C264-QC

Order between January 18 and February 22, 2019

Ordering Made Easy

1. Select Your Wines

Let yourself be inspired by our detailed descriptions or use your personal wine profile to find out which wines best suit your palate. Our custom chart also features a variety of symbols (explained below) that can guide your selection.

Legend

Grape variety Red White Rosé

Sparkling

Bottle size

Number of bottles in case

Aroma

Taste

Serving temperature

Ideal with Evolution

Drink this year

Will develop, drink within 2 years

Meant for cellaring

Concentration

Light

Medium

Great Oak Light

Medium

Heavy

Limited quantities

Limited

Very limited

Extremely limited

Less than 100 cases available

Members’ Choice

Most ordered by Opimian members

Opimian Suggests Starting a cellar

Medal Winner

Discovery

Opimian Discovery 2018

C255

Select Plus

Opimian Select Plus 2018

C255

M—Degree of Maturity (1-10)

M1 = lay down

M10 = fully mature

d—Degree of Drinkability (1-10)

D1 = needs time

D10 = ready to drink

Still unsure which wines to order? Opimian’s Wine Concierge is always available to help you make an informed choice. Contact our Wine Concierge at 1-800-361-9421 or by email at Concierge@Opimian.ca.

2. Place Your Order

There are five ways to order

• Online: Go to Opimian.ca, sign in and select Order Now

• Email MemberService@Opimian.ca with your selection.

• Call 1-800-361-9421

• Fax your order to 514-481-9699

• Mail your order*

3. let Us handle the rest

The wines featured on this Cellar Offering are still at the producers’ wineries when you order them so it is normal that the process takes a bit of time and effort on our side.

Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry to liquor board and processing time required by each liquor board. For this cellar offering, the expected release date is end of July 2019

Once the wine arrives at your local liquor store or distribution centre, you will receive a Pick Up Notice with the specified date (the Release Date) and your pick up location. You can follow the status of your shipment at all times at Opimian.ca.

Conditions of Purchase

• Accepted payment methods: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or cheque payable to Opimian.

• Prices include all applicable federal and provincial mark ups and taxes.

• A valid membership card is required to order and pick up.

• Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum required.

• Last day to order from this Cellar Offering: February 22, 2019 Important: no orders will be processed after this deadline.

* Deadline for mailing orders: February 12, 2019. Please allow 10 days for delivery by Canada Post.

Notes (as required by the SaQ’s operating procedures)

• A member ordering from this Cellar Offering requests that Opimian acts as the member’s agent in ordering the wines from the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ) and requests that Opimian remits the funds enclosed (minus any administration fees) to the SAQ to pay for the wines ordered.

• The prices as shown are the estimated costs to be charged by the SAQ plus an administration fee and consolidation charges.

Sweetness scale Grams/litre Examples

[00] 0 - 3

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, many reds

[01] 4 - 6 Some New World varietals, some reds

[02] 7 - 12 Champagne, Sparkling, Rosés, few reds

[03] 13 - 20 Mosel, some Alsace, Anjou

[04] 21 - 34 Semi-sweet Bordeaux, some sherry

[05] 35 - 50 Kabinett German, Late Harvest, Alsace

[06] 51 - 74 Spätlese German, Sweet Loire, Port, Dessert Muscat

[07] 75 - 100 Auslese, Beerenauslese

[08] 101 - 139 Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port

[09] 140 - 179 Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port

[10] 180 > Speciality sweet wines, Trockenbeerenauslese

Cellar 264

Chile and Argentina

Argentina and Chile rank first and second in terms of wine production in South America. Both have a history of winemaking that dates back to the 16th century. These two neighbouring countries are separated by the Andes – the world’s longest mountain range, running 4,500 miles. Its highest peak, Mount Aconcagua, rises to 6,962 metres and dominates Argentina’s Mendoza Province.

Chile is a long thin strip of a country, with its natural boundaries consisting of the Andes to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and a lower coastal range of mountains in between. To the north lies the Atacama Desert, and the Patagonian Lake District to the south. Traditionally, vine growing was done in the Central Valley, south of Santiago. Since the 1990s, winemakers have been clamouring for increasingly more marginal and extreme regions to develop.

Argentinian wine production is focused around its western boundary on the eastern slopes of the Andes, much of it in Mendoza Province. Wine is very much a part of Argentinian culture. I too have seen a drive to raise the bar by producing wines with distinction and personality.

Chile Argentina

Opimian’s Wine Consultant Jane Masters MW, tastes, selects and writes the commentary for each of the wines in the cellar offerings. Celebrating her 21st year as a Master of Wine this year (one of 380 globally), Jane held the position of Chairman of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine 2016-2018. Having trained as a winemaker at the Institut d’Oenologie in Bordeaux after a degree in Biological Chemistry, Jane worked for UK retailer Marks & Spencer running the Wine & Drinks Category for many years. As an independent consultant Jane is constantly on the look out for exclusive wines from around the world for Opimian members. She regularly visits wine regions and meets producers and loves to share her passion and knowledge.

