Our good friend Jean-Jacques Sabon

We are taking your orders for the superb 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape and Lirac as well as the easy sipping 2008 Rhône By Roger Sabon to the LCBO on Friday, August 21^st. Who knows when we will be able to offer you such great wines from such an outstanding vintage from such a fine vintner again! Don’t miss these ones if you love great wine from the southern Rhône. Sometimes, everything comes together and the result in something truly wonderful. This is what we find with the 2007 Lirac and Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine Roger Sabon (see ‘Selections’ for some background on this fabled winery).

The 2007 vintage in Southern France was wonderful. Here is what Robert M. Parker (Wine Advocate Issue 179) said about it, “Throughout the southern Rhône, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region. I think of 2007 as a hypothetical blend of an opulent, powerful, sumptuous year such as 1990, and a cooler draught vintage such as 2001. The cool weather and the remarkable three weeks of Mistral in September that concentrated the grapes without any spikes of high heat appears to have given the 2007s an aromatic dimension and freshness that I have rarely witnessed. Combine that with wines that are substantial, powerful, and relatively high in alcohol, with super depth of fruit! These are very aromatic wines of great concentration, freshness, laser-like focus, and amazing purity as well as depth. It is the vintage of my lifetime for this region, and I don’t say that lightly.”

The Domaine Roger Sabon Wines on Offer

We are delighted to offer you the 2008 Rhône By Roger Sabon, the 2007 Lirac “Chapelle de Maillac, the 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Olivets and the 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape Réserve. Each comes in a six-bottle case.

2008 Rhône By Roger Sabon - 13.5% Alc. by Vol.                                   $20/$120 case
I have to admit that I didn’t think too much of this wine when I first tried it a couple of months ago. It had just been bottled and we had had it flown over for a special tasting. I won’t scare you with my tasting notes - suffice it to say it did not perform well. Could the fact that it had just been bottled and subjected to a most arduous series of international flights have caused our disappointment? Could it possibly recover with some time in the cellar? In a word … sorta!

We tried it again a couple of weeks ago and you would never have known it was the same wine. The colour had deepened into a bright ruby. Where there was virtually no aroma before, it showed a lovely nose of red fruit (strawberries) with hints of leather and candied cherries. But what a surprise in the mouth! It was very pleasant - delicate actually with the cherries persisting accompanied by plums, a bit of pepper and exotic spices. It was not like a classic Côtes du Rhône but more like (dare I say it?) … a Beaujolais. This is a very nice, feminine, light wine that will not disappoint. It is made from 8o% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault and was aged in oak foudres for about five months. I will be acquiring a couple of cases to go with roast chicken, pork roasts and everyday sipping. Won’t you Join me?

2007 Lirac “Chapelle de Maillac” - 15.0% Alc. By Vol.                            $28/$168 case
The “Chapelle de Maillac” is made from 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. It is aged in oak foudres for about six months.

Robert Parker notes that Domaine Roger Sabon is one of only five “Excellent” Lirac producers. He goes on to say, “A sleepy village next to Tavel, Lirac appears to be emerging from the shadows of oblivion. More and more of the top estates are producing better and better wines.” My notes … magenta in colour, an awesome nose of sweet raspberries and perfume and a hint of pepper, amazing, wonderful in the mouth, very long with a beautiful smooth tannic structure. Limited availability, great stuff. Please order now. 

2007 Châteauneuf du Pape “Les Olivets” - 14.5% Alc. by Vol.              $46/$276 case
“Les Olivets” comes from an 8.5 ha. plot of vines averaging 40 to 60 years of age. It is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault and is aged in oak foudres for six to eight months.

Robert Parker - “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Olivets is Provencal, displaying notes of roasted herbs, licorice, sweet black cherries, and pepper. Filled with seductive fruit and glycerine as well as a heady, long finish, it should be enjoyed over the next 10 to 12 years. Rating: 90-92/100.”

I think Mr. Parker has under-valued this wine. I have tried it twice from the casks (assembled) and found it to be simply wonderful. I didn’t pick up much licorice, but I did find a delightful note of pomegranate in both the nose and mouth. Parker said, “seductive fruit and glycerine”. My notes say, “sweet, luscious fruit.” No matter how you say it, this is one amazing wine for the price. Get yours now.

2007 Châteauneuf du Pape “Réserve” - 14.5% Alc. by Vol.                   $55/$330 case
“Réserve” comes from a small 3 ha. piece of land with vines averaging sixty to seventy-five years of age. It is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault and is aged for twelve months in oak barrels ranging from two to four years of age.

Robert Parker - “The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Châteauneuf Reserve is one of the finest yet made by the Sabons. With notes of  root vegetables, figs, tobacco leaf, roasted meats, kirsch liquor, and black currants, this is a broad, deep substantial, long heady Chateauneuf that should evolve for fifteen or more years. Rating: 90-93/100.”    

Steven Tanzer (International Wine Cellar) - “Ruby red. Intensely floral scents of raspberry, lavender, magnolia and garrigue. Palate-coating red berry flavours are firmed by juicy acidity and complicated with smoky herbs and a sweet floral pastille quality. Finishes broad and precise, with supple tannins and considerable depth. This is one for the cellar. Rating: 92-95/100.” Order a classic Châteauneuf du Pape now.

Please note that there is a $1 per bottle handing fee included in the above prices.

There is still room for four more guests at our Bodega Restaurant food and wine pairing dinner on Thursday, August 20th with Charles Pacaud of Domaine La Croix Chaptal. It should be a most memorable evening! Here are all the details.

Hélène still has two outstanding bedrooms available for her marvellous O!France visit to Provence for the week of September 5th to 12th. If you are a spur-of-the-moment traveller, the bargains are terrific as is the tour. See the details at www.ofrance.ca and get in touch with Hélène for more information and prices.

If you know any fanciers of superb Châteauneuf, we would appreciate it if you would pass this note on to them.

Cheers!

Jim and Hélène
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca