Hélène and Charles Pacaud on les Terrasses du Larzac

Charles Pacaud, who was here last week with his wife Huguette and son Aymeric, has come and gone, but not before leaving his mark on the local wine scene. The dinner he hosted at Bodega was a delicious success and several guests wanted more of his wine! And, after tasting his wines, several restaurant owners have placed orders for his vinous treasures. So, even though we have just finished delivering the last batch of Domaine la Croix Chaptal wine, we are offering them once again at the same discounted prices ... with an additional bonus. The 2005 Clairette Botrytis-affected vin doux was such a hit that we have added it to the list.

As a reminder, the Jan. 31 - Feb. 28, 2009 edition of the Wine Spectator listed two of Charles’ delicious red wines on their ‘Top Values 2008’ list - the 2005 Les Terrasses du Larzac (rated 88) and the 2005 Cuvée Charles (rated 90).

You can read all about Charles and his winery in the November 2006 edition of ‘Selections’. His wines come in convenient six-bottle cases.

2007 Rosé “Les Sigillées” - 12.5% Alc./Vol. $19 per bottle/$114 per case of six
A full-bodied yet subtle rosé made by the saignée method. It is a beautiful vibrant pink and is made from 60% Grenache Gris, 35% Carignan and 5% Syrah. Twenty percent is aged in new oak. Yields are less than 40 hl./ha. This red wine lover’s Rosé has full, rich aromas of strawberries, raspberries and other red fruit along with a hint of citrus which carries through to the nice crisp finish. This is a very serious rosé that will keep for several years and will go well with pork, ham and Oriental dishes. Declared a ‘1er Grand Vin’ and given five stars by Guide Dussert-Gerbert. Latch on to some for the summer months ahead.

2007 Clairette de Languedoc Blanc - Vieilles Vignes - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $20 per bottle/$120 per case of six
Made from old Clairette du Languedoc Blanc, the grapes are all hand-picked and de-stemmed, pressed and left in contact with the skins for a very short time. It receives traditional vinification on its lees (28% in new oak and 72% in stainless steel tanks). Total production is only 8,000 bottles. A full-bodied, fresh and very clean white wine with tantalizing aromas of butter, toasted bread, almonds and citrus fruit. Very smooth, it finishes with a nice citrus aftertaste. It is a great wine to drink alone as an aperitif and will go well with shellfish, fish in white sauce or soft cheeses. It is drinking well now and will evolve to a hazelnut taste in a year or two (it then will go well with white meat accompanied by mushrooms in a white sauce), and later to walnut (then it will go well with a whole range of cheeses). Declared a ‘1er Grand Vin’ and given five stars by Guide Dussert-Gerbert. I love this white! Get it while it lasts!

2005 Les Terrasses du Larzac - 13.0% Alc./Vol. $20 per bottle/$120 per case of six
Like all of Charles' wines, Les Terrasses du Larzac grapes are hand picked. It is made from 55% Grenache, 40% Carignan and the rest Syrah with yields between 35 and 40 Hectolitres per hectare. It undergoes a short aging period on oak. This is a fruity, dark red wine with aromas of cherry and coffee with a touch of spice. Ready to drink now, this little treasure will go well with both white and red meats. The Wine Spectator rates it 88/100; I rate it a terrific value. Order some now.

2005 “Cuvée Charles” Rouge - 13.5% Alc./Vol. $26 per bottle/$156 per case of six
This is a truly great wine from a great year. Made from equal parts Syrah, Carignan and Grenache, it is unfiltered and rested in oak barrels for a full year. The yield is only 32 hectolitres per hectare. It is deep ruby with aromas of raspberries, black berries, wild brush, vanilla, toasted coffee and fine spice. It has elegant, complex tannins and a long, lingering aftertaste. It will age brilliantly for many years. Serve with roasts, game and grilled red meat. ‘1er Grand Vin’ and given five stars by Guide Dussert-Gerbert; the Wine Spectator rates it 90/100. Snag some of what will surely become a collector’s item.

2005 Clairette Botrytis-affected Vin Doux – 15.0% Alc./Vol. $29 per 500ml bottle/$174 per case of six
This delightful dessert wine is made the same way as the sweet wines from Sauternes. ‘Noble Rot’, as the botrytis cinerea mold is called, forms on the grapes of the eighty year old Clairette grapes in late autumn and draws much of the moisture from them leaving a dense, honey-like juice from which this wonderful wine is made. It in fact tastes much like a Sauternes, but not quite as sweet. And, not nearly as expensive; note it comes in 500 ml bottles. Everyone who has tried it loves it. Order your bit of decadence now.

Note: all prices include a $1.00 per bottle handling fee.

Hélène and I are in France from August 28^th to October 1^st sampling the latest vintages and looking after her O! France guests. We will be in touch via e-mail most of the time, so if you would like to contact us, please do!

Please pass this bulletin on to others whom you think might like to take advantage of Charles’ great wines.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim and Hélène
Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
www.arthursellers.com