Casablanca Valley Villard Fine Wines

Chile’s viticultural landscape has changed dramatically since Frenchman Thierry Villard established his vineyard in Casablanca in 1989. One of the coolest wine regions in Chile due to the maritime influence, Casablanca’s first experimental 20-hectare plot was only planted in 1982. It is difficult to imagine that when Thierry saw the potential in Casablanca to produce premium wines he was out on a limb. Now the region is widely recognized as one of Chile’s best. But Thierry has always been an intrepid adventurer and entrepreneur.

His life story is extraordinary: after getting married in 1972, he bought a Volkswagen Beetle in Paris to drive to Kabul in Afghanistan but had to sell it, as the border between Pakistan and India had closed due to conflict between the two countries. Nevertheless, he and his wife continued their journey on public transport to Singapore, and boarded a boat to Perth in Australia, where he started making wines. Villard Fine Wines are now made by Thierry’s son Jean-Charles (aka Charlie) with Thierry still very much involved.

“We are not a wine company, we are a family winery.“

After the difficult 2017 vintage, 2018 was a welcome relief, although not without its own climatic peculiarities. A hot spell mid-summer stopped vegetative growth, and was followed by nice warm conditions during ripening, leading to an extremely late and long harvest. Charlie’s Expresión Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is very pale with subtle aromas of green apples, lime pickle and mineral wet stone notes. The palate is light with a good crisp natural acidity and more flavours of lime and passion fruit emerging. An elegant, flavoursome and refreshing wine.

2019-2020, M8 D9

Green apples, wet stone, lime pickle 6°C

limey, passion fruit, [00]

Seared scallops in a brown butter sauce

A deliciously restrained and multi-dimensional Chardonnay – this wine blew me away, given its price. It is mellow and complex with aromas of vanilla toast, lemon and lime. It is medium bodied and smooth with intense fruit and creamy flavours balanced with a good acidity and lingering lemon citrus finish. Eight percent of the wine was matured in barrels for nine months with regular lees stirring, 42% was put into new French oak vats for three months and the remaining 50% was kept in stainless steel tanks.

Not only was the 2017 harvest small due to the hot dry summer, but Villard Estate was plagued by rabbits that year. The long-eared pests stripped the bark from vines in order to get at the sap to quench their thirst. Sadly, the result was the loss of six hectares of vineyards. The good news is that the wines are delicious. Expresión Reserve Syrah 2017 is deeply coloured and intensely aromatic with red and dark cooked forest fruits, fresh crushed blackberries and some vanilla. It is smooth with a vibrant acidity, producing a lively and fresh wine with flavours of red cherries and raspberries. Various lots of Syrah were picked by hand and vinified in small tanks with an average of seven days of maceration at cool temperature prior to fermentation. It was matured for nine months in oak with 70% French and 30% American.

lemon, lime, complex, [00]

The Casablanca Valley is best known for its crisp white wines.

1132 lE c hardonnay g rand v in, c asa B lanca vall E y, 2017

Chardonnay $ 36.00 $ 216.00 1131

Expr E sión rE s E rv E p inot n oir, c asa B lanca vall E y, 2017

$ 28.00 $ 168.00

Try Le Chardonnay Grand Vin!

The warm summer conditions in 2017 have produced a less Burgundian style of Pinot Noir. It has intense red berry fruits, red cherries and redcurrants. On the palate, it is light to medium bodied, smooth and easy-drinking with flavours of blackcurrant cordial and a warm finish. Expresión Reserve Pinot Noir is ready for early drinking. After a seven-day cold maceration and fermentation with regular pigeage and remontage, 10% of the wine was aged in barrels for nine months.

Golden yellow in colour, Le Chardonnay Grand Vin 2017 has aromas of passion fruit, lemon curd and toast. On the palate, flavours of ripe fruits, cooked lemons, quince, white peaches and toast emerge. The flavours continue to linger, complemented by a crisp citrus finish. 60% of the grapes were fermented in French oak barrels with 10% undergoing malolactic fermentation in barrel. The wine remained in barrel for eight and a half months with regular “bâtonnage”. The other 40% was matured in a new French oak tank. The oak is present in a complementary rather than dominating way, apparent yet not distracting, and producing a delightfully ripe style but not overtly buttery or oaky.

Herb-crusted halibut with minted sweet pea

Paine, Maipo Valley Antiyal chile

In the world of biodynamic viticulture and winemaking, the founder of Antiyal, Alvaro Espinoza, is a rock star. Biodynamic viticulture incorporates astrological considerations and natural treatments in the vineyard, hence Antiyal is aptly named with a native Mapuche word, meaning “sons of the sun”. Alvaro is one of the most knowledgeable and practical practitioners of biodynamics and is a consultant to estates across South America. He founded Antiyal with his wife Marina in 1996 and they produced their first wines in 1998. The farm in Maipo Valley is self-sufficient, producing biodynamic composts and treatments, with animals to provide manure and crops grown for animal feed. Alvaro’s wines always have a vibrancy to them with succulent fruits complemented by a savoury complexity and great balance. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year provided a good excuse to open some bottles from the first vintage in 1998, which showed they also have longevity.

