Will develop, drink within 2 years Meant for cellaring
Concentration
Light - Medium - Great
Oak
Light - Medium - Heavy
Organic*
Vegetarian**
Limited quantities
Limited
Very limited
Extremely limited Less than 100 cases available
Members’ Choice 2019 favourite
Opimian Suggests Starting a cellar
Medal Winner
Discovery
2019 Discovery Program Case - C268
Select Plus 2019 Select Plus Program Case - C268
Ordering Made Easy
1. SELECT YOUR WINES
Let yourself be inspired by our detailed descriptions to find out which wines best suit your palate. Our custom chart on the left also features a variety of user-friendly symbols that can guide your selection. Still unsure what to order? Opimian’s Member Service team is always available to help you make an informed choice. Call us at 1-800-361-9421 or e-mail MemberService@Opimian.ca
2. PLACE YOUR ORDER
Last day to order for this Cellar Offering is Monday, July 13, 2020
No orders will be processed after this time. There are four ways to order:
• Online: Go to Opimian.ca, sign in and select Order Wine
• Email MemberService@Opimian.ca with your selection.
• Mail your order by July 3, 2020. Please allow 10 days for delivery by Canada Post.
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 November 2020
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.
Conditions of Purchase
• Accepted payment methods: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or cheque payable to Opimian.
• Prices include all applicable federal and provincial markups and taxes.
• A valid membership card is required to order.
• Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum required.
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.
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
*This information is provided by our suppliers and reflects the certifications of their own countries which do not necessarily match Canadian norms.
**This information is provided by our producers and may not reflect Canadian norms.
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
Bordeaux is the world’s largest fine wine region. As well as producing some of the planet’s most famous wines, there are many lesser known estates and appellations to be enjoyed. The recent 2019 vintage is showing very well, while the 2016 vintage has proven itself with many accessible wines that are nicely mature and drinking perfectly now and over the coming few years.
If your preference is for something a bit lighter, wines made from Gamay in Beaujolais in eastern France and white Burgundy offer a different tasting sensation.
JANE MASTERS MW, OPIMIAN’S MASTER OF WINE
Every wine offered by Opimian is tasted and selected for its deliciousness and value by our consultant Master of Wine, Jane Masters MW. Jane also chooses the mixed cases for Opimian’s Discovery and Select Plus subscription programs for members to discover wines in an easy way, as well as wines for the premium Founders’ Choice program. As one of 394 Masters of Wine worldwide, Jane has in-depth knowledge and her aim is to share her love of wine with members via the Cellar Offering. She was elected Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine 2016-2018. cover — The Perrin’s Domaine de Milhomme has received the Terra Vitis certification, rewarding the winemaker’s commitment to protecting the environment. This ladybug is very appreciative!
BORDEAUX
Vintex
Vintex is a Bordeaux merchant specializing in small family estates and some lesser known appellations. It has also expanded its expertise to include producers from other regions, such as Champagne, enabling it to offer a full gamut of wines for any occasion or special dinner party.
photo — Fresh harvest on an elevator at the Sieur Gaillard winery.
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
Sémillon, Muscadelle, Cabernet Franc
$ 29.00 $ 174.00
Not many people realize that Bordeaux produces sparkling Crémant. After all, there are so many other wines from the region. Sieur Gaillard is a perfect apéritif, with its mellow fruits and a creamy texture to whet the palate. It is produced in the Entre-Deux-Mers region from a combination of traditional grape varieties - Sémillon, Muscadelle and Cabernet Franc.
These delightful new sparklings are a real treat!
1903 CHAMPAGNE GEORGES CLÉMENT, PREMIER CRU, BRUT - BLANC DE BLANCS
Chardonnay
Georges Clément is a family Champagne house based in the village of Mareuilsur-Ay. This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is produced from Chardonnay grapes grown at premier crus sites, giving it a distinctive character with lime custard and brioche notes. It is elegant and refreshing with a crisp finish. A real treat.
1904 CHÂTEAU JANON, AOC BORDEAUX, 2019
$ 20.00 $ 120.00
Intense fruit aromas with raspberry jam, spices and coffee jump out of the glass. Château Janon 2019 is a light- to medium-bodied wine made for early drinking.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Mellow white fruits, vanilla 6°C
Creamy, [00]
Coquilles Saint-Jacques
220-2022, M8 D8
Red fruits, coffee 16° C
Raspberries, coffee
Roast guinea fowl
2020-2022, M8 D9
Biscuit, brioche, white fruits, [00]
Steamed mussels with mustard sauce
photo — The Georges Clément vineyard is located near the small village of Mareuil-sur-Ay, in the Champagne region.
