The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with Champagne. – Samuel Johnson

Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:

Things are certainly no better at the LCBO, but in a moment of masochistic enthusiasm we are going to give their Private Ordering’s new ordering system a try. After all, many of you have been asking if you are going to be able to get some of the Champagne Forget-Brimont elixirs in time for the year-end festivities. We would hate to deprive you of these wondrously festive bubblies.

Fine Champagne is indeed a wonderful thing and it doesn’t get much better than the superb range of very well-priced, award-winning bubbly produced by Champagne Forget-Brimont. We are bringing back the tried and true favourites – 1er Cru Brut; 1er Cru Extra Brut and 1er Cru Rosé Brut along with the 2005 1er Cru Vintage (Millésime) Champagne. And, for those very special, romantic occasions (when roast beef simply won’t do) we are including the limited production, exotic Grand Cru Rosé.

Champagne Forget-Brimont

When we first got into the wild and wacky wine business ten years ago, the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission would not grant us our agency license unless  we already represented at least one winery in Ontario (Joseph Heller of Catch 22 fame would have loved this dilemma). Champagne Forget-Brimont was one of the brave wineries that first signed on! Since then they have become a real favourite with the members of Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club and have helped us all celebrate countless occasions, special and otherwise.

Michel Forget is the sixth generation Forget to follow the family’s wine-making tradition. Louis Forget created his vineyard at the beginning of the nineteenth century and Eugène established the family label in 1920 (with a production of only a hundred bottles).

The eighteen hectares of Forget-Brimont vineyards are located in the terroirs of the  Montagne de Reims (Mailly-Champagne and  Verzenay - Grand Crus Pinot Noir), Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne (Premier Cru Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay). Michel Forget also buys Grand Cru Chardonnay for blending. Each year over 180,000 bottles leave the Forget cellars to help celebrate victories and assuage defeats for champagne fanciers around the world.

Eva Schubert, Michel Forget et Moi!

No question about it, the Forget-Brimont champagnes are all terrific. As well they should be. First, all the grapes come from premier and grand cru vineyards. They use only cuvées, the first and best juice that flows from the press. The taille, the coarser juice that comes later is sold to others. Michel Forget personally oversees absolutely every aspect of the creation of these meticulously crafted champagnes.

The Champagnes on Offer

We are thrilled to bring back the very popular Champagne Forget-Brimont 1er Cru Rosé Brut. We also have four other delicious Champagnes available along with the ever-popular ‘Champagne Sampler’. All of them contain 12.0 percent alcohol by volume and come in convenient six-bottle cases. The Premier Cru Champagnes contain more than twenty-five percent Grand Cru juice. While drinking very well now, they will develop additional depth and character with an additional year or two in the cellar. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Friday, August 28th.

 Champagne Forget-Brimont 1^er Cru Brut – 12.0% Alc./Vol.          $46/$276 case of 6

Believe me, this is a great wine at a great price. The grape composition is 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay (all Premier and Grand Cru). A pale golden colour with a delicate nose of green apples, white flowers and hazelnuts, it has a very fresh, deep structure and is well-balanced with good length. What a great way to start any party and also a wonderful accompaniment for white meats.

Here’s what Alison Napjus says about it in the December 31, 2012 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “Firm and focused by racy acidity, this is lightly chalky in texture, offering tightly knit flavors of ripe Gala apple, anise, black currant candy, fresh ginger and biscuit. Fine balance. Drink now through 2018. 16,500 cases made. $63 (wow, note the price!!) – 91/100”. Robert Parker rated it a 90!

And, it costs much less than you would pay for regular mass-marketed Champagne. Here are some examples of the prices of ordinary Champagne currently available at the LCBO (not a 1^er Cru in the bunch, let alone one with Grand Cru juice as well):

Ain’t it wonderful when you don’t have to support all those expensive advertising campaigns? Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 1^er Cru Extra Brut - 12.0% Alc./Vol. - $48/$288 case of 6

This is really excellent apéritif Champagne in a delicate and refreshing style. Comprised of 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, (all Premier and Grand Cru grapes) this crystal-clear Champagne possesses delightfully persistent tiny bubbles.  Aromas of white flowers, citrus, pears and honeysuckle carry through in the mouth. It is beautifully fresh and lively with a long finish and would be a special treat with lobster, oysters or caviar. This lovely fizz has earned a Five Star rating from Decanter magazine. Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 1^er Cru Rosé Brut - 12.0% Alc./Vol. - $52/$312 case of 6

This is the Champagne for those most festive occasions. It is also an ideal apéritif. Its rose colour comes from adding red wine from Brouzy to the Forget-Brimont reserve cuvée. The grape composition is 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay (Premier and Grand Cru grapes only!). In the glass, the beautiful light salmon colour provides an ideal backdrop for its steady stream of tiny bubbles.

Alison Napjus has this to say about it in the November 15, 2012 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “This offers lovely balance, a finely detailed texture and delicate acidity that focuses the subtle flavors of ripe plum, wild strawberries, and melon fruit. A hint of almond-tinged financier and mineral notes add complexity. Drink now through 2018. 5,000 cases made. $67 (note, our price is $20 less!!) - 91/100”

At least $25 less than anything comparable at the LCBO, it is a big hit with our Members. Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 2005 Millésime 1^er Cru Brut - 12.0% Alc./Vol. - $61/$366 case of 6

The 2005 Champagne Forget-Brimont Millésime 1^er Cru Brut is a true delight. The grape composition (all from the very good 2005 harvest) is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay (1^er and Grand Cru grapes only!). In the glass, the beautiful luminous golden colour provides an ideal backdrop for its steady stream of tiny bubbles. It has a complex nose of stewed fruits, toasted bread, hazelnuts, almonds and vanilla. A wonderfully mature, round wine with a silky finish it would be perfect with chicken, foie gras or sweetbreads with morels. Order some of this spectacular wine now.

Champagne Forget-Brimont Grand Cru Rosé -12.0% Alc./Vol. -  $63/$378 case of 6

It doesn't get any more festive or refined! This Grand Cru Rosé is made from 76% Grand Cru Pinot Noir and 24% Grand Cru Chardonnay. As one would expect from such classy Champagne, the bubbles are tiny and explosive. It is a beautiful salmon pink colour with a nose of strawberries, apples and raspberries. In the mouth these flavours persist and are joined by notes of black and red currants and citrus fruits. The finish is fresh and elegant. There is a perfect harmony between the richness of the Pinot Noir and the finesse of the Chardonnay. The Grand Cru Rosé Champagne goes well with many, many things, but is best by itself at the start of a serious party. Order your festive potion now.

Champagne Forget-Brimont  Sampler - 12.0% Alc./Vol. - $49/ $294 case of 6

You get two bottles each of the 1er Cru Brut, 1er Cru Extra Brut and 1er Cru Rosé Brut. This is a great way to try these wonderful bubblies. It would also make a great gift for the Champagne fancier. Click here to order.

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.

Champagne Facts

• The AOC Champagne is comprised of 321 communes covering 31,000 hectares; each is classified on a scale from 80 to 100.
• Only 17 communes are rated 100; these are the Grand Cru.
• A further 46 communes are rated between 90 and 99; these are the Premier Cru (fewer than 20% are grand Cru or 1er Cru).
• Champagne can be made from only three grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
• More Pinot Noir is grown in the Champagne region than in Burgundy.

These superb, well-priced Champagnes are just perfect for weddings and other special occasions or for any time one feels like a treat. Know anybody planning a big event or who is a Champagne fancier? If you do, please 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