“At Antiyal we tend to the plant vigour row by row by using very little irrigation and canopy management.“

2019-2029, M6 D9

Mellow, ripe cherries, cooked blackcurrant, wild herbs 18°C

Pura Fe Carmenere is deep in colour, with a mix of ripe dark fruits, blueberries and black cherry jam. It is fine in texture with a supple mid palate and flavours of red and black cherries. Succulent fruits lead to a juicy acidity and a long bitter cherry finish. Produced from Carmenère, grapes were harvested by hand between April 12 and 24 and fermented by natural yeasts. It was matured in French oak using a combination of old barrels. Yields in 2017 were up to 40% lower than the norm, with hot temperatures during January and February. This was offset by some rains in December and January, a rare event for the Maipo Valley.

2019-2028, M6 D8

Blueberries, black cherry jam 18°C

Red and black cherries, bitter cherry

Chicken mole and Mexican corn chutney

Vanilla cream, bitter chocolate and cherry

Green peppercorn-crusted grilled striploin with sautéed mushrooms and pearl onions

Maipo Valley is one of the best regions in Chile for growing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Antiyal is based at Paine, directly south of the capital Santiago, where vines are planted on deep alluvial and colluvial soils of basaltic origin with medium to low fertility. Pura Fe Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is more supple than Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Bordeaux. It is a really classy wine. Refined with ripe mellow cherry, wild herbs and vanilla cream aromas, Pura Fe Cabernet Sauvignon is medium bodied with a smooth mid palate and fine texture, and a juicy acidity leading to extremely persistent flavours of bitter chocolate and bitter cherries. Delicious now, it will develop for another ten years. It was matured for 12 months in French oak with 10% new and 90% three and four-year-old barrels.

1136 Kuy E n, m aipo vall E y, 2017

Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Petit Verdot

$ 49.83 $ 299.00

Kuyen 2017 is medium to full bodied. Opaque in colour, it has youthful aromas of blackcurrant fruit, vanilla and blackberries with floral notes. More savoury notes emerge on the palate as the tannin structure shows through on the finish. It is well balanced with a savoury, bitter cherry finish and a solid structure, and will benefit from some cellaring before drinking. The moon’s phases are an important consideration in biodynamic viticulture for the timing of vineyard work and treatments. In fact, Kuyen is a Mapuche word for moon. Kuyen 2017 is a blend of 55% Syrah, 19% Carmenère, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot. Each variety was harvested and fermented separately, then matured in oak for a year with 20% new, 40% one-year and 40% two-year-old barrels.

2019-2030, M6 D7

Blackcurrant fruit, vanilla, floral 18°C

Bitter cherries, savoury

Beef Bourguignon with garlic smashed potatoes

1137 a ntiyal, m aipo vall E y, 2016

Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

$ 89.83 $ 539.00

An intense bouquet with ripe fruits, blackcurrants, spice and a hint of coal. Antiyal 2016 is a flavoursome wine with a soft rich palate. It is complex with layers of flavour: fruit, black liquorice, spices and a long smoky finish – nothing dominates. Antiyal 2016 is a blend of 49% Carmenère, 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.5% Syrah. The wine was racked into French oak barrels – 70% new, 25% one-year-old – and 5% to concrete egg-shaped tanks. It was matured in these for 18 months. The oak is perfectly integrated.

2019-2030, M6 D8

Ripe blackcurrants, spice, hint coal 18°C

Smooth, spicy fruits, bitter liquorice

lamb stew with fennel and green apple slaw

“Our calling is to make honest, distinctive wines of recognized quality.“

Cachapoal Valley, Rapel

Viña La Rosa

Cornellana Estate

This estate at Peumo in the Cachapoal Valley is one of the oldest in Chile. Established in 1824, it is still owned and run by the Ossa family. Recently, Peumo has been recognized as one of the best locations in Chile for growing top quality Carmenère – the grape is very late ripening and is not suitable for planting everywhere. It loves the colluvial soils and extended summer season in Cachapoal. Cornellana wines are made from estate grown grapes only by winemakers Gonzalo Cárcamo, Cynthia Ortiz and Juan Carlos Acevedo.

1138

c orn E llana s par K ling Win E , c hardonnay Brut, c achapoal vall E y, 2018

Chardonnay $ 20.00 $ 120.00 ne W

Made according to the Charmat Method with a single tank fermentation, this is unbeatable value. It has mellow white fruits, melons, nectarines, nuts and vanilla aromas which follow through onto the palate. It is well balanced with depth and a firm acidity.

melons, [02]

oysters on the half shell

1139

c orn E llana s auvignon Blanc, c achapoal vall E y, 2018

Sauvignon Blanc $ 16.92 $ 203.00

Very pale in colour with a lime hue, it has fresh pear drop aromas and flavours of pears and lime. A refreshing wine with crisp acidity, grapes were picked in the cool early morning and left to macerate on skins for four to six hours prior to pressing. 2018 was an exceptional year for white wines at Cornellana, with low temperatures allowing a slow maturation of grapes with good conservation of acidity.