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
1906
1905 CHÂTEAU DU PIN, AOC BORDEAUX, SCEA VIGNOBLES J.-M. CONSTANS, 2018
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
Château du Pin 2018 has floral aromas of peonies mixed with blackcurrants. It is medium to full bodied with bitter cherry and chocolate flavours. The estate is owned and farmed by Jean-Marie Constans. His wife Claudette makes the wines and the couple are now passing on the management of the estate to their son. A blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc cultivated on 46 hectares of clay and chalk soils.
bitter cherry, chocolate
CHÂTEAU HAUT MAGINET, BLANC, AOC BORDEAUX, VIGNOBLES JOLIVET, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
Château Haut Maginet is located in the small village of Soussac in the Entre-Deux-Mers region. Its vineyards lie on the slopes of the Butte de Launay – the highest point of the region. This is an assemblage of three traditional grapes: Sauvignon Blanc with 15% Sémillon and 15% Muscadelle. It has aromas of spring blossoms and fresh green apples. Fresh white fruits are apparent on the palate with some depth and a flinty crisp lemon finish.
fruits, lemon, flint, [00]
Baked sole or haddock
2020-2023, M7 D9
Floral, peonies, blackcurrant 18°C
Beef Bourguignon
2020-2021, M8 D9
Apple blossom, green apples 6°C
White
1907
CHÂTEAU HAUT MAGINET, ROSÉ, AOC BORDEAUX, VIGNOBLES JOLIVET, 2019
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
This supple dry rosé is brimming with crushed strawberries, red cherries and other berry fruits. It has a delightful pale colour, produced from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that were crushed immediately after harvesting.
2020-2021, M8 D9
1908
CHÂTEAU HAUT MAGINET, ROUGE, AOC BORDEAUX, VIGNOBLES JOLIVET, 2019
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A graceful wine with mellow red fruit, cherries and plum aromas. This is a medium-bodied wine with a fine texture and some spicy oak flavours, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines planted on the plateau and south facing the slopes of the Butte de Launay in Soussac. This is the highest point in the region and benefits from deep clay soils. Grape yields are restricted by excess bud removal and green harvesting.
1909
GUIRAUTON, AOC GRAVES, E.A.R.L. LES CABANASSES, H. ARDURATS & FILS, 2018
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
$ 29.00 $ 174.00
Appealing aromas of pink grapefruit, elderflowers with a touch of flint combine and precede citrus flavours and mango on the palate. This is an elegant and complex white with lots of finesse and a refreshing lingering finish made from 60% Sauvignon, 30% Sémillon, and 10% Muscadelle.
A white Bordeaux? Why not? Try Château Guirauton to see for yourself.
Crushed strawberries 6°C
Red cherries, [00]
Warm goat cheese salad
2020-2023, M8 D9
Mellow red fruits, plums 18°C
Red cherries, spicy oak
Prime rib in gravy
2020-2021, M8 D9
Pink grapefruit, elderflower 6°C
Mango, citrus, [00]
Salt cod (bacalao)
top photo — Patrick Lamothe, owner of Château Fontebride with his siblings Caroline and Hervé. The three of them manage the château together.
1910 LA CHAPELLE D’ESCURAC, AOC MÉDOC, 2016
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
After some years in bottle, 2016 has proven itself to be a top-quality vintage. Nicely developed, the 2016 La Chapelle d’Escurac has mellow aromas with spices and a cigar box bouquet. It is smooth, quite light in body with coffee flavours, leading to some grip on the finish. This is the second wine from Domaine Escurac at Civrac in the Medoc and is named after the small picturesque 11th century chapel on the estate.
1911 CHÂTEAU FONTEBRIDE, AOC SAUTERNES, SCE CHÂTEAU HAUTBERGERON, 2018
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
$ 33.00 $ 198.00
Golden in colour, this wine has caramelized fruit and roasted pineapple aromas complemented by a hint of fresh mushroom, which adds depth and interest. Château Fontebride 2018 is sweet with complex flavours culminating in a lingering bitter orange marmalade character. 2018 was not an easy year in Sauternes, with some neighbouring estates hit hard by hail and then a long wait for noble rot to set in, but Château Fontebride is a success. It has six hectares in the commune of Bommes, vines are over 50 years old, with a traditional mix of 90% Sémillon, 5% Muscadelle, and 5% Sauvignon matured in barrels for one year.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Mellow, spices, cigar box 18°C
Coffee, spicy dark fruit
Broiled rack of lamb with estragon
2020-2028, M6 D8
Caramelized fruits, pineapple, fresh mushroom 6°C
Bitter orange, candy floss, [08]
Canelés
photo — The Loupiac lifestyle: taking a break in the vines, under century-old pear trees.
