Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
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.
Rating the Recent Vintages in the Southern Rhône
Great Wines from Great Years
Each of these three superb Vignobles Mousset-Barrot wines comes in a six-bottle case. We will be taking your orders for these fine wines to the LCBO on Friday, October 16th.
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. Members who ordered it on our last offering adore it. 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.
2010 Château Fines Roches Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge - 14.5% Alc./Vol. $39 bottle/$234 case of 6
First rate Châteauneuf for well under $40? Rare, but it happens. The 2010 Château des Fines Roches is made of equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from forty year old vines. The wine was 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! One of Decanter magazine’s top three Châteauneuf du Pape of the 2010 vintage, which Robert M. Parker, Jr. describes as the finest Southern Rhône vintage he has ever tasted! Hélène’s guests on her 2015 Tour de Provence simply loved it. Order your excellent, amazingly priced Châteauneuf from a great year 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.
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.
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