Apples, pears, lime, [00]

Grilled chicken and pasta salad

1141

c orn E llana mE rlot, c achapoal vall E y, 2018 Merlot $ 16.92 $ 203.00

Floral and plum aromas lead to a supple medium bodied wine with flavours of violets and bitter cherries. Merlot was picked by machine, destemmed and crushed, then fermented in tanks at 24°C to 27°C. It is well balanced and smooth with a savoury finish.

2019-2021, M8 D9

floral, plums 16°C

Violets, bitter cherry, savoury edge

lean beef burger with Gorgonzola

c orn E llana rE s E rv E c hardonnay, c achapoal vall E y, 2018 Chardonnay $ 20.33 $ 244.00

35% of the wine was fermented and aged for six months with oak, giving it a distinct woody character with ripe pears in the background. It is smooth with a marked acidity, with flavours of fresh lemon and lime juice with a toasty finish. Grapes were harvested at night by machine and left to macerate on skins for up to 12 hours at 10°C.

2019-2020, M8 D9

woody, pears 6°C

Citrus fruits, toasty notes, [00]

Grilled octopus with roasted tomato marinara

1142

c orn E llana rE s E rv E r osé, c achapoal vall E y, 2018

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon $ 20.33 $ 244.00

Bright in colour with aromas of strawberry juice, banana and raspberries, this is a fruity easy drinking wine with nice strawberry flavours. It is supple with a long crisp finish and is produced from a somewhat unusual combination of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

2019-2020, M8 D9

Crushed strawberries, bananas, raspberries 6°C

fruity, crisp, [00]

Grilled Cornish game hen and sautéed summer vegetables

Deep in colour, Reserva Carmenère 2017 has spices, black cherry and smoke aromas with a hint of green pepper. It is rich and smooth with a fine silky texture leading to flavours of dark fruits, coffee and vanilla finishing with a lingering flavour of bitter chocolate. A great example of Carmenère – and very moreish too! Peumo is considered one of the hot spots for growing high quality Carmenère and this certainly supports that notion. This was an immediate Coup de Cœur for me.

Youthful and intense forest fruit aromas with mulberries and red cherries follow onto the palate. This is a relatively simple but intense wine, flavoursome with a red fruit finish. It was aged for six months in French oak. 1144

1145

1146

ne W

c orn E llana Win E ma KE rs

sE l E ction rE s E rv E s auvignon Blanc, pE umo, c achapoal vall E y, 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

$ 28.00 $ 168.00

The Winemakers Selection Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is intense and structured. Emphatic aromas of pears and pear drops on the nose are complemented by lots of character on the palate. It was fermented in stainless steel with French oak and lees contact. While there is no obvious oak character, this has given the wine depth and texture with flavours of lime and passion fruit.

2019-2020,

intense pear drops, pears 6°C

lime, passion fruit, [00]

Salmon and tuna sashimi

c orn E llana Win E ma KE rs sE l E ction Barr E l rE s E rv E c uvé E , pE umo, c achapoal vall E y, 2017

Carmenère, Cabernet franc, Syrah $ 28.00 $ 168.00

A full-bodied wine with mellow dark fruit and blackcurrant coulis aromas. It is supple yet structured with flavours of black cherries, spice and bitter chocolate. It is a blend of 60% Carmenère, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Syrah, and was matured for nine months in French oak. Winemakers Selection Barrel Reserve Cuvée has potential for some cellaring.

18°C

Black cherries, spice, bitter chocolate

Chicken Mole with marinated onions

c orn E llana Win E ma KE rs

sE

c

$ 30.00 $ 180.00 1148

Another great Carmenère – the grape seems to have loved the hot conditions in 2017, as temperatures approached 40°C some days. This wine is vibrant in colour with a mellow bouquet of herbs, green leaves, cumin spices, and floral aromas with black cherries in the background. It is on the lighter side of medium bodied with some firm tannins giving it structure. Flavours of vanilla emerge and complement the long blackcurrant finish.

2019-2023, M7 D8

Mellow, herbal, cumin, floral 18°C

Blackcurrant, vanilla

Grilled ribeye with grilled asparagus and shaved parmesan

c orn E llana Win E ma KE rs

sE l E ction Barr E l rE s E rv E

c a BE rn E t Franc, pE umo, c achapoal vall E y, 2017

Cabernet franc

$ 30.00 $ 180.00

Cooked jammy fruits, vanilla and blueberry muffins precede a soft medium bodied wine. It is supple and smooth, easy drinking with some blackcurrant on the finish.

$ 33.50 $ 201.00 1147

1149

c orn E llana c uvé E g ran rE s E rva, pE umo, c achapoal vall E y, 2015

Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot

Intense blackcurrants, graphite and smoke aromas give a solid first impression. This is a full bodied and generous wine, brimming with flavours. Ripe blackcurrants, cooked fruits, sweet vanilla are all present creating a succulent mid palate. Rich and smooth, it has a grainy texture – delicious now and for the future. It spent 12 months in French oak and is a blend of 50% Carmenère, 24% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot.

