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Date April 4, 2014 
Title Last Call for the Over-Achieving Wines from Domaine Camp Galhan! 
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“The wine of Uzès is the best in the realm.”
(Racine – 1661)

We will be bringing your orders for the wonderful, well-priced wines from Domaine Camp Galhan producers of divine red and white Vin de Pays Duché d’Uzès and Vin de Pays d’Oc from the heart of the Languedoc to the LCBO next Friday, April 11th. These are really, really good wines and I encourage you to give them a try; you are going to be very pleasantly surprised.

As Robert Parker remarked in issue 173 of his ‘Wine Advocate’ “Lionel and Alain Pourquier defy their entitlement to only a Vin de Pays appellation with wines of extraordinary value.”

We met Lionel Pourquier, (owner and operator of the winery along with his brother Alain), a couple of years ago when he was sharing a booth with Patrick Chabrier of Domaine Chabrier Fils at the VinIsud wine fair in Montpellier. As is the norm with Patrick, things were completely chaotic at his side of the booth, so we decided to try some of Lionel’s wines to pass time till some sense of calm returned.  We were completely enchanted by these fresh, flavourful, obviously well-made wines. To be certain that we weren’t being influenced by the prevailing mayhem, we subsequently asked Lionel to provide us with some samples to try under more tranquil circumstances. This we did a couple of months later in Sarlat in the Dordogne while scouting out that locale for Hélène’s tours of France. Consumed with some simple fare (yah, right – figs stuffed with foie gras, roast duck, local pâté, fresh baguette, etc.) we found them to be even more enjoyable than before! We are delighted to offer them to you a second time – a cry-out for summer Rosé, two fresh and zesty whites, two full and satisfying reds and a special mixed case of all five. Bring on the foie gras stuffed figs! We hope you enjoy these marvellous wines as much as we do.

Domaine Camp Galhan

Located near the village of Ribaute les Tavernes, not too far from bustling Uzès, the Camp Galhan vineyard is situated high above the banks of the Gardon River in the foothills of the bucolic Cévennes Mountains. The winery gets its name from the Roman camp, “Galhan”, that was located next to the present winery. The 40 hectare property and vineyards have been in the Pourquier family since the early twentieth century and they have long been renowned for their superb grapes that were sent each year to the local co-op. But Lionel tired of giving his great grapes to the co-op only to have them make mediocre wine. So, in 2001 he built a modern winery into the side of a hill, designed so that gravity moves the grapes and juice during vinification (thus avoiding the use of much harsher mechanical pumps) and started to produce his own wines.

Your hard-working tippler with Lionel’s display of treasures
As they say, at least eighty percent of great wine- making occurs in the vineyard. Lionel has worked hard to isolate the best vineyard sites in the hillsides above the valley and to update his winemaking techniques. He farms his vineyards using organic methods in the ‘lutte raisonnée’ manner and green harvests in the spring to decrease yields. Lionel then hand selects only the best fruit to go into his wines, which most recognize as being among the very best in the region (along with Domaine Chabrier Fils and Les Vignes du Lys in my opinion!).

By the way, in addition to great asparagus, Lionel also grows durum wheat in the valley which he sells to high-end pasta producers, mostly in Italy. He is currently president of the durum wheat growers association for the region.

The Glorious Wines of Domaine Camp Galhan

We are truly delighted to bring you the vinous treasures from Domaine Camp Galhan. There are a 2013 Rosé;  two whites – the 2013 Amanlie Blanc and 2013 Ripa Alta Blanc; two reds – the 2012 Pérassières Rouge and 2010 Les Grès Rouge, and; The Camp Galhan Sampler that gives you a taste of all five. Each is drinking wonderfully now, but the reds will reward you with a year or two of patience.  They come in convenient six-bottle cases. We will be taking your orders for these really, really good wines to the LCBO on Friday, April 11th.  

2013 Rosé Duché d’Uzès - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                       $20/$120 per case of six
This refreshing, dry beauty, an AOP Duché d’Uzès is crafted from 60% Grenache noir and 40% Syrah from vines averaging 30 years of age. The yield was only 35 hl/ha. Made using the saignée method (basically, left in contact with the grape skins for a short time and then drawn off), it is a lovely salmon colour and offers up aromas of fresh red fruit, wet pebbles and a little citrus. In the mouth the scents persist. It is quite complex, medium-bodied and nicely crisp. As the cépage (grapes in the blend) would suggest, this is a serious rosé that will go very well with food such as Thai cuisine and baked ham. Of course, it will also a great sipper on those sultry days of summer (remember them?).  Order your delicious potion of pink pulchritude now.