10 CELLAR 277 — QUEBEC
BORDEAUX
Loupiac Vignobles Darriet
Alfred Darriet first made sweet wines in Loupiac in 1798, and the Darriet family has been making wine in the Bordeaux region ever since. Today, the family’s vineyards are run by the brother and sister team of Jean-Christophe and Sandrine. Their father, Guy, expanded operations by buying Château de Rouquette on the right bank of the Garonne River in 1962 with 16 hectares of vines and an 18th century Chartreuse house that overlooks Cadillac and the river.
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
1913
CHÂTEAU DE ROUQUETTE, SAUVIGNON BLANC, AOC BORDEAUX, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
$ 24.00
$ 144.00
Château de Rouquette is superbly sited on the right bank of the Garonne River at the top of a hill, 40 kilometres from Bordeaux. The 2019 white is a smooth and flavoursome wine produced from a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sémillon grapes grown on vines planted 40 years ago. It has appealing lime sherbet and fresh green apple aromas complemented by a crisp lemon and lime finish.
Lemon, lime, [00]
Grilled striped bass with herbes de Provence
2020-2021, M8 D9
Lime sherbet, green apples 6°C
1914
CHÂTEAU DE ROUQUETTE, MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON, AOC BORDEAUX, 2018
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
Dense in colour, Château de Rouquette red 2018 features black cherries and violet aromas complemented with a savoury meaty note. It is medium bodied with sour black fruits, blackberries and figgy flavours leading to a grippy finish. Old Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines are cultivated on gravelly slopes with a south-south-west exposition. After fermentation and a long maceration, the wine was matured in tank for 18 months.
1916
1915
CHÂTEAU DE ROUQUETTE, AOC BORDEAUX, BLANC, CUVÉE DU PAVILLON, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
$ 22.00 $ 132.00
This is an elegant white wine with delicate white peach and nectarine aromas. It is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon grown on south facing slopes with gravel on the surface over limestone and clay mother rock. It is medium bodied with a velvet texture, peachy flavours and a sour cape gooseberry finish.
CHÂTEAU DE ROUQUETTE, AOC BORDEAUX, ROUGE, CUVÉE DU PAVILLON, 2019
Merlot $ 22.00 $ 132.00
Cuvée du Pavillon is a Merlot with mineral character and restrained aromas of wet stone with a hint of chocolate followed by dark fruit flavours on the palate. Grapes were produced from vines on the estate planted 10 years ago, which are now coming into full maturity. 2019 saw perfect conditions for grape ripeness. It is medium bodied, supple with good tannin structure. After a long maceration on skins for 25 to 30 days, the wine was matured in tank.
especially prosciutto
Quiche Lorraine
2020-2021, M8 D9
White peach, nectarine 6°C
Peaches, sour yellow plums, [00]
2020-2023, M7 D8
Wet stone, chocolate 18°C
Dark fruits
Osso Bucco
photo — Sunset on the Château de Rouquette’s 18th century chartreuse building.
2020-2023, M7 D9
Black cherries, violets, savoury 18°C
Figs, blackberries
Antipasto,
1917
PETITE MARINE SAUVIGNON BLANC, DARRIET FAMILY, BORDEAUX, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
An intensely flamboyant Bordeaux Sauvignon with cassis, boxtree and passionfruit aromas at the fore. It is almost New Zealand in style, medium bodied with sour lime and passion fruit flavours. Sauvignon Blanc grapes were left to macerate for up to 18 hours to maximize aroma extraction from the skins before gentle pressing and fermentation. Petite Marine is named in recognition of the family’s passion for the sea. Guy Darriet, Sandrine and JeanChristophe’s father, was a Commandant (Commander) in the French Navy and would take them sailing as children.
passion fruit 6°C
Lime, tropical fruit, [00]
Cod and caper parcels with roasted cauliflower
1918
PETITE MARINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ, DARRIET FAMILY, BORDEAUX, 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
Brimming with flavours of rosehip, redcurrants, cranberries, cherries with fresh strawberries and cream, Petite Marine Rosé is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is quite deep in colour with a supple palate and a dry finish. Grapes were pressed and juice fermented at low temperature followed by four months of aging on lees.
redcurrant 6°C
Red cherries, cranberry, [00]
Salade Niçoise
2020-2021, M8 D9
Cassis,
photo — The old 2CV car belonged to Sandrine’s grandmother. It is the winery’s mascot!