Vanilla, smoke, cooked black fruits

“We are focused on resource management and reducing environmental stress.“

Molina, Curicó Valley Viña echeverría

Casa Nueva

1151

The Echeverría family are based in the Curicó Valley – one of Chile’s oldest wine regions. The 65-hectare estate is located in the eastern part of the valley, where the family grow all the popular grape varieties. Wines are made by Roberto Echeverría Jr. in the 80-year-old cellar. In recent years, Roberto has also sourced grapes from some of the more recently discovered regions –including Sauvignon Blanc from the Casablanca Valley and Syrah from the more northern Limarí Valley.

c asa n u E va sE l E ction c arm E nèr E , cE ntral vall E y, 2018

$ 17.42 $ 209.00

Spicy sweet pipe tobacco aromas with dark fruits and smoky flavours are matched with a rich mid palate and some residual sweetness to give a medium bodied wine. Carmenère was harvested on May 5th, 2018 and underwent a cold maceration for 12 hours prior to fermentation.

1152

fruits, smoke, black cherry

turkey leg with lentil-stuffed bell peppers

c asa n u E va sE l E ction mE rlot, cE ntral vall E y, 2018 Merlot

$ 17.42 $ 209.00

Earthy spicy aromas mingle with woody notes and cooked red fruits. The palate is slightly angular and rustic with some chewy tannins on the finish and lingering flavours.

Earthy spicy aromas, vanilla, cooked red fruits

woody, red cherry

Asian lentil soup

Sauvignon Blanc $ 25.83 $ 155.00 1155

Very pale in colour, it is restrained in style with just a hint of lemon aroma. Crisp and refreshing on the palate, it has subtle flavours of green apples and fresh limes. Sauvignon Blanc, from a single block on the family estate at Molina in Curicó Valley, was picked in the coolness of the early morning.

A more exuberant Sauvignon Blanc with lime blossom and ripe gooseberry aromas, cassis and passion fruit. Grapes were picked in coastal vineyards in Casablanca with careful selection prior to crushing and were left on skins for two to four hours at low temperature. A bone-dry wine which is soft and round with some mid palate fatness, a counter point to the firm natural acidity. A long wine finishing on notes of passion fruit, Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc was aged on fine lees for up to five months.

Crisp, green apples, lime, [01]

white bean casserole with zucchini

Ripe gooseberries, lime blossom

Cassis, passion fruit, [00]

Green pea risotto with black truffle oil and mushrooms

Limarí Valley, in the north of Chile, is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean located just 20 kilometres away and by the proximity of the Andes. Its northern location is close to the dry arid Atacama Desert, and the valley benefits from clear blue skies and pure mountain air. Its climate in terms of temperature is more akin to New Zealand, and this translates into wines with a pure linear structure. While grapes have been cultivated in the region for centuries, these were destined mainly for Pisco production and it is only since the 1990s that Limarí Valley has proven its potential for high quality Syrah. Echeverría sourced Syrah grapes in Limarí on April 13th, 2016. These were fermented in open stainless-steel tanks with extended skin maceration. The wine has spices and milk chocolate aromas. It is medium bodied with bitter cherry and cocoa flavours and was matured for twelve months in French oak barrels.

Slow roasted pork with grilled onions and peppers

Cinnamon spice and undergrowth characters are apparent with cooked apples and red cherries in the background.

Cabernet Sauvignon was picked on the Molina estate on April 25th with the later ripening Carmenère picked on the 5th of May.

Coming from selected plots, grapes were left to ripen for an extended period and picked later. The Reserva is deep in colour with aromas of cooked fruits and vanilla with a slight earthiness. It is medium to full bodied with good mid palate fruit and dark cooked fruit flavours.

Leafy and bonfire aromas over a red fruit background precede a firm palate with sour redcurrants and chewy tannins. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot, it was matured in used French oak barrels for four to five months. Grapes were grown in the Curicó Valley and picked by hand on April 16th for Merlot and on April 30th for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Quite restrained in terms of aroma at the time of tasting but with some floral notes, 2016 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon should open up with a little time. On the palate it is linear in structure with typical Cabernet character, with emerging flavours of blackcurrants and other dark fruits. It has a firm acidity, with good mid palate fruit and fine tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested in Maipo on April 19th into small 18 kg boxes. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks with an extended time on grape skins followed by maturation in French oak barrels for twelve months.

Mellow leafy forest fruits and undergrowth with black fruit and spicy aromas have lots of appeal. This is a supple wine which is starting to show complex tertiary notes. It is ready for drinking now and will be nice over the next couple of years. It is medium bodied with good mid palate and concentrated flavours of dark fruits on the finish. After an extended maceration on skins, it was matured in oak barrels.

