Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:
Our second shipment of the delightful 2019 Le Sabounet and 2019 Rhône By Roger Sabon have just arrived and we have been able to bring them in at a lower price than the first shipment. The Rhône By Roger Sabon is $18.65 the bottle compared to $19.95 and the Le Sabounet is now only $14.10 versus $15.15. These are real Côtes du Rhône bargains from the very good 2019 vintage. 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 2019 Le Sabounet – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $14.10 the bottle LCBO Product No. 775809
This overachieving Vin de France from Domaine Roger Sabon, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, is an entry-level wine bearing a Mediterranean character with great body and expressive fruit. The grapes were hand-picked and destemmed and vinified in the usual Sabon fashion. It is a pretty deep purple with vibrant aromas of ripe red fruit, garrigue, toast and liquorice. It is harmonious, smooth and delectable and is meant to be consumed in the short-term. A veritable bargain if ever there was one!
2019 Rhône By Roger Sabon – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $18.65 the bottle LCBO Product No. 775684
The 2019 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 and 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.
Domaine Roger Sabon
This estate has been making exceptionally high-quality wines for years, but recent vintages seem to have risen to a new level of quality. Moreover, Sabon’s wines have not yet been discovered by the masses, so prices are surprisingly reasonable. Readers should be also be aware that Roger Sabon produces a very delicious Côtes du Rhône and Lirac from vineyards holding those appellations.”
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 temperatures 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 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
PS: Follow My Vinous Adventures on Gentleman’s Portion
I continue to contribute tales about our experiences in the wild, wacky and wonderful world of wine to a delightful lifestyle blog called Gentleman’s Portion. The latest is titled Wishful Wanderlust. Please join me and my fellow contributors, Nigel Napier-Andrews and David Moorcroft, as we regale you with a good helping of everything great in life.