We will be taking your orders for the four absolutely delicious, very well-priced wines from one of the finest properties in the Minervois area of Languedoc-Roussillon, Les Cuvées du Firmament to the LCBO this coming Friday, January 17^th.  These are really, really good wines. We know that you are going to love them.

Les Cuvées du Firmament

Franck, Hélène, your intrepid tippler and Oncle André

Franck and Hélène in the cave

Even though he grew up in a winemaking family, Franck initially chose a career in academia, becoming a teacher in Bordeaux. But the call of the Minervois and the allure of creating something very special proved irresistible. So, several years ago Franck returned to the family estate near the village of Siran (only a few kilometres from Minerve, the capital of the Cathars) in the best part of the Minervois called Minervois-la-Livinière to rejoin his mother Marie Alice and uncles André and Antoine. Oncle André is an expert stone-mason whose handiwork can be seen throughout the estate. Among Oncle Antoine’s many talents is his ability to speak the ancient language of Oc. 

Their vineyard is situated on a hillside of clay and chalky soil that enjoys more than three hundred days of sunshine each year. The old vines are bathed in the glorious scents of the surrounding garrigue (wild asparagus, thyme, rosemary, maritime pines and evergreen oaks). The grape varieties are typical of great Languedoc wines - Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. The Léonors do everything the old fashioned way when it comes to tending the vines and making their wines and have converted to organic farming. Yields are kept low through disbudding and summer thinning (vendange en vert). Harvesting is completely by hand, the grapes are destemmed, traditional vinification methods are followed and the premium wines are partly aged in French and American oak for twelve to fifteen months. Incidentally, “Firmament” means the arch or vault of the skies – alluding to the over-reaching, mystical character of these fine wines.

Four Marvellous Minervois Reds from Les Cuvées du Firmament

We have selected four smashing wines for you – the 2011 Cuvée Horizon, the 2011 Cuvée Sky, the 2011 Cuvée Nocturne and the amazing 2010 Cuvée Star. All come in six-bottle cases.

Please don’t be shy away from the wines of the Minervois. Numerous superb wines are now being made there (including these of course) and it is widely recognized as a source of many great values. The grape varieties are the same as in other better known viticultural areas of southern France and new investors are rejuvenating the old, well-situated properties.

2011 Cuvée Horizon – 13.9% Alc./Vol.                                 $16/$96 per six-bottle case
This wonderful little sipper is made from equal parts Cinsault and Carignan that were hand-picked from vines that are at least fifteen years old. The bunches were destemmed and the grapes hand-sorted before being gently crushed and entering the fermentation process. It rested a year in stainless steel tanks and saw no oak. This Vin de Pays de l’Hérault is a medium ruby colour and offers up tantalizing aromas of ripe red berries, rosemary and new leather. It is surprisingly smooth, possessing excellent, pure, fresh fruit and a round structure with very nice, soft tannins. Best of all, it is drinking beautifully now – by itself or with traditional bistro fare. And, for those so inclined to enjoy a wee sip with the odd breakfast or, like we do, have ‘breakfast for dinner’, it will go wonderfully with a ham omelette. This is a wine that should be kept within easy reaching distance whenever the urge for a glass of satisfying red presents itself. Only 7,000 bottles made. Don’t let the price deter you – this is really good wine for the price. Order some of this little treasure for those thirsty moments.

2011 Cuvée Sky – 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                        $18/$108 per six-bottle case
This absolutely delicious AOC Minervois red is made from 50% Cinsault, 30% Syrah and 20% Grenache, all hand-picked and meticulously processed in the usual Léonor manner. The vines are over forty-years of age and the yield is modest 30 hectolitres per hectare. The wine spends one year in stainless steel tanks and sees no oak. This is a real ‘terroir’ wine that beautifully expresses the purity and freshness of the fruit. It is a brilliant deep red with an intense nose of black and red fruit, southern France spices and saddle leather. Flavours of black currants, raspberries, strawberries and plums persist in the mouth. It is full, round, complex and amazingly long for a wine of this price. It will go wonderfully with grilled meats and ripe cheese. I would decant it for a half hour or so before drinking to fully open it up. And, it will keep happily in the cellar for at least three years. If you would like to sample the 2009 vintage of this wine, you can do so at Le Sélect Bistro in Toronto. Order some of this lovely, very well priced Minervois rouge now.

2011 Cuvée Nocturne – 14.5% Alc./Vol.                              $25/$150 per six-bottle case
Now we are getting very serious. Made of 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 15% Cinsault, this AOC Minervois beauty is aged in French and American oak (new and used once) for twelve months. The yield is under forty hectolitres per hectare. It is ripe and rich, with concentrated dark plum and dried cherry flavours. Interesting savory herb and mineral notes fill the dense finish. It has elegant, mellow tannins and a very long finish and it can definitely be cellared for several years. It should be decanted at least two hours before serving at around 15°C and it will be a great match for game and roasts (particularly lamb). Order some of this very special wine for your table and cellar.

2010 Cuvée Star – 15.0% Alc./Vol.                                       $35/$210 per six-bottle case
At only thirty-five dollars a bottle, I think the 2010 Cuvée Star is an absolute steal! This AOC Minervois Cru La Livinière (the crème-de-la-crème of the Minervois) is crafted from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache (selected during two hand harvests to ensure the grapes had reached optimum maturity) from old vines (more than forty-five years of age) with a yield of less than thirty hectolitres per hectare. And, it is from the stellar 2010 vintage. The juice was held in fermentation tanks for three to five weeks and the Syrah was aged in French and American oak barrels (60% new and 40% used  once) for a year. This dark purple elixir has a pronounced nose of cassis, raspberry preserve, old leather, dark chocolate, minerals and spice. It is massive, round and very smooth in the mouth with a beautiful tannic structure. The taste of black currants is joined by mocha and pepper which continue right through the very long finish. Serve a little chilled (about 15°C) and decant two or three hours before bestowing it upon your guests. It will go splendidly with wild game, particularly roast duck, but it is also an extreme pleasure sipped alone from the glass. This is a wine for passionate wine-lovers to drink now or hold for many years. Like a very good Côte Rôtie at half the price.  Order a real hedonistic treat now.

Franck Léonor’s Sampler                                          $22/$132 per six-bottle case

Franck would like you to try all four of his delightful reds, so he has created the ‘Frank Léonor Sampler’ that contains two bottles each of the 2011 Cuvée Horizon and Sky and one bottle each of the 2011 Cuvée Nocturne and 2010 Cuvée Star. This is indeed a great way to try them … but, I caution you that you will wish you had acquired more of each! Order your six-pack of Minervois pleasure now.

Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Mystical Château Romanin!

High up in Les Alpilles, the last mountain range before the Mediterranean Sea, between the enchanting Provençal villages of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Eygalières lies Château Romanin. Note that I said in Les Alpilles for the winery is dug right into the mountain. Château Romanin is renowned for their leadership in biodynamic wine-making practices and their red, white and rosé wines are simply terrific.

We would be most grateful if you would pass this note on to anyone you think might enjoy some classic wines from the Minervois or would be interested in our wine club.

May 2014 be a most happy, healthy and amazing year for all.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim and Hélène

Arthur's Cellar Wine Club
jaswalker@arthursellers.com 
hbuisson@ofrance.ca  
www.arthursellers.com
www.ofrance.ca