2020-2021, M8 D9
Rosehip,
1919
CLOS DU CHÂTEAU DE CADILLAC MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON, AOC CADILLAC CÔTES DE BORDEAUX, 2016
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 28.00 $ 168.00
This walled vineyard plot is located in what was the original orchard of the 13th century castle Château de Cadillac, built for the Duc de l’Éperon. The plot has been owned by the Darriet family since the late 19th century. Clos du Château de Cadillac 2016 is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, from 35 to 40-year-old vines cultivated on limestone soils. Supple, with cherries, cranberries and menthol notes, this wine is elegant with fine tannins. It is on the lighter side of medium bodied and was matured in oak barrels for 18 months. Perfectly ready for drinking, it should stay at its peak for some years.
1920 CHÂTEAU MOUTIN, BLANC, AOC GRAVES, 2017
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
$ 35.00 $ 210.00
The Darriet family has owned Château Moutin at Portets in the Graves appellation for over 200 years. The Graves appellation, named after the gravelly stony soils, is renowned for producing some of the best white Bordeaux wines — wines with finesse and longevity. The tiny estate has one hectare of white grapes planted on Graves Mindel II type soils comprised of gravel from the Pyrénées, sand and clay. The 2017 is golden in colour with ripe peaches, nectarine, mango and cooked fruit aromas complemented by vanilla. It is smooth and elegant with good depth and a tantalizing citrus and mango finish. After maceration on skins, the grapes were pressed and the juice fermented in new and one-year-old French oak barrels. It remained in barrel on lees a further six to eight months.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Ripe peaches, mango, nectarines 6°C
White peach, vanilla, citrus [00]
Roast quail with herbes de Provence
photo — Cheers to the Darriet family!
2020-2023, M8 D9
Cherry menthol 18°C
Red berries, cranberries, sour cherry
Antipasto
CELLAR
1921 CHÂTEAU MOUTIN, ROUGE, AOC GRAVES, 2014
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 35.00 $ 210.00
This is a concentrated wine with dark fruits, blackberries, and black cherries, and a touch of vanilla, made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Château Moutin’s 50-year-old vines. It is velvet smooth in texture and remains youthful in nature, with juicy fruit flavours. It is medium bodied with a firm acidity, finishing with flavours of bitter cherries and chocolate. A strict selection of the best grapes was carried out at the time of picking and the wine underwent a long maceration and fermentation. It was matured in new and one-year-old oak barrels for 24 months and will continue to develop in bottle.
1922
CHÂTEAU DAUPHINÉ RONDILLON, AOC LOUPIAC, 2015
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
$ 25.00 $ 150.00 NEW
This is a noble rot late-harvest dessert wine produced from the oldest vines planted in 1910 at Château Dauphiné Rondillon. Loupiac is where Alfred Darriet first started making wines in 1798. It is made in the same way as Sauternes with successive pickings of individual grapes as they are affected by noble rot. The sweet lush juice was fermented in barrel, producing a wine rich in aromas of pineapple, ripe apricot and caramel. It is sweet with complexity of flavour and great depth. Perfectly balanced and ready for drinking now, it will remain at its peak for some years.
Ripe apricot, complex, [08]
2020-2026, M7 D9
Caramel, pineapple, apricot 6°C
Peking Duck
2020-2026, M7 D8
Blackberries, black cherries, vanilla 18°C
Bitter cherries, chocolate
Mushroom risotto
photo — 53-year-old Merlot vines from Château Moutin.
BORDEAUX
Wine & Co
2016 has proven itself to be a very good vintage in Bordeaux. And not just for top estates, which one would expect, given the top dollar they command. Many more affordable wines have matured very nicely too. They are drinking well now and should continue to do so over the next few years.
photo — Tour Bel Air is located in the heart of the Bordeaux region and is made up of 33 hectares of vineyards.