1161 c

Merlot

$ 25.83 $ 155.00

A melee of crushed soft berry fruits – loganberries, mulberries and raspberries – rise from the glass to create a fresh fruit bouquet. It is medium bodied and supple with a firm acidity giving some backbone with a sour berry finish. Casa Nueva Gran Reserva Merlot is more youthful in spirit than the Carmenère.

2019-2022, M7 D9

loganberries, mulberries, crushed red berried 18°C

Smooth, redcurrants

Braised beef short ribs with potato purée, Swiss chard and horseradish cream

1162

1163 p ropu E sta, m aipo vall E y, 2016

Syrah, Carmenère

$ 25.83 $ 155.00

Intense milk chocolate, cocoa, spices and cherry aromas lead to a light to medium bodied wine. Gran Reserva Syrah Carmenère boasts lots of spicy red fruit flavours with a lingering cherry menthol and bitter chocolate finish. It is a 60:40 blend of Syrah and Carmenère.

Cherry menthol, chocolate, spicy red berries

Schwartz’s smoked meat with garlic dill pickle

Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet franc

$ 25.33 $ 152.00

All the grapes used for Propuesta were grown in the Maipo Valley, with Cabernet Sauvignon forming the base of the blend at 85% with 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Each variety was picked by hand at optimum ripeness. Wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks using selected and wild yeasts, then left for an additional three to five days on skins at the end of the fermentation. This is a spicy wine with vanilla aromas, combined with leafy undergrowth and cigar box. It is light to medium bodied and was matured in new French oak barrels for eight months.

“Our wines were born with the sole objective of being enjoyed at home and shared.“

Maule Valley Alquihue, San Javier Las Veletas

Piamonte SA

If you are visiting Chile and after a few glasses of wine think that you are seeing double, you may wish to know that Rafael Tirado has an identical twin, Enrique. Both are accomplished winemakers. Older by four minutes, Rafael worked for many big Chilean wineries before deciding to leave the mainstream. Looking for adventure, he wanted to push boundaries and sought out regions with more extreme conditions for vine growing. He found these conditions in the eastern Maule and planted his vineyard Laberinto in 1993 in the foothills of the Andes at Colbún, at an altitude of 700 metres. He is currently the only estate producer in the DO (Denominación de Origen).

Rafael teamed up with Raul Dell’Oro, owner of an old 200-hectare property at San Javier in Maule, where in past years old vines of País and Carignan had been cultivated. The old vines have been recovered and new vineyards planted, producing fruit for the Las Veletas wines. Vineyards lie in the part of the Coastal range of hills at an altitude ranging from 175 to 250 metres above sea level.

Rafael’s vineyard at Colbún is planted on black soils of volcanic ash over granite. Troubled by the straight and parallel nature of vineyards, creating uniformity of the rows, Rafael reflected on how to inject complexity into the vineyard. It occurred to him that a circular vineyard would mean that the grapes would receive differing amounts of sunlight and wind, leading to variety and complexity. The vineyard was planted as a replica of the Labyrinth of the Chartres Cathedral in France. The 2018 is a tight-knit wine with solid structure and concentration. It is mineral in character with graphite notes combined with nuts, sour lemon and lime flavours. It is intense with great depth and will likely develop beyond 2021.

It is believed that País was one of the first grape varieties to be planted in Chile by the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century. The same grape also found its way through missionaries and priests in North America, where it is known as the Mission grape. Until the start of the 21st century, it was the most widely planted variety in Chile before being overtaken by Cabernet Sauvignon. País was often dismissed as suitable only for producing big volumes of simple wine. More recently, it has been “rediscovered”, with winemakers taking it seriously to produce interesting new styles. Las Veletas 2016 País is a blend with 15% Carignan exhibiting spicy, white pepper, straw and red fruit aromas. It is light bodied and smooth with flavours of red cherries and cranberries with a crunch red berry acidity and a fresh astringent finish.

“Our

wines reflect the great relationship we have with our people at Las Veletas.”

- Raúl Dell’Oro

l as vE l E tas c a BE rn E t s auvignon c a BE rn E t Franc, vall E d E l m aul E , 2015

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc

Ruby in colour with a brick hue, the 2015 Las Veletas Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc has a savoury bouquet with smoke, ash, spices and a hint of leather over a red and dark fruit background. It is a wine that is both structured and silky, with a fine texture and firm yet balanced acidity. It is produced from a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon with 28% Cabernet Franc. The 2014-2015 growing season was long, and grapes were harvested at the end of April. The wine has great depth and was matured in French oak barrels for twelve months.

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l as vE l E tas g r E nach E m ourvèdr E c arignan, vall E d E l m aul E , 2016

Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan $ 30.67 $ 184.00

This blend of Rhône varietals is marked by the freshness of the region due to the cold winds blowing in. It has restrained cherry fruit aromas with a supple attack typical of Grenache, which then leads to a firm grippy finish. Mouth-watering flavours of redcurrants and cranberries are complemented with some meaty notes and a long spicy finish with rustic chewy tannins.

