Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:
We will be bringing your orders for the expressive, well-made wines from Les Vignes du Lys to the LCBO this Friday, May 1st. The 2014 “La Soif” Rosé (one of our favourites) is about to be bottled and along with it we have new vintages of ‘100% Chardonnay’ and Duché d’Uzès Rouge. We are adding another red this time, the charming “La Soif” Rouge and have created a mixed case sampler so you can try them all. These wines are real crowd pleasers – ready to drink and excellent values. We suggest that you load up your cellar with them!
Les Vignes du Lys
Here’s what the very critical French wine press has been saying about Les Lys:
“We have been charmed by the wines. You must come to Blauzac for a tasting but be forewarned; you will stay for more than 30 minutes! ” - Terre de Vins, January 2012
“The renaissance of a vineyard….” - Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve
“A remarkable addition to these pages” - Guide Hachette 2012
The Wines of Les Vignes du Lys
We are delighted to offer the 2014 ‘La Soif’, a perennial favourite Rosé, the beautifully made, crisp 2013 100% Chardonnay, the luscious 2013 Duché d’Uzès Rouge and for the first time, the 2013 “La Soif” Rouge as well as a mixed case sampler of all four. These wines come in handy six-bottle cases. We want to make sure they are here by mid-summer, so have reduced the offer time to just one week. We will be taking your orders for the fine wines of Les Vignes du Lys to the LCBO on Friday, May 1st.
2014 “La Soif” Rosé - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $16/$96 case of 6 “La Soif” (the thirst) is a strange name for a marvellous wine whose primary purpose will be to slake your thirst during the dog days of summer. Made from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from vineyards converted to totally organic farming in 2009, it is a most refreshing, satisfying rosé that is showing lovely red fruit with light citrus nuances and a nice crisp finish. While a fashionably pale salmon colour, this is not weak stuff made from young vines. The Syrah is between twenty-seven and thirty-seven years old and the Grenache is thirty-seven (average yield is only 35 hl./ha.). And, 2014 was a very, very good vintage for these varietals in southern France. This IGP Cévennes comes with a convenient screw cap to preserve its freshness (and make it wonderfully easy to get at!). I love this wine! It will go brilliantly with Asian cuisine, ham and salmon or by itself on a hot summer’s day. Order your thirst-quenching six-pack (or two, or three) of Rosé heaven now!
2013 100% Chardonnay - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of 6 This refreshing beauty is appropriately crafted from 100% Chardonnay plucked from 22 year old vines farmed completely organically since 2009. This is pure drinking pleasure – no oak and minimal filtration. This IGP Cévennes is a vibrant light golden colour and offers up delicious aromas of white blossoms, peaches, pineapples, citrus fruit and just a trace of anise. In the mouth it is fresh, medium bodied, beautifully balanced and crisp. It sports a screw-top – just as it should. This lovely white will go wonderfully with shellfish (particularly fresh oysters), roast chicken and soft cheese. It is also dandy companion for whenever you feel like a wee slurp. Order your sunshine in a bottle now.
2013 “La Soif” Rouge - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $16/$96 case of 6 This is a new addition to our Les Lys line-up and it is a most delightful one. Crafted from Grenache, Syrah and Merlot, this splendid little sipper is a medium ruby colour and offers up lavish aromas of cherries, strawberries, exotic spices and just a trace of new leather. In the mouth it is medium bodied, nicely balanced and very pleasant. This IGP Cévennes is drinking nicely right now and will keep for a couple of years. This is a perfect companion for the barbeque or a big plate of charcuterie! Order your lovely little red now.
2013 Duché d’Uzès Rouge – 14.0% Alc./Vol. $21/$126 case of 6 Any time someone carefully fashions a mixture of Grenache and Syrah in southern France you can bet I want to try it. The Duché d’Uzès Rouge from Les Vignes du Lys does not disappoint. Made from equal parts of these two succulent varietals, it is a deep purple with flashes of ruby red. Finished off with a bit of oak, it offers up lovely aromas of ripe plums, black cherries, blackberries, garrigue and a note of black pepper. In the mouth it is full, round, vibrant, fresh and surprisingly long. This AOC Duché d’Uzès comes with a decent cork and while drinking wonderfully now, it will keep nicely for another five years. This is a big chunk of wine for the money! It will go delightfully with just about anything off the barby, roast leg of lamb (a match made in heaven) or a plate of charcuterie. Order your ready-to-slurp red now.
The Les Lys Sampler – 13% - 14.0% Alc./Vol. $19/$114 case of 6 Why not try all four of the Les Vignes du Lys beauties? You get a bottle each of the 2014 “La Soif” Rosé and the 2013 “La Soif” Rosé and two bottle each of the 2013 100% Chardonnay and 2013 Duché d’Uzès Rouge in this mixed case. Order your six-pack of ready-to-quaff pleasure now.
Coming 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.
Should you know anyone who would like to try some terrific wines from the Duché d’Uzès, we would be delighted, nay veritably thrilled if you would pass this note on to them.
Many thanks and cheers!
Jim, Hélène and Kate www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.ofrance.ca hbuisson@ofrance.ca kwalker@arthursellers.com
