Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:
We are also featuring their 2012 Château de Bois de la Garde Côtes du Rhône, the very good 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape from the Château des Fines Roches and Château Jas de Bressy vineyards and are bringing back the outstanding, premium 2010 Cuvées Fines Roches Châteauneuf du Pape rouge. And, as if that wasn’t enough, we have a couple of special treats – a delightful 2014 Bois de la Garde Rosé and a mixed case sampler containing two bottles each of the featured red Châteauneuf du Pape. Wines from the Southern Rhône don’t get much better than these.
Vignobles Mousset-Barrot
Vignobles Mousset-Barrot is comprised of three distinct properties – Château des Fines Roches, Château du Bois de la Garde and Château Jas de Bressy. Catherine Mousset-Barrot inherited the first two over thirty years ago from her father Louis Mousset who originally acquired them in the thirties. Catherine’s husband, Robert Barrot who manages the properties is ably assisted by their daughters Gaëlle and Amélie and Gaëlle’s husband Frédéric Maillet. In 2003 the family acquired Château Jas de Bressy because of its proximity to Château des Fines Roches and for its very old vines.
Take a look at the map to the right, particularly the location of Château du Bois de la Garde in relation to the road just to the left of it. That road, D907 determines what can and cannot be designated as Châteauneuf du Pape. Unfortunately for VM-B, but most fortunately for us, Château du Bois de la Garde is on the wrong side of the road. The Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages produced there are very, very good.
The ‘Wine Spectator had this to say about the 2012 vintage in the Southern Rhône – ‘Analysis: While most of France's major wine regions struggled in 2012, the Rhône stands apart. Vintners are positive after a growing season and harvest marked by dry, sunny weather and well-timed rains. “By end of August some spots were starting to show water deprivation. But a little rain at the beginning of September allowed the ripening process to conclude its course and harvest started at a normal, or maybe a tad late date,” said Michel Gassier, whose Château de Nages in Côstières de Nîmes produces a range of excellent value red and whites. Rhône vignerons have grown accustomed to a pattern of late harvests that stretch into October with good weather, allowing grapes to ripen fully even in tricky weather conditions.’
To give you an idea of how reasonably priced the Vignobles Châteauneuf du Pape are, the current LCBO price per 750 ml bottle of Château de Beaucastel 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape rouge is $89.95
Great Wines from Great Years
Each of the Vignobles Mousset-Barrot wines comes in a six-bottle case, except the magnums which come three to the case. We will be taking your orders for these fine wines to the LCBO on Friday, April 24th.
2014 Château du Bois de la Garde Côtes du Rhône Rosé – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $15 bottle/$90 case of 6 Here is a special treat for those sweltering days of August! Crafted from 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Cinsault and 10% Carignan from vines averaging over fifty years of age. This is a serious Provençal rosé at a wonderful price. Half of the blend is obtained by pressing the grapes directly, as soon as they arrive at the winery; the other half by drawing off juice from the vat (méthode saignée) after 15 hours of maceration. It is an intense salmon colour and offers up delightful aromas of red fruit, primarily raspberries with just a hint of citrus. In the mouth it is rich and well-balanced. Talk about refreshing, this luscious beauty will go wonderfully with summer salads (salade Niçoise), charcuterie, Asian cuisine and a ham and cheese omelette. I am simply going to sip it whilst contemplating the wonders of summer. Order some for your own musings.
2012 Château du Bois de la Garde Côtes du Rhône – 13.5% Alc./Vol. $20 bottle/$120 case of 6 This ready to drink charmer is made from 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Carignan, 5% Cinsault and small amounts of Counoise and Mourvèdre. The vines used to make this expressive Côtes du Rhône average over fifty years of age and the vineyards are just across the road from the Châteauneuf du Pape designated appellation (same soil; just situated on the wrong side of the tracks as it were). It is a medium ruby colour with fresh raspberries, leather, white pepper and just a hint of petroleum on the nose. Unoaked, it displays good balance, is medium to full bodied and has nice round soft tannins. It is quite long. This is a versatile, elegant wine that will go well with most meats and cheese. You can drink it now (decant a couple of hours in advance) or keep it for the next five years or so. Order some of this easy drinking Côtes du Rhône now.