Verdot, Cabernet franc $ 32.00 $ 192.00

Petit Verdot is currently living something of a resurgence. It is late ripening (even more so than Cabernet Sauvignon), and the difficulty in restricting its productivity caused many Europeans to uproot the variety. Yet, when cultivated well and yields are controlled, it produces concentrated, tannic wines with a powerful natural acidity. For Las Veletas 2016, Petit Verdot was blended with 36% Cabernet Franc, producing a wine with musky dark fruits, vanilla spice and smoky bacon. It is medium bodied with a dense mid palate and flavours of dark cooked fruits, treacle and bitter chocolate. An incredibly long wine finishing on notes of bitter chocolate and black cherry. It was matured for twelve months in French oak barrels.

Grilled pork tenderloin

“There is a Lorca wine for every occasion.“

Mendoza Bodega y Viñedos Mauricio Lorca

Mauricio Lorca established his winery in Luján de Cuyo, 25 kilometres south of Mendoza City close to the Mendoza river in 2002, having worked for various big names in Argentina. Quiet and unassuming, almost shy in nature, Mauricio has the physical presence of an international rugby player and comes across as a gentle giant. His wines seem to reflect this personality – the reds are understated in style with stature and longevity. Argentina’s flagship grape, Malbec, is used in a variety of styles.

See the full Portobello recipe in Vino etcetera!

tE mático a rg E ntino Jov E n t orrontés, l a r io J a, 2018

Torrontés Riojano $ 21.67 $ 130.00

Torrontés grapes were sourced from the Famatina Valley in La Rioja Province. The grapes were grown on traditional tall pergola-trained vines at an altitude over 900 metres. Bunches were harvested by hand into small 20 kg boxes for transport to the winery. Pale in colour, it has an elegant aroma of fresh lemons and limonella oil. It is fresh and light on the palate with a long lemony finish and a slight vegetal edge.

light, zesty, [00]

Herb-stuffed portobellos with sweet potato purée

tE mático a rg E ntino Jov E n Bonarda, u co vall E y, 2018

$ 130.00 1172

Autumnal fruit and winter berry aromas precede a fruity palate with sweet cooked red fruit flavours. A very drinkable wine with lots of flavour and a firm acidity on the finish. Malbec grapes were grown on Mauricio’s vineyard at Vista Flores in the Uco Valley. Vines are planted at high density with 6,850 vines per hectare. Some of the wine sees oak but there is no perceptible oak flavour.

Floral aromas mingle with soft leather notes in this Bonarda. Quite simple in style, it is light to medium bodied with flavours of raspberries and sour plums. A firm acidity becomes apparent on the palate with a slightly astringent bitter fruit finish. Bonarda grapes were fermented in concrete tanks for nine days at 26°C.

A great value Cabernet Sauvignon with concentration and finesse. While quite restrained in aromas, it is complex with savoury notes, creosote and some leather over black cherries. It is smooth and medium bodied, supple with a fine texture and opens up in the glass to reveal more dark fruits. Grown at over 1000 metres in altitude, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested by hand the second week of April.

Sauvignon Blanc

Lime blossom, spice and wet stones, Lírico Sauvignon Blanc has personality and verve. Sour lemon and lime flavours are complemented by steely notes and a marked acidity. This is a more mineral savoury style with citrus fruit.

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lemon, limes, mineral edge, [00]

fairmont bagel with lox, cream cheese, red onion and capers

Aromas of fresh Granny Smith apples and floral magnolia are complemented by a mineral wet stone note. Smooth and round on the palate, its softness segues into a crisp fresh lime finish.

Crisp, lime, [00]

Apple and rhubarb crumble

Lírico Malbec is deep in colour with mellow aromas of cooked dark fruits, sweet black cherries and a hint of leather. It is soft and smooth on the palate with more depth and weight than Mauricio’s Joven. The wine is medium bodied with juicy black fruit flavours. 30% was matured with oak.

2019-2022, M8 D9

Mellow cooked fruits, hint leather 18°C

Sweet black cherries, juicy

Rosemary and juniper seasoned bison burger with Monterey Jack cheese

A blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Syrah, grapes were harvested the last week of March and the first week of April. It is dense purple in colour with floral notes of violets and peonies. Lírico Malbec Syrah is soft and rich on palate with a fine texture and more floral flavours leading to a bitter chocolate finish. A well-balanced wine with a lively acidity and flavours of sour black fruits and unripe blackberries.

2019-2022, M8 D9 floral, violets, peonies 18°C

Bitter chocolate, sour black fruits, blackberries

Steak and kidney pie

Ruby in colour, with aromas of red fruits, Victoria plums and a certain earthiness, Ópalo Malbec 2017 is soft and relatively light bodied. It has supple tannins with a sour cherry and bitter chocolate finish. Produced from 100% Malbec with no use of oak, Ópalo is produced to capture and reflect the flavours imparted by the terroir. Yields were restricted to just one bottle of wine produced per vine.