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
1924 CHÂTEAU CLOS MOULIN PONTET, AOC BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR, EARL CHÂTEAU FRANC COUPLET, 2016
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $ 26.00 $ 156.00
A ripe flavoursome wine with mellow vanilla oak, cooked black cherry fruits and floral notes. This wine has lots of appeal. On the palate, blueberry flavours emerge and continue to linger while the wine has a grainy powdery texture. Made by Éric Meynaud, from his vineyards in the east of the Entre-Deux-Mers region at Massugas and Landerrouat.
1925
CHÂTEAU TOUR BEL-AIR TRADITION, AOC FRONSAC, VIGNOBLES LASCAUX, 2016 Merlot $ 30.00 $ 180.00
Sylvie and Fabrice Lascaux own and tend 5.5 hectares of Merlot grapes in Fronsac, an appellation which sits on the right bank of the Dordogne River, close to Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Their 2016 Château Tour Bel-Air has a spicy bouquet with savoury marmite notes combined with dried fruits. It is round and smooth with a lifted acidity giving balance and no use of oak.
Dried fruits, plums
Toulouse (veal & pork) sausages
2020-2023, M8 D9
Vanilla, cooked black cherries 18°C
Blueberry
Boudin noir (blood pudding)
2020-2024, M8 D9
Marmite, spices 18°C
photo — The winemakers at Tour Bel Air love sharing their passion, and opened a new cellar and tasting room in 2011.
1927
CHÂTEAU LES TUILERIES, AOC BORDEAUX, SCE CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT, 2016
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
CHÂTEAU LES TUILERIES, AOC BORDEAUX BLANC, SCE CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A Sauvignon-based wine with 15% Sémillon, Château Les Tuileries is easy to drink, and smooth with lots of lemon, lime and grapefruit citrus flavours. The beautiful estate is owned by the Bellanger family from the Loire with wines made by Samuel Mestre.
2020-2021,
The limestone soils at Château Les Tuileries produce firm structured reds more age-worthy than most estates in the EntreDeux-Mers. The 2016 expresses Parma violet and dark chocolate aromas and remains youthful and tight on the palate with a fine texture. Surprisingly, this wine is predominantly Merlot, its vibrant linear style suggesting more Cabernet Sauvignon, showing the impact of the limestone plateau.
Les Tuileries wines hail from Entre-Deux-Mers. Find out more about this sub-region in Vino Etcetera.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Parma violets, dark chocolate 18°C
Dark fruit
Magret de canard (duck breast, rare)
M8 D9
White blossom, citrus 6°C
Lemon, lime, [00]
Mild Emmental
photo — Fabrice & Sylvie Lascaux from Tour Bel Air took over the property from his father in 1998.
photo — View of the front façade of Château Brane Cantenac, 2nd classified growth, surrounded by its vineyard.
20 CELLAR
QUEBEC
SEMAV BORDEAUX
The Johnston family has been an integral part of the Bordeaux wine scene since 1734 as wine merchants and one-time owners of Classed Growth Estates.
Intense grapefruit and gooseberry aromas lead to a flavoursome palate, with lightbodied lemon and passion fruit flavours. A tasty, easy drinking white wine.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Grapefruit, gooseberries 6°C
Passion fruit, lemon, [00]
(deep-fried salted cod)
1930 PRINCE PIRATE ROUGE, CUVÉE UN MONDE UNI, VIN ROUGE DE FRANCE
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 17.00 $ 204.00
Supple with dark fruit aromas and a touch of musk and winey flavours. This is a medium-bodied wine with a dark cherry finish.
2020-2022, M8 D9
dark fruit 16°C
1931
OPIMIAN SOCIETY’S CLARET, AOC BORDEAUX
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 20.00 $ 240.00
A savoury wine with earthy fruits and smoky fragrance that is medium bodied with dark fruit and a firm grippy finish.
2020-2023, M8 D9
18°C
These tried-andtrue bottles are always a hit at the dinner table.
Musk,
Cherries
Rabbit in mustard sauce
Earthy fruit, cigar ash
Black fruit
Steak tartare
top photo — Cheers from Helène Soual, the owner of Château Camino Salva in Haut-Médoc. The property is located between Margaux and Saint-Julien.
Bacalao
1932
CHÂTEAU GRESSINA, CUVÉE
PIERRE BLANCHE, AOC BLAYE CÔTES DE BORDEAUX, EARL MARCHAND, 2018
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 23.00 $ 276.00
Located on the right bank and close to the Gironde estuary at Saint-Seurinde-Cursac in the Côtes-deBlaye, Château Gressina cultivates 14 hectares of vines. The 2018 has black olive aromas and is predominantly Merlotbased with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is medium bodied with a supple, but firm palate finishing on notes of black cherries. Grapes harvested in late September were fermented and matured in concrete tanks with no use of oak.
