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It’s time to think of Spring and the return of the robin ... Château Robin that is – the glorious Côtes de Castillon produced by Jérôme Caillé and his family. This time it is the very good 2006 vintage and it is being offered in four formats: 375 ml. (half
bottle or split); 750 ml. (standard); 1,500 ml (magnum), and; 3,000 ml (double magnum, jeroboam or a whole bunch!).
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Jérôme Caillé
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Château Robin is a very old estate that was mentioned in the first edition of Guide Féret in 1874. The average age of the vines is over 40 years. Owned by the Caillé family since 2004, the property has twelve and a half hectares under production in Côtes de Castillon, right beside St-Emilion in the fabled Bordeaux region. Jérôme’s wines have been awarded countless gold medals and wine press citations.
Côtes de Castillon
Robert M. Parker, Jr., has this to say about the Côtes de Castillon in the fourth edition of his book ‘Bordeaux’ –“Now the most fashionable of the satellite appellations (of Bordeaux), the Côtes de Castillon is a hotbed of activity as well as a fertile breeding ground for a bevy of overachievers. Located east of Puisseguin-St-Emilion approximately 25 miles from Bordeaux, the appellation is named after the commune called Castillon-La-Bataille, which commemorates the Battle of Castillon. This 1453 battle marked the conclusion of the Hundred Years’ War when the English Commander, Talbot, died during the defeat of his army.
As one of the older wine making regions in the area, viticultural practices can be traced to Roman times. Appellation status was awarded in 1955 and there has been significantly more interest expressed in the wines as an alternative to the wines of St-Emilion.”
In fact, when he was here hosting some wine dinners, Jérôme would have his guests compare his Château Robin with a Grand Cru St-Emilion of the same vintage costing four times as much. The guests unanimously preferred the Château Robin!
The 2006 Vintage in Bordeaux
The biggest problem with the 2006 Bordeaux vintage is that it came on the heels of the spectacular 2005 vintage. But it is no slouch as pointed out by Mr. Parker in the February 2009 edition of his ‘Wine Advocate’ – “As reported when I first tasted the 2006s from barrel, there are many fine wines, especially from the top terroirs, but also from the over-achieving smaller estates that continue to push the envelope and try to undermine the image that Bordeaux is only about limited, very expensive wines from historic classifications. The best wines in 2006 tend to be very well-balanced and, while some are forward, others require some patience, given their tannic structures. By and large this will not be an exceptionally long-lived vintage, but for the top wines, the longevity will certainly be 15 – 25 years.”
The 2006 Château Robin – 13.5% Alcohol by Volume
This concentrated, rich, powerful but silky and round wine is made from 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is ready to drink now but will cellar nicely for at least another ten years. Here is how the wine was described by ‘Sommeliers International’ in the Number 128 December 2009 edition – “A marvellous, vivid, gleaming ruby colour. On the nose, excellent aromas of black fruit (black currant, blackberry), floral fragrances and lively spicy hints. The palate is supple, tender and smooth. The tannin is clearly perceptible, but supple, melted and warm. Overall it is magnificently well balanced. Incredible length on the finish! A delightful wine.” They awarded the wine five hearts out of five!
This wine is served on Thai Airways business class – Thai Silk. Here’s how they feature it, “You must drink this wine! A pure gem from Bordeaux. Rich, concentrated, powerful, but round, smooth and silky. Château Robin is fine, elegant, balanced and refreshing.”
Now the tough part; which format to select and how many (never enough!!). Generally speaking, the larger the bottle the longer it will age. The small bottles are perfect for those times when one glass for two is enough. Magnums are great for special dinner parties. Jeroboams make a real statement at very special occasions. Note: these prices include a $1 handling fee. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Thursday, February 11.
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Regular 750 ml. bottle
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$27/$162 per case of 6
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Splits 375 ml. bottle
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$16/$192 per case of 12
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Magnums 1,500 ml. bottle *
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$57/$342 per case of 6
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Jeroboam 3,000 ml. bottle
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$145 per bottle in a wooden case
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* If six magnums are too much of a good thing, please get in touch with me – I am sure I will be able to find another Member or two to share a case.
Know any lovers of superb, very well priced Bordeaux? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you would pass this bulletin on to them.
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The cut off dates for Hélène’s O!France (www.ofrance.ca) tours to Provence for the early Fall of 2010 are approaching quickly. Please contact her (hbuisson@ofrance.ca) to make your reservations for a week in paradise. |
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim and Hélène
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
www.arthursellers.com