2014 Château Fines Roches Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $42 bottle/$252 case of 6 This classy white is made up of 50% White Grenache, 20% Bourboulenc, 20% Clairette and 10% Roussanne from vines averaging over twenty-five years of age. A clear golden straw colour, it has a nose of pineapples, pears, white flowers, apricots and honey. It is beautifully balanced in the mouth – smooth, rich and harmonious. It would be delicious with grilled fish, white meat such as veal, and young Chèvre. This is a truly lovely white Châteauneuf du Pape that will get even better over the next year or two. You simply won’t find a better white Châteauneuf du Pape at this price. Order your six-pack of pure pleasure now.
2012 Château des Fines Roches Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge - 14.0% Alc./Vol. $40 bottle/$240 case of 6 First rate Châteauneuf from a stellar year for just $40? Rare, but it happens. The 2010 Château des Fines Roches is made from 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault and the rest Muscardin/Counoise from vines averaging over forty years of age. The wine is aged for a year in two to three year old oak barrels. It is a deep ruby and displays aromas of sweet red fruit, exotic spices and a delicate note of vanilla. It is pleasant in the mouth, exhibiting soft, round tannins, medium body and length. This wine can be drunk now, after a few hours in the decanter or in eight to ten years when it will develop aromas of cocoa beans and more vanilla. It would be delightful with game or a coq au vin – and with Black Forest cake or any other chocolate dessert! 90-92 rated by Josh Raynolds (February 2014). Order your delightful Châteauneuf from a very good year now.
2012 Château Jas de Bressy Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge - 14.5% Alc./Vol. $46 bottle/$276 case of 6 This elegant masterpiece is comprised of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre from vines averaging more than eighty years of age. It rest for eighteen months in small, two and three year old oak barrels. A deep red colour, it proffers up aromas of rich red fruit, cocoa, vanilla, a hint of new leather and spices. In the mouth it is well-balanced, silky, elegant, rich and long with a glorious lingering aftertaste. This Southern Rhône marvel will age gracefully for fifteen years or more. If you must have a slurp now, please do decant it several hours in advance of your fit of infanticide. This is a perfect match for game and roast lamb or beef. Rated 89-92 by Jeb Dunnuck (October 2013) and 89-91 by Josh Raynolds (February 2014). Order your most elegant Châteauneuf now.
2010 Cuvée Fines Roches Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge -14% Alc./Vol. $60 bottle/$360 case of 6 The Cuvée Fines Roches is the flagship of the VMB fleet. 2010 was a terrific vintage in southern France and it shows in this big, brooding Châteauneuf du Pape. Made from equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from the best fruit of the forty plus year old vines, it saw twelve months of aging in two and three year old oak barrels and foudres. It is a dark ruby colour and exhibits powerful aromas of exotic spices, red berries and a delicate hint of vanilla on the nose. In the mouth it is full and round with great finesse and structure. The tannins are quite pronounced which indicates good aging potential although it tastes pretty darn good right now after a few hours in the decanter. It would be a delight with any hearty stew or wild game. 92 rated by Jeb Dunnuck in the Rhône Report (Sept 2012). Add some of this wonderful wine to your collection.
Vignobles Mousset-Barrot Rouge Châteauneuf Sampler $49 bottle/$294 case of 6 Thanks to Amélie, we have a wonderful Châteauneuf du Pape Sampler for you – two bottles each of the 2012 Château des Fines Roches, 2012 Château Jas de Bressy and 2010 Cuvée Fines Roches! Order your trio of Châteauneuf charmers now!
Comimg Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Marvellous Moulin- à-Vent from Château des Gimarets
We have always loved the wines from Moulin-à-Vent, acknowledged by many to be the most serious and age worthy of the ten Beaujolais Crus. About a year ago, out of the blue, the folks at Château des Gimarets contacted us to see if we would be interested in representing them in Ontario. We visited with the owners, Eric and Nathalie Boyer last September and assiduously sampled their wares (work, work, work) to make certain the wines were worthy. Man, were they ever! These definitely are not your Uncle Joe’s Beaujolais Nouveau. This will be the second time we have offered these splendid wines and are most excited to do so.
We would really appreciate it if you would pass this bulletin on to anyone you think would be interested in some excellent southern Rhônes and/or in joining 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