2019-2021, M8 D9

Victoria plums, red fruits 18° C

Sour cherries, bitter chocolate

Mint and rosemary-crusted rack of lamb with oven roasted baby potatoes

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l orca ó palo c a BE rn E t s auvignon, u co vall E y, 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

$ 31.67 $ 190.00

Vibrant ruby in colour, Ópalo Cabernet Sauvignon has spicy aromas with violet floral notes, coal and dark fruit. It is supple, medium bodied with more weight and structure than Ópalo Malbec. It has a firm acidity and balsamic flavours. No oak was used.

2019-2021, M8 D9

Spices, floral, dark fruit 18°C

Balsamic, firm acidity

Black pepper steak with morel mushroom and Ópalo Cabernet Sauvignon wine sauce

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l orca ó palo s yrah, v ista Flor E s, u co vall E y, 2016

Syrah

$ 31.67 $ 190.00

An elegant and mellow wine with cooked fruits, spice aromas and loganberries, Ópalo Syrah 2016 is supple, medium bodied and fine in texture with good depth and flavours of raspberries, mulberries, loganberries with a bitter fruit finish. It will benefit from a little more bottle ageing before drinking.

2019-2022, M7 D9

Cooked fruits, loganberries, spice 18°C

Raspberries, mulberries, bitter fruit

Grilled Portobello mushrooms with balsamic and red wine reduction

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tE mático a rg E ntino rE s E rva v iogni E r, u co vall E y, 2018

Viognier

$ 34.33 $ 206.00

Temático Argentino

Reserva Viognier is bright in colour with intense aromas of lime cordial and vanilla. Viognier was picked by hand into small boxes ranging from 16 to 18 kg, pressed, and 40% of the juice fermented in oak barrels. It is soft and round with a creamy texture leading to a pithy finish adding length. It is more oaky on the palate with some lime fruit flavours and a woody finish.

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tE mático a rg E ntino rE s E rva m al BE c, u co vall E y, 2015 Malbec

A much more complex wine, Temático Argentino

Reserva Malbec was matured for twelve months in oak barrels using 90% French and 10% American oak. It is fragrant with black treacle, cooked dark fruits, red berries and a hint of leather. More floral pot-pourri notes emerge in the glass. It is firm with a marked acidity combined with some chewy tannins and flavours of red fruits and leather.

intense, lime cordial 6°C

Vanilla, limes, woody, [00]

floral, red fruits, complex

Mauricio Lorca’s state-of-the-art winery reflects the modern trend in Argentine architecture.

More restrained in nature than the Cabernet Sauvignon with less dominant oak, it has spicy leather and red fruit aromas. Smooth and medium bodied, it is soft, developing a firm acidity and finishing with bitter cherry menthol. It was matured for twelve months in oak barrels with 75% French and 25% American and is ready for earlier drinking.

Temático Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is deep plum in colour with mellow oaky notes. Vanilla and treacle aromas dominate raisins, dried fruits and candied orange peel on the nose. Smooth with a rich mid palate, this is a medium to full bodied wine with a firm acidity. Flavours of dark cooked and dried fruits combine with vanilla. It continues to linger on the palate with a grainy texture and some chewy rustic tannins.

Cooked dark fruits, vanilla

Tournedos with celery root and cauliflower purée

Bitter cherry, menthol

Three cheese ravioli with spicy Pomodoro sauce

Our Programs

Opimian’s wine programs are designed to help you develop your palate at each stage of your journey. It starts with Discovery; once you’ve cultivated your curiosity and explored the wine world, you can graduate to Select Plus — the “next level” mixed cases, with both ready to drink wines and wines for aging. After you’ve challenged your palate and started your cellar, it’s time to start collecting with Founders’ Choice — premium wines available exclusively through this program. You do not have to worry about deadlines or ordering procedures since Opimian automatically places an order on your behalf with every new Cellar Offering. Your preferred payment will be used, then your wine is shipped and you will receive a Pick Up Notice indicating where to pick it up. Visit opimian.ca for more information.

EAGER TO LEARN your way around the world of wine or simply enjoy a selection of bottles for everyday drinking? The Discovery program has it all. Over the course of the year, members enrolled in this program receive one mixed case of six bottles from a featured supplier per cellar offering. These wines are all for immediate drinking so you can indulge in one or two the moment they get to you. Whether you’re new to Opimian or fancy hopping on an introductory tour of the world of wine, we recommend this route.

DELVE INTO A VERSATILE SELECTION of bottles and explore the four corners of the world of wine. This program features both early drinkability and mid-term aging potential bottles so you can enjoy some now and lay the others down. Throughout the year, Select Plus members receive one mixed case of six bottles per Cellar Offering. These wines may all be enjoyed young but will benefit from some maturing time. The ideal program for those who wish to expand their horizons and refine their palate one bottle at a time.

A COLLECTOR’S DREAM Dedicated to the spirit of our Founders, this program features wines that are exclusive to this program and don’t appear on our Cellar Offerings. Made up of six bottles of a premium wine with a dedicated back label and a special message with tasting notes from the producer, each of the cases you will receive represents some of the very best our producers have to offer. These bottles offer long-term aging potential so you might want to free up space in that cellar … or start building one.