Wow! Our allotment of 2011 Cuvée Horizon from Les Cuvées du Firmament sold out within a half hour after we announced it for sale. In fact, by the time we could halt orders, almost three hundred bottles had been requested.  

We tracked down Franck Léonor, the winery’s owner in Berlin (he is on a marketing blitz to Poland and Belgium) to see if he had any suggestions for the shortfall. He confirmed that the 2011 vintage was all gone. But, he noted that the 2012 vintage was soon to be bottled. I asked him how it compared to the 2011. “It is the same cépage – equal parts Cinsault and Carignan from mature vines. It is very similar to the 2011, perhaps not quite as full, but more elegant and also very good.”

“What about the price, Franck? Will you leave it the same as for the 2011?” After a moment’s pause punctuated by an audible groan, he agreed to the same price.

So, the 2011 Cuvée Horizon is gone but the 2012 is available at the same price. I have not tried the 2012, but I trust Franck’s judgement. 2012 was a good year in the south-west of France and everything about the creation of the wine remained the same. At $16 the bottle, I believe it is also a remarkable value. I will certainly be ordering some for Arthur’s Cellar.

We’ll be taking your orders to the LCBO next Wednesday, April 30^th.

2012 Cuvée Horizon – 13.9% Alc./Vol.                               $16/$96 per six-bottle case

The following commentary is for the 2011 vintage. Franck Léonor says the 2012 is much the same, perhaps not quite as full, but more elegant and also very good.

This wonderful little sipper is made of equal parts Cinsault and Carignan that were hand-picked from vines at least fifteen years old. The bunches were destemmed and the grapes hand-sorted before being gently crushed and entering the fermentation process. The juice 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, a trace of smoke and new leather. It is surprisingly smooth, possessing excellent, pure, fresh fruit and a round structure with very nice, soft tannins. This is a wine that should be kept within easy reaching distance whenever the urge for a glass of satisfying red presents itself. Don’t let the price deter you – this is a great wine for the price. Order some of this little treasure for those thirsty moments.

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.

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

Many thanks and cheers!

Jim, Hélène and Kate

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