Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:
There is an LCBO-generated glitch. This Sabon shipment arrived late June and we have been waiting patiently since then to have the wines listed on LCBO.com by the bottle. The 2019 Le Saboulet and Rhône By Roger Sabon have finally reached the single bottle stage, but we are still waiting for the three Châteauneuf du Pape. At the moment they are only available by the 12-bottle case. I will let you know as soon as they are available by the single bottle. The LCBO moves in strange and exceedingly slow ways.
Oh yes, they do not place everything we have ordered in the LCBO.com inventory (due, I am told, to limited warehouse space). So, if the LCBO.com inventory has been depleted, there is likely more available. The problem is that it takes them quite some time to replenish. Should all the inventory really be gone, we have ordered more of the 2019 Le Saboulet and Rhône By Roger Sabon along with some 2019 Lirac By Roger Sabon (it wasn’t ready for the first shipment) which in theory will all be available later in the fall.
Per usual, I’d be pleased to order for you. Just let me know what you would like and to which LCBO store you would like it sent.
The Domaine Roger Sabon Wines on Offer
We are delighted to offer you three Sabon red Châteauneuf du Pape from the 2018 vintage - ‘Les Olivets’, ‘Réserve’ and ‘Prestige’. And, from the 2019 vintage we have Rhône By Roger Sabon along with a new Sabon red, the very well-priced Le Sabounet.
2019 Le Sabounet – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $15.15 the bottle LCBO Product No. 775809
2019 Rhône By Roger Sabon – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $19.95 the bottle LCBO Product No. 775684
2018 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Les Olivets’ – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $ 543.60 case of 12 ($45.30 the bottle) LCBO Product No. 775783
2018 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Réserve’ – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $651.00 case of 12 ($54.25 the bottle) LCBO Product No. 775791
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. Available only in 12-bottle cases at the moment.
2018 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Prestige’ – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $955.20 case of 12 ($79.60 the bottle) LCBO Product No. 775833
Year after year this is my favourite Châteauneuf du Pape from Domaine Roger Sabon. Available only in 12-bottle cases at the moment.
Domaine Roger Sabon came into being in 1952 when the family vineyards were split into three distinct entities (the other two being Domaine Chante-Cigale and Clos Mont Olivet). Robert M. Parker, Jr., who awarded their 1988 vintage a perfect 100 rating, the first Châteauneuf du Pape so honoured, had this to say about Domaine Roger Sabon. “This estate has been at the top of its game for many years and any partisan of Rhône Valley wines (especially the southern Rhône) who has not yet tried a wine from Domaine Roger Sabon should make every effort to do so. They produce four separate Châteauneuf du Pape cuvées at this 42-acre estate run by the large Sabon family, in this case, Jean-Jacques (deceased), Julien, Gilbert and Denis (Note: the helm has been turned over to the succeeding and equally capable generation - Didier Négron, Delphine and Julien Sabon). They own 15 parcels spread throughout the appellation, most of them concentrated in the western and eastern sectors north of the village.
The domaine occupies about seventeen hectares of prime vineyards in some of the best sites of Châteauneuf - Les Cabrières, La Crau, Courthezon and Nalys, and all with "galets roulés" the sizeable white stones that soak up the sun and release the warmth to the vines at night. The vines are a minimum age of 50 years, with some 90-years and older. They are mainly Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, but Muscardin, Terret, Vaccarèse and Counoise are also grown. All of the grapes have been totally destemmed since the 1997 vintage. Fermentation takes place in small cement vats and small stainless steel cuves, with pumping over and a cuvaison that lasts for 20 days at between 30° and 34°. The wine is matured in foudres and used barriques, and receives neither fining nor filtration.
If you know any fanciers of superb Châteauneuf du Pape from a great vintage or lovely Côtes du Rhône, we would really appreciate it if you would pass this note on to them.
Many thanks and cheers!
Jim, Hélène and Kate www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com mhbuisson@gmail.com kwalker@arthursellers.com
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