We will be taking your orders for ever popular wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils, (featuring their 2012 Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac Blanc – the wonderful white with the impossible name) to the LCBO next Friday, May 9th. Don’t miss this opportunity to acquire the La Garrigue Blanc, the beautiful unoaked Viognier-based 2013 Duché d’Uzès Blanc and three delicious reds. The wines are very well made and represent excellent value.

 We discovered Domaine Chabrier Fils and the ebullient Chabrier brothers, Patrick (at left hosting a riotous Swiss fondue party – the Chabriers also own a vineyard in Switzerland) and Christophe a little over seven years ago thanks to our friend and vinous mentor Christian Esparza. Christian owns a marvelous wine emporium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. From our first visit to their modern winery near Uzès, a beautiful town situated roughly between Avignon and Nîmes near the majestic Roman aqueduct called the Pont du Gard (pictured above), we fell in love with the Chabriers’ big, bold expressive wines.

A Brief History of Domaine Chabrier Fils

Hélène and Patrick in the Chabrier chais

 Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Carignan and Muscat Petits Grains. The Chabriers produce about 4,000 hectolitres of wine each year. Their new winery contains the most modern winemaking equipment and the Chabriers meticulously maintain their vineyards with minimum chemical intervention.

This Offering from Domaine Chabrier Fils

Featuring the always popular 2012 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc, there is also the fruitier, unoaked 2013 Duché d’Uzès Blanc.  And this time we are offering three Chabrier reds – the big 2012 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge, the lively 2013 Duché d’Uzès Rouge and something new, the very yummy 2013 Coteaux du Pont du Gard Rouge Duché d’Uzès Rouge. These wines come in six-bottle cases. 2012 and 2013 were both very good vintages in the Duché d’Uzès region. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Friday, May 9^th.

2013 Duché d’Uzès Blanc – 13.5% Alc./Vol.                                                  $20/$120 case of 6
Over the years, this little beauty has filled up the Chabrier Brothers’ trophy cabinet with countless awards. It is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne and is not oaked. The yield is a low 40 hectolitres per hectare. It is a straw colour with hints of pale green. The nose is filled with peaches, passion fruit, pineapple, smoke, and sage. In the mouth this French-styled white is very fresh, beautifully balanced and surprisingly complex with a gentle finish. It would go wonderfully with any white fish and, as a special treat, with a pélardon de Cévennes (a wonderful goat cheese from the mountains not too far from Uzès). This is an absolutely superb sipper at a most reasonable price. If you would like to sample it first, or at least its predecessor, the 2012, you can do so at Le Sélect Bistro in Toronto; it is one of their house whites. Order this little treasure now.

2012 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Blanc – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $23/$138case of 6
This is one of my very favourite whites and has been a huge of our wine club Members over the years. This truly wonderful white wine is made from 70% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne with an average yield of only 35 hectolitres per hectare. Half of the Viognier was fermented in new oak barrels for twelve months. It is a medium straw colour with an intense nose of almonds, papayas and vanilla with a hint of hyacinths, anise and lavender. In the mouth it is full, buttery and very well balanced with pronounced flavours of stewed apricots and a hint of pineapple. This New World-styled white is elegant, big and long. It would work well as an aperitif, go wonderfully with any shellfish and, as a special treat, be a divine partner with warm goat cheese. Order now – always offered to us on a strict allotment basis - first come, first served.

2013 Duché d’Uzès Rouge – 13.5% Alc./Vol.                                   $19/$114 case of 6
This succulent little red sipper is fashioned from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. It saw no oak. A bright ruby colour with glints of purple, it has aromas of red berries, cassis and vanilla. In the mouth it shows lots of fresh fruit along with mocha and tobacco. It is very well balanced and shows amazing length. It is a simply delightful wine and veritable bargain at this price. Order your little red treasure from the land of Oc now.

2012 Duché d’Uzès “La Garrigue d’Aureillac” Rouge – 13.5% Alc./Vol.                       $23/$138 case of six
A high-end red, it is a blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 5% Carignan – all aged in various types of used oak containers. It is a beautiful purple colour with violet tints. The nose is complex with aromas of plums, myrtle, vanilla and roasted coffee beans. The attack (first impression in the mouth) is silky with smooth, agreeable tannins followed by a symphony of ripe berries, plums, exotic spices and pepper. It lingers in the mouth, is long and elegant and hints of prunes emerge. This is an amazing wine, particularly considering the price. It will go wonderfully with leg of lamb, magret de canard and roast pork. Highly recommended! Try some for yourself and see.

The Chabrier Sampler – (13.5% Alc./Vol.)                                       $21/$126 case of six
What a great way to try several of the fine wines from Domaine Chabrier Fils! You get two bottles of the of the 2012 Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac Blanc and one bottle each the 2013 Duché d’Uzès Blanc, 2012  Duché d’Uzès La Garrigue d’Aureillac Rouge, 2013 Duché d’Uzès and 2013 Coteaux du Pont de Gard Rouge, all in one handy six-pack. Order your Duché d’Uzès treasure trove now.

Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Superb Moulin-À-Vent from Château des Gimarets

We are thrilled to bring you a new winery, Château des Gimarets.  This is not just any old winery (but they have been making wines for over four centuries) but a top producer from what many say is the finest of the ten Beaujolais Cru – Moulin-À-Vent. We are going to feature their absolutely delicious 2011 Tradition that has already won a gold medal at the Concours des Féminalise, Beaune 2013.  In addition, the owners, Eric and Nathalie Boyer have agreed to create a mixed case that will include four different vintages of this remarkable Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. Fasten your seat belts, this terrific stuff!

We would be most rapturous and darn near ecstatic if you would pass this note on to others you think might enjoy some delightful, expressive wines from Uzès (or an extraordinary Moulin-À-Vent).

Many thanks and cheers!

Jim, Hélène and Kate

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