Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
About Us
Wineries
Wines
Arthur's Cellar
Wine Club
My Shopping Cart
My Order History
My Member Info
My Shares
Join
Order
Delivery Status
Tell a Friend
Friends of Arthur's Cellar
Contact Us

Newsletter
Bulletins
Bulletin Detail
Date June 4, 2018 
Title Last Bottles of 2016 ‘Cuvée Esparza’ Now Available 
Attachment  
Bulletin Untitled Page

Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:

The last 54 bottles of the marvelous 2016 ‘Cuvée Esparza’ Côtes du Rhône from Domaine Palon have just been posted on LCBO.com. This is much more like a big, powerful Vacqueyras than a Côtes du Rhône! When they’re gone, they’re all gone for this year. Please let me know if you would like me to order for you; just tell me what you would like and to which LCBO store you would like your order sent.


2016 Côtes du Rhône ‘Cuvée Esparza’ – Domaine Palon – 16.0% Alc./Vol.  LCBO Product No. 479369    $20.90 per bottle
http://www.arthursellers.com/images/order_button.png
This is an excellent Côtes-du-Rhone from a great year. Yes, that alcohol content at 16% is correct. This is a bit of a monster. It is comprised of 69% Grenache, 16% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, all hand-picked and hand-sorted from the Palon’s five acres of vineyards in Vacqueyras. The yield was only 15 hl/ha! It is a dark and lustrous ruby red with hints of violet. The nose is of pronounced aromas of ripe cherries, plums, black currants, garrigue (the fragrant underbrush of Southern France), smoke, new leather, cassis and a hint of pepper. In the mouth it is very big, round and satisfying with delicate tannins and good length. Served slightly chilled (16°-17°C), it will go splendidly with roasts, grilled meats and medium cheeses. It will keep for three to five years.


A few of the following Palon 2016 treasures also remain:

2016 Vacqueyras ‘Blanc du Bary’ – Domaine Palon - 13.5% Alc./Vol.  LCBO Product No. 479385    $28.75 per bottle
http://www.arthursellers.com/images/order_button.png
Crafted from 80% Clairette and 20% Grenache Blanc, all hand-picked from vines averaging more than forty-five years of age. The yield was but 13 hl/ha! It has seen some new oak, but not too much. It is a clear, bright yellow-gold colour with a vibrant nose of grilled almonds, peaches, pears, honeysuckle, vanilla, exotic spices, toast and minerals. It is very smooth and extremely well balanced – lots of fruit offset by a gorgeous acidity. It is fresh, complex and rich with wonderful flavours of peaches and pears. It would be perfect, served at about 8°C, with oysters, other shell fish, fish, goat cheese and rich poultry dishes. Meant to be drunk young.


2016 Vacqueyras Rouge – 15.0% Alc./Vol.  LCBO Product No. 479377     $29.95 per bottle
http://www.arthursellers.com/images/order_button.png
This gorgeous, medium-bodied wine is made from 75% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre and 9% Syrah, hand-picked from vines averaging more than forty-five years of age. The Mourvèdre and Syrah were aged in large oak casks for twelve months. It is a deep, pure garnet with complex aromas of plums, prunes, raspberries, black cherries, currants, new leather, Provençal spices with a note of black pepper and cloves. In the mouth it is fresh and lively with surprising complexity and excellent balance. And, oh those delicate, silky Palon tannins. This wine has lots of character, depth and substance and will go beautifully with roasted fowl and charcuterie. This lovely concoction is a real pleasure to drink right now and will continue to be so for another eight to ten years.


2016 Gigondas Rouge – 15.0% Alc./Vol.    LCBO Product No. 479393     $32.95 per bottle
http://www.arthursellers.com/images/order_button.png

This elegant Gigondas is made from 79% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 6% Mourvèdre hand-picked from seven hectares of vines averaging well over fifty years of age. The Syrah and Mourvèdre are aged for twelve months in new oak casks. It is a pure purple with a lustrous sheen and offers up pronounced aromas of blackberries, black cherry jam, pepper, roasted coffee beans, garrigue, pepper, clove and licorice. It is surprisingly big and velvety in the mouth with gentle tannins and a long, perfumed finish. I’d like to see another six months to a year on it to get everything in proper balance. Served just below room temperature, this most impressive wine will go perfectly with magrets de canard, wild game, roasts and medium cheeses. I’d decant it for at least an hour before drinking. It will cellar well for ten to fifteen years.

                       

It would be really spiffy if you would pass this note on to anyone you think might be interested in some very, very good 2016 Southern Rhônes.

Many thanks and cheers!

Jim, Hélène and Kate

www.arthursellers.com
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
www.ofrance.ca
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
kwalker@arthursellers.com