Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive

Bulletin Detail Date July 25, 2007  Title The Glorious 2005's from Domaine Palon  Attachment   Bulletin We are delighted and fortunate to bring you the very special red wines from Domaine Palon - their 2005 Côtes-du-Rhône, 2005 Vacqueyras and 2005 Gigondas. Hélène and I met again with Annie Palon at the winery on the road to Gigondas in early March to try their 2005 vintage wines (for background on the Palons and their winery, please see our original ‘Selections’ newsletter). Annie told us that she had just made a very difficult decision. During the previous couple of weeks she had received not one, but three blank cheques from wine merchants who wanted to buy the entire 2005 vintage of Domaine Palon wines! She told us the cheques had remained on her coffee table for more than a week as she contemplated how wonderful it would be to take the entire summer off without having to sell the family’s wines. But, in the end she decided to return the cheques and continue to do business with her loyal customers. Fortunately, the Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club is one of her loyal clients and we have been able to secure a very decent supply of their glorious 2005 red wines. Not only that, but Annie has also agreed to create mixed sampler cases of the Vacqueyras and Gigondas in 750 ml. bottles and magnums for us. These are very, very good wines and the strengthening dollar has resulted in very attractive prices for us. But, there is one caution. 2005, while no doubt a great vintage throughout much of France and most certainly in the southern Rhône, will be slow to develop. Further, Domaine Palon makes their wines to be kept for a while so that they will mature over time. So, while they taste just fine now, those who cellar these classic wines for a few years will be richly rewarded. Once again Sebastian Palon (above with Hélène and me) has worked his magic on the 2005 Palon wines. All come in twelve-bottle cases except the split case of magnums which come in six-bottle cases. 2005 Côtes-du-Rhône        13.5% Alcohol by Volume        $17.00 per bottle This little gem is comprised of 69% Grenache, 16% Syrah and 15% Cinsault from grapes taken from the Domaine's vineyards in Vacqueyras and Sablet - it is wonderful wine. It is a lovely cherry red colour with glints of violet. On the nose it has nuances of black cherries, red currants, plums, gooseberries and cassis. In the mouth, it is massive with solid tannins and incredible length. It is a real pleasure to drink now, but you will be rewarded if you put it away for two or three years. This is a huge, classic Côtes-du-Rhône. It will go well with all your dinners with family and friends and would be ideal with cheese. Decant well in advance and serve slightly below room temperature. Order a case or two now. 2005 Vacqueyras        14.0% Alcohol by Volume        $23.00 per bottle Oh boy, Vacqueyras doesn’t get much better than this! And, it is not by accident. Vineyard yields have been restricted to a miserly 26 hectolitres per hectare and the average age of the vines is 42 years. Made from 75% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre and 9% Syrah, it is a beautiful, clear garnet colour. The nose is marked by cherries, figs, spices, flint, saffron, white pepper and ripe black fruit. In the mouth one finds a wine that is full, round and soft with silky tannins and a lingering, persistent mocha aftertaste. It would be an ideal companion for all red meats, roasted or grilled as well as most cheeses. It should definitely be decanted well before serving at a few degrees below room temperature. This wine will cellar nicely for at least five years. Add some of this is absolute classic to your cellar. 2005 Gigondas        14.0% Alcohol by Volume        $27.00 per bottle And, here is la pièce de résistance from Domaine Palon, the exquisite 2005 Gigondas. At a miserly yield of 22.71 hectolitres per hectare and with vines that average 37 years of age, it is comprised of 79% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 6% Mourvèdre. This is an enormous, brooding dark monster. It is a lovely clear deep red. It has aromas of roasted coffee beans, toasted bread, cherries, prunes, blackberries, black currants and strawberries that have been steeped in alcohol along with hints of licorice and tobacco. In the mouth it is velvety, concentrated and beautifully balanced with a lingering aftertaste of roasted coffee beans. This will cellar gracefully for up to ten years. This is the finest young Gigondas we have ever tasted. This grand wine will go wonderfully with magrets de canard, wild game, roasts and cheese. I wouldn't approach it for at last a year and know that it will last and improve for many years to come. Get your own classic Gigondas now. 2005 Vacqueyras/Gigondas Split Case – 750 ml. Bottles          $25.00 per bottle Six regular bottles of Domaine Palon’s 2005 Vacqueyras and six bottles of their 2005 Gigondas all in one case. Order this wonderful duo now. 2005 Vacqueyras/Gigondas Split Case – 1500 ml. Magnum         $57.00 per bottle For the collector! Three magnums each of Palon’s 2005 Vacqueyras and Gigondas in one six magnum case. Order yours now. We will be placing our order for these truly outstanding wines with the LCBO on Wednesday, August 29th. Quantities are limited, so please order now to avoid disappointment. On another subject, response to our 2004 Notturno, Barbera d’Asti Superiore has been overwhelmingly positive. It is currently available at most LCBO VINTAGES stores for only $19.95 a bottle – product # 026088. If you haven’t tried it, we encourage you to do so; if you have and enjoyed it, please tell your friends. Please pass this note on to anyone else you think might be interested. Many thanks and cheers, Jim and Hélène Arthur’s Cellar Wine club www.arthursellers.com