2013 Amanlie Blanc - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                              $22/$132 per case of six
The lovely 2013 Amanlie Blanc is made from 70% Viognier, 25% Roussanne and 5% Grenache Blanc. The vines average 20 years of age and the average yield is only 30 hl/ha. This delicious Vin de Pays du Duché d’Uzès is a pure straw colour with glints of lime green. On the nose there are pronounced aromas of peaches, grapefruit, rich tropical fruit,  white flowers, acacia and wet pebbles.  It is very gentle in the mouth, flavourful with excellent balance, dry and crisp. This is simply delicious – jam-packed with mouth-watering  flavours, beautifully made and completely satisfying. Ready to drink as soon as you get it, it will go wonderfully with roasted chicken, lobster bisque, fried fish, vegetarian pasta dishes and most shellfish. I just love it! Order your glorious white wonder now.

2013 Ripa Alta Blanc - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                            $25/$150 per case of six
The terrific 2013 Ripa Alta Blanc is made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Viognier, a heavenly combination.  The vines are 14 years old (don’t let their relative youth dissuade you) and the yield is a very low 30 hl/ha. This amazing Vin de Pays d’Oc is a lovely golden colour and offers up pleasant aromas of peaches, pineapple and honey with mineral aftertastes. This splendid white is beautifully balanced and medium bodied with lovely acidity and a long, creamy finish. It is a very well made wine that will go splendidly with creamed poultry dishes, coconut shrimp (oh, sweet heaven!), lobster Newburg or au gratin (drool!) and mussels.  Order your over-achieving Vin de Pays blanc now.

2012 Pérassières Rouge - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                        $20/$120 per case of six
The 2012 Pérassières is composed of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, the mainstay varietals of southern France. The vines average 27 years of age and the yield is only 45 hl/ha. This Vin de Pays du Duché d’Uzès is a brick red colour and offers up aromas of black currants, new leather, pepper, cherry jam and garrigue. In the mouth it is smooth, full, medium-bodied and lively with excellent length. This luscious, unfiltered wine seems to have been bestowed upon us by the barbeque gods.  Order your classic southern French wine now.

2010 Les Grès Rouge - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                                             $24/$144 per case of six
The 2010 Les Grès Rouge is made from 100% Syrah averaging 15 years of age with a yield of but 35 hl/ha. This Vin de Pays du Duché d’Uzès is a deep purple/red colour and throws out beguiling aromas of leather, tar, blackberries and wet stones. In the mouth it is full, round and supple, beautifully balanced with a spicy aftertaste. My tasting notes conclude with “lovely stuff”. This tour de force achievement from Lionel Pourquier will go just perfectly with a rack of lamb, mushroom tart, medium cheese and roast rabbit. We adored it! Order your completely amazing red from Domaine Camp Galhan now.

The ‘Camp Galhan’ Sampler  - 14.0% Alc./Vol.                               $22/$132 per case of six
This is a great way to try all of the Domaine Camp Galhan vinous treasures. You get a bottle each of the 2013 Rosé, 2013 Amanlie Blanc, 2013 Ripa Alta Blanc and 2010 Les Grès Rouge  and two bottles of the 2012 Pérassières Rouge. I do hope that every one of our members will order this Sampler to taste for themselves the great values that come from southern France. Order your six-pack of pure drinking pleasure now.


The LCBO is the only entity authorized to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario. Arthur Sellers & Company and Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club do not sell or markup beverage alcohol, but rather, arrange for customers to purchase it from the LCBO. Our prices indicated above and on our website include the LCBO sale price plus a fee to cover the cost of sourcing, handling and marketing the wine. The LCBO’s sale prices are available on request.

Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – ‘La Soif’ and Other Delicacies from Les Vignes du Lys

‘La Soif’ (the thirst), almost everybody’s favourite Rosé is next up along with all of the other delightful wines from Les Vignes du Lys (including one of my favourites, the 100% Chardonnay). Then it will be, at last, the long awaited treasures from Domaine Chabrier Fils.


If you know anyone who would be interested in some glorious wines from the south of France, we would greatly appreciate it if you would pass this bulletin on to them.

Cheers,

Jim and Hélène

jaswalker@arthursellers.com
www.arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
www.ofrance.ca