Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:

The 48 bottles of the delicious 2016 Rhône By Roger Sabon that the LCBO placed in their LCBO.com inventory were snapped up in less than 24 hours. Thank you.

I have requested that many more bottles be transferred from their other warehouse a mere 500 meters away to replenish the LCBO.com larder. Who knows how long that will take, but I will notify you once it has been accomplished. Many, many thanks for your patience and understanding.

2016 Rhône By Roger Sabon – 14.5% Alc./Vol.               $20.45 per bottle   LCBO Product No. 379379

The 2016 Rhône By Roger Sabon is a truly superb Côtes du Rhône. It is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault. The grapes were destemmed and hand sorted. It is a brick red colour with pure aromas of raspberries, ripe cherries, smoked meat, Provençal spices and minerals. It is well-balanced with silky tannins and lots of red and black fruit flavours – it is very elegant! Medium to full-bodied, it will go perfectly with grilled meats, barbeques and charcuterie. It is ready to drink now and will hold beautifully for another four to five years. If you are in the Toronto area you can try this fine wine at Le Sélect Bistro.

Domaine Roger Sabon Châteauneuf du Pape Also Available

A few bottles of the superb 2016 ‘Renaissance’ white and the magnificent 2015 ‘Réserve’ red Châteauneuf du Pape remain available at LCBO.com. Grab some before they’re gone:

2016 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc ‘Renaissance’ – 14.0% Alc./Vol.    $53.60 per bottle       LCBO Product No. 466259

Made from 50% Roussanne and completed with Clairette, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc, this beauty offers up aromas of honeysuckle, pears, peaches and fresh flowers that seem to leap from the glass. It is a full-bodied stunner, crisp, clean, subtle and elegant that sees no oak. This wine is meant to be drunk young – over the next year or two. If you like white Châteauneuf du Pape, you’ll love the 2016 ‘Renaissance’ from Domaine Roger Sabon. It simply doesn’t get much better than this.

2015 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Réserve’ – 14.5% Alc./Vol.  $57.95 per bottle LCBO Product No.: 466283

“Made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre (with vines averaging sixty-five to eighty years of age), the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Réserve comes from two terroirs: la Crau and la Grenade. It’s aged 60% in foudre and the rest in larger oak tanks. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannic structure, it has lots of scorched earth, darker berry fruits, smoked herbs and licorice aromas and flavors. It’s not a massive wine, but it shines for its purity and length.” (93 – 95/100) Jeb Dunnuck, ‘The Wine Advocate’ October, 2016

I would give this marvellous Châteauneuf a couple of years before broaching and expect it to evolve wonderfully for the next fifteen years or so.

Please pass this note on to anyone you think would enjoy some absolutely terrific Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf du Pape from a stellar producer (is there anyone who wouldn’t?).

Cheers!

Jim, Hélène and Kate

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jaswalker@arthursellers.com
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