 Cuvée Antoinette – Côtes de Bergerac, and the 2010 Tête de Cuvée - Côtes de Bergerac. Order your six pack of three really delightful reds now.

THE Grande Maison Bergerac Sampler – 13.0 -13.5% Alc./Vol.    $27/$162 six-bottle case
You get one bottle each of our featured Bergerac wines from Domaine Grande Maison: the 2011 Cuvée Sophie (White) – Bergerac Sec; the 2010 Tête de Cuvée (White) - Bergerac Sec; the 2009 Cuvée Opéra (Red) – Bergerac; the 2010 Cuvée Antoinette (Red) – Côtes de Bergerac; the 2010 Tête de Cuvée (Red) - Côtes de Bergerac, and; the wonderful 2009 Cuvée du Château (Sweet) – Monbazillac. So there you have it - six really interesting and delicious wines from the mysterious Bergerac region of south-western France. Give yourself a real treat and order your complete Bergerac treasure trove now.

If you would like to try something quite extraordinary and would like some of Grande Maison's Monbazillac Cuvée du Monstres at a mere $90 the bottle, do let me know and I'll see if I can pry some loose from Benjamin (I know he has several vintages and formats tucked away). The yield is a most miserly 3.5 hl/ha and only two barrels are made in the best vintages.

Please note that the above prices include a small per bottle handling (and tasting!) fee.

Know anyone who might enjoy some exciting wines from Bergerac? If you do, please pass this note on and invite them to join the tipplers of Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club.

Many thanks and cheers!

Jim and Hélène
www.arthursellers.com
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.com

PS: Does a visit to Bergerac and the Dordogne appeal? If so, check out www.ofrance.ca and consider joining Hélène and me there in the spring of 2014.