1933
CHÂTEAU CAMINO SALVA, AOC HAUT-MÉDOC, SCEA DES VIGNOBLES KOPP, 2015
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
$ 33.00 $ 198.00
A deliciously mature wine from the HautMédoc and the highly successful 2015 vintage, this Château Camino Salva 2015 has an intense spicy bouquet with fresh spruce, forest floor and a touch of smoke. Dark fruits emerge in the mouth, giving a full and concentrated impression with bitter treacle on the finish. Perfectly ready to drink, it should remain at its peak for a time. This is unusual in that the blend contains 19% Petit Verdot, with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Black olive 18°C
Cherries
Stuffed peppers or cabbage rolls
2020-2023, M8 D9
Forest floor, smoke
18°C
Spices, treacle
Rack of lamb with tarragon, porcini mushrooms and roasted root vegetables
bottom photo — Château Brane Cantenac’s new fermentation cellar: the plot selection is now even more precise, thanks to 8 small-capacity wooden vats.
CHÂTEAU DAUGAY, AOC SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND
CRU, CHRISTIAN DE BOÜARD DE LAFOREST, 2012
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Some members may have this 2012 in their cellars as it was featured as part of a mixed case in Cellar Offering 241. Re-tasted for this Offering, the 2012 has come out of its closed phase revealing a spicy bouquet with red fruits and is now ready for drinking. On the palate it is soft and smooth, with delicious dark fruits, bitter cherry and chocolate on the finish and some grip. It should remain at its peak for another five years of so.
2020-2025, M7 D9
VERTICAL MIXED CASE
1934
CHÂTEAU DAUGAY, AOC SAINTÉMILION GRAND CRU CASE
Two bottles each 2012, 2014, 2015
CHÂTEAU DAUGAY, AOC SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU, CHRISTIAN DE BOÜARD DE LAFOREST, 2014
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Originally offered in Cellar Offering 250, I have extended the drinking life from 2026 to 2030 based on my recent tasting. 2014 expresses incense and woody notes combined with appealing aromas of blueberry muffin. It remains youthful on the palate, with a juicy acidity and lots of nice fresh fruits. This wine is fine in texture, soft and smooth, while showing nicely how it will benefit from some more bottle ageing.
Château Daugay is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate with vineyards located at the foot of the Saint-Émilion slope. The 5.5 hectares of 40-year-old vines are situated close to those of Château Angelus, owned by the same family. Planted on similar soils, historically the grapes went into producing Angelus. Chateau Daugay is now managed and wines made by Hélène Grenié de Boüard and her husband Bernard.
The vineyard is planted to 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the proportion of each in the final wine varying depending on the growing season and harvest conditions. Each vintage’s wines are generally aged in barrels for between 12 and 18 months using approximately one third new French oak. This vertical mixed case features some the best vintages previously offered to Opimian members with updated tasting notes and drinking recommendations.
CHÂTEAU DAUGAY, AOC SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU, CHRISTIAN DE BOÜARD DE LAFOREST, 2015
Franc,
A great vintage on the right bank of Bordeaux, this wine now shows its full potential and I have upped its drinking life to 2030. Still a little restrained on the nose, with aromas of treacle, spices, wild strawberries and other soft ripe fruits, it is elegant with more mid palate weight than the 2012 and 2014, making it very approachable, yet with potential for more cellaring. The warm ripe vintage is reflected in the wine, showing the highest proportion of Cabernet grapes, with 32% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Merlot, Cabernet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot,
Spicy, red fruits, pine 18°C
Black fruits, bitter cherry
Cassoulet
2020-2030, M6 D8
Spices, wild strawberries, ripe fruits 18°C
Treacle, smooth
Raclette or Swiss fondue
2022-2030, M6 D7
Woody, incense, blueberry muffin 18°C
Fresh fruits
Pot-au-feu
Intense aromas of ginger, dark chocolate, blackcurrant and incense lie over a meaty background, creating a complex and enticing bouquet. This wine is medium bodied and elegant on the palate, with a powdery texture and intense bitter chocolate finish. A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot grapes were picked between September 17 and October 19, 2015. This Margaux is produced by Château Brane-Cantenac from the estate’s younger vines and wines that didn’t quite make the cut for the Grand Vin. It is drinking deliciously now and should continue to be enjoyed over the next five to six years.
