Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
We will be bringing your orders for the 2010 Château Valade, 2010 L’Etendard de Château Valade and 2010 Château Brisson to the LCBO on Monday, August 18th. If you enjoy fine Bordeaux, you’ll really love these beauties.
Les Vignobles Valade
The Valades have a well-earned reputation for being masters of Merlot. They know absolutely everything there is to know about their vineyards, right down to the individual vines in their 30 hectares on the hillsides of Côtes du Castillon and 3.5 hectares on the slopes of St-Émilion. The family personally looks after every aspect of vineyard maintenance and wine production to ensure that the wines they offer are truly outstanding. The vines are trained by high trellises where disbudding, leaf thinning, green harvesting (thinning the bunches) and ultimately harvesting are all done by hand. Yields are kept low and are strictly managed and everything possible is done to enhance the biodiversity of the soil.
The 2010 Vintage in Saint-Émilion
The ‘Wine Spectator’ rates the 2010 vintage in Saint-Émilion at 98/100, a classic.
Robert Parker adds, “This (the 2010 vintage in Bordeaux) is clearly another very great vintage in Bordeaux. When I first discussed the wines, I didn’t think it exceeded in overall quality the Bordeaux that was produced in 2009, 2005 or perhaps even 2000, but I think it is safe to say that, other than the 2009, this vintage has turned out slightly better than 2000 and is as impressive as 2005.”
The Les Vignobles Valade Wines on Offer
A couple of notes of caution – first these are not your father’s St-Émilions and second, I do hope you have a cellar and can keep your cotton pickin’ fingers off them for at least a couple of years, preferably more. Both of these wines are huge, full-bodied, fruit forward and complex mouthfuls that really should have a few years of rest before assaulting. But I can assure you that these superbly well made wines will reward you many times over for your patience and self-control. The Château Brisson is a similar story – patience will pay dividends for sure.
2010 Château Valade - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $51/$306 case of six This is a really wonderful wine. It is comprised of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc rigorously selected from the estate’s best plots of vines averaging well over twenty-five years of age. The wine is neither filtered nor fined and is aged in oak barrels (80% new and 20% one year-old) for twelve months. It is a dark plum colour, almost inky with a huge, almost hyper-concentrated nose of stewed plums and black currents, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, forest floor, wet stones, mint and vanilla. It all carries through in the mouth with lovely, silky tannins - big, round and very long. This very well-made wine clearly illustrates the wine maker’s mastery of oak. Remember, it is in its infancy and really should be hidden away for three, preferably five years. If the temptation to try a bottle is too much, decant it in the morning for the evening’s meal. It will be a perfect match for confit de canard and game. Only 8,000 bottles were made. Order your St-Émilion Grand Cru treasures now.
2010 Château Brisson – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $27/$162 case of six The delicious, stylish 2010 Château Brisson was made from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines averaging well over thirty years of age. After a traditional vinification, this Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux was aged for 12 months in oak (30% new). The wine was racked every three months and fined with egg whites. It is a dense plum colour and offers up an intense nose of raspberries, strawberries, black currants, exotic spices, vanilla and a trace of wet pebbles. In the mouth it is medium-bodied, well-balanced, elegant, supple, complex and long. A fine match for rare steaks or roast beef, this absolutely delightful quaff needs a couple of hours in a decanter before broaching, if you must drink it now. It will keep very nicely for at least five years and likely more.
"Floral nose with nice red fruit like raspberries and crushed strawberries. Some cocoa powder and vanilla. Sweet refined fruit on the palate with good body and a beautiful texture. Long and elegant with a beautiful juicy acidity. Beautiful depth of fruit." Reviewed by: James Suckling - 92pts. Order your superb Bordeaux bargain now!
2010 Château Valade Sampler – 14.5% Alc./Vol. $37/$222 case of six This is a great way to sample each of the Valades’ superb, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux wines. You receive two bottles of the luscious 2010 Château Valade, two bottles of the delightful 2010 L’Etendard de Château Valade and two bottles of the wonderful 2010 Château Brisson. Great wine, great vintage, great value. Order your most yummy Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux mixed six-pack now.
Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – All Sorts of Fine Bubbly from Champagne Forget-Brimont
Six different 1er Cru and Grand Cru Champagnes plus a Sampler of all six from Champagne Forget-Brimont, a true artisan vintner. And, two of them, the 1er Cru Brut and Rosé Brut are presented in three formats – half bottles, regular bottles and magnums. They’ll be here well before the Christmas holidays. It is important to note that they can be consumed when any important occasion arises – like when you are thirsty. You will not find finer Champagne, particularly at these prices!
Know anyone who might enjoy some exciting wines from the Bordeaux region? If you do, please pass this note on and invite them to join the tipplers at Arthur’s Cellar 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
