Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:
The latest shipment from Domaine Roger Sabon has just been released on LCBO.com - the 2020 Le Sabounet, the 2020 Rhône By Roger Sabon and their glorious 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Les Olivets’. Both 2019 and 2020 are excellent but very small vintages in the Southern Rhône.
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 2020 Le Sabounet – 15.0% Alc./Vol. LCBO Product No. 232438 $16.50 the bottle
This overachieving Vin de France, 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!
2020 Rhône By Roger Sabon – 15.0% Alc./Vol. LCBO Product No. 232388 $19.40 the bottle
The 2020 Rhône By Roger Sabon is another Côtes du Rhône success from Domaine Roger Sabon. 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.
2019 Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Les Olivets’ – 16.0% Alc./Vol. LCBO Product No. 232412 $47.05 the bottle
-This seductive beauty is made form 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Cinsault from vines averaging 50 years of age. A bright ruby colour with aromas of ripe black cherries, blueberries, raspberries and exotic spices, it is forward and supple. It is a full-bodied, silky textured wine, finishing warm and lush. Very limited production. Needs decanting at present and will last at least a decade. Quite the Châteauneuf du Pape bargain..
Also Available at LCBO.com 2018 ‘Les Notes de Louis’ Côtes du Rhône – 15.8% Alc./Vol. LCBO Product No. 790873 $17.80 the bottle
-This glorious Côte du Rhône is made from almost 100% Grenache - and the Giulianis are very, very talented Grenache growers. This robust beauty is a brilliant ruby colour and exhibits a pronounced, lively nose of raspberries, plums and cherries. In the mouth these persist, accompanied by black currents and hints of pepper and licorice. It is big and wonderfully round and supple with silky tannins and surprising length. This stunner will go marvellously with savoury tarts and grilled meats, in other words, perfect for the BBQ. While drinking brilliantly well now (I’d decant a couple of hours before enjoying), it will keep nicely for at least three or four years. This is terrific stuff and a fine price
2019 Vacqueyras Rouge – 15.0% Alc./Vol. LCBO Product No. 112788 $30.90 the bottle
This gorgeous, medium-bodied wine is made from 75% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre and 9% Syrah, hand-picked from vines that average 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 (but needs rigorous decanting) and will continue be so for another eight to ten years. Just 2 orphaned bottles remain
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 That Château in the Luberon. 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.