Sauvignon, Merlot
133.00 $ 798.00
2016 is another great vintage for Les Griffons following the successful 2015. This is a complex wine, elegant and understated, yet powerful and rich – the haute couture of wine.
Intense black cherry aromas are complemented with coffee liqueur and chocolate. This wine has a soft fine texture with fine tannins, red cherries and blackcurrants, creating a smooth flavoursome palate. Vines are cultivated on deep gravelly soils close to the Gironde estuary where Cabernet Sauvignon grows best. The long Indian summer in 2016 allowed for leisurely picking. This blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months, with 60% new.
Red cherries, blackcurrants
pork tenderloin
For an excellent addition to your cellar, opt for these high-end, lay-down wines.
2020-2026, M7 D8
Ginger, dark chocolate, meaty 18°C
Bitter chocolate
Roasted fennel root
2022-2030, M6 D8
Coffee liqueur, black cherries 18°C
Roast
BORDEAUX
La Boucharde Saint-Émilion Clos Cantenac
It’s been 14 years since Martin Krajewski purchased Clos Cantenac. After further investing in the vineyard and winery, Clos Cantenac estate now consists of six hectares in four distinct parcels. The vineyards are cultivated on deep gravel soils with sand and clay over broken limestone. Charlotte Krajewski oversees operations as technical director and chief winemaker, having spent 10 years making wine around the world. I was fortunate to be at Clos Cantenac with Martin and Charlotte during harvest in 2018 and enjoyed first-hand the long Indian summer that produced these great red wines.
photo — Charlotte carefully positions a full pallet of Merlot into place for sorting at Château Séraphine.
A dense and structured wine, with dark fruit flavours that mingle with treacle and raisins and just a hint of leather. Produced from a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, these grapes were picked by hand and underwent a cold maceration prior to fermentation. This wine is powerful and firm with a grainy texture and should evolve nicely in bottle. It was matured from 12 months in French oak barrels, with 40% new.
Made from Merlot grapes from Clos Cantenac’s older vines, 2018 has brambly fruits, spices, vanilla and cooked raspberry aromas. Delicious when young, this wine is elegant with a rich concentrated palate and succulent blackberry and black cherry fruits balanced by a juicy acidity, with a good cellaring potential. Grapes were picked over an eight-day period in the early mornings late in September. After a cold soak at 7°C to 8°C for a day, the juice was fermented at 26°C with regular pumping over, followed by a further seven days of maceration. The wine was put into barrels for malolactic and matured for 12 months with 50% in new barrels, and 50% in one-year-old barrels.
Dark fruit, leather 18°C
Raisins, treacle
French onion soup
2020-2030, M6 D8
Brambles, raspberry, spice, vanilla 18°C
Black cherries, blackberries
Veal cutlets in mustard sauce
photo — Cagettes full of fruit stacked and ready for their next journey to the winery at Clos Cantenac.
Pale in colour, this fragrant rosé is blessed with floral, strawberry, fennel and blackcurrant flavours, and is smooth with a hint of vanilla and a lingering crisp finish. It was made from Merlot grapes hand-picked between September 10 and 12, and fermented in a combination of 15% new oak barrels, 15% second- and third-use barrels, and 70% in tanks. The wine was aged on lees for five months with regular batonnage, and then blended and bottled.
L’Innocence de Séraphine 2018 is deep in colour, with savoury marmite aromas complemented by red cherry fruits. More red fruits emerge on the palate, making it supple and medium bodied. This elegant wine with a sour cranberry twist was matured in 300-litre French oak barrels for 16 months. Château de Séraphine in Pomerol is Martin Krajewski’s most recent project in Bordeaux and is named after his grandmother. The estate consists of only 2.2 hectares in two parcels, one hectare in Plince and 1.2 hectares in Mazeyres. Having purchased the plots in 2017, a digger was used to dig deep soil pits and evaluate the soil profile in each. Martin was ecstatic to discover blue clay two metres deep, the type of clay that is so special to Pomerol. Each vine is tended by hand, with ploughing and tilling of the soils done using a horse rather than tractors, which tend to compact the soil.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Strawberry leaf, fennel, floral 6°C
Blackcurrant, apple, [00]
Sautéed scallops
2022-2028, M6 D7
Savoury, red cherry 18°C
Red fruits
Blue or Roquefort cheese
Port-Sainte-Foy-et-Ponchapt
Château
Pique-Sègue BERGERAC
Château Pique- Sègue is located on the Libournais hills between the towns of Saint-Émilion and Bergerac on the right bank of the Dordogne River. Its eastern location, further away from the Atlantic Ocean, means it experiences a more extreme climate compared to the Bordeaux region, thus producing firm red wines with good aging potential, as well as refreshing whites and rosés. The historic estate, restored by Marianne and Philip Mallard, dates back 700 years, and was a regular watering hole for kings and pilgrims alike.
photo — View of the winery and La Cabanelle, the guest house overlooking the Pique-Sègue lake.
1947
CHÂTEAU PIQUE-SÈGUE, AOC MONTRAVEL, 2019
Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon
Gris
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
A zesty wine with aromas of fresh lemons, grapefruit and green apples and just a touch of cassis. It is crisp and supple, featuring a smoky flint and pink grapefruit finish. After 12 hours of skin maceration to maximize flavours, the grapes were then gently pressed and a long and slow fermentation was carried out.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Grapefruit, fresh apple, cassis 6°C
Smoky, citrus, [00]
Sturgeon caviar on toasted blini
1948
CHÂTEAU PIQUE-SÈGUE, AOC BERGERAC, ROSÉ, 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
This delightfully pale coloured Château Pique-Sègue rosé was produced from Cabernet Sauvignon. Subtle red fruits are complemented by a slight earthiness with some strawberry leaf, sour lemon and a crisp dry finish.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Strawberry leaf 6°C
Sour red fruits, lemon, [00]
Enjoy as an apéritif
photo — The “Maison de Maître“ overlooks the lake and is surrounded by vines and olive trees.
1949 CHÂTEAU PIQUE-SÈGUE, AOC BERGERAC, 2018
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
37.00 $ 222.00
During maturation, 2018 Pique-Sègue developed some truffley notes, with undergrowth, fresh earth and a hint of leather all adding to its underlying blackcurrant flavours. This is a dense wine, produced from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, with fine grained tannins, bitter chocolate and a sour cherry finish. Drinking nicely now, it should stay at its peak for some time. A full-bodied red, quite restrained in bouquet with dark fruits and meaty aromas over an incense background. Produced from the warm and highly successful 2015 vintage, this wine was matured in new French oak barrels for 15 months.
2020-2025, M7 D9
Fresh earth, truffles, blackcurrant 18°C
Bitter cherries
Broiled boneless leg of lamb
2020-2028, M6 D7
Savoury, dark fruit, incense 18°C
Full bodied
Confit goose legs
top photo — The Mallard family: Philip & Marianne surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
centre photo — Orange the cow, daughter of the champion of Aquitaine. Château Pique-Sègue has a well-known herd of hornless Limousin cattle.
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
photo — South-facing view in the vineyards of Fleurie during the fall. The Beaujolais region boasts an array of amazing views and colours year-round.
CELLAR 277 — QUEBEC
BEAUJOLAIS
Pontanevaux
Jacques Charlet
1951
L’OR DES PIERRES, AOP BEAUJOLAIS, BLANC, JACQUES CHARLET, 2019 Chardonnay $ 29.00 $ 174.00
Fresh aromas of sherbet and pears with a hint of fennel combine to create a soft smooth palate. This is a round and structured wine with lingering pears, quince and lemon flavours. Very drinkable on its own and versatile with food, this is a great all-rounder.
Jacques Charlet is a wine grower and merchant company specializing in Burgundy and Beaujolais wines. Tasted as tank samples rather than finished bottled wines, the 2019 vintage showed good promise with well-balanced flavoursome wines.
Quince, lemon, [00]
Porgy or Black bass
1952
L’OR DES PIERRES, AOP BEAUJOLAIS, JACQUES CHARLET, 2019
Intense fruity aromas with fresh raspberries, red cherry gum and banana, this wine is light in body, supple and brimming with more reds fresh on the palate. Whole bunches of Gamay grapes were fermented – a process known as carbonic maceration – which is the usual process used in the Beaujolais region to produce wines that are ready for immediate drinking.
Intense red berries, banana 16°C
Raspberries, cherries Choucroute garnie
2020-2021, M8 D9
Peard rops, sherbet, fennel 6°C
2020-2022, M8 D9
1953 LA VAUXONNE, AOP BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES, 2019
Gamay
$ 25.00 $ 150.00
2020-2023, M8 D9
1954
PHALANGÈRE, AOP COTEAUX BOURGUIGNONS, ROUGE, 2019
Gamay
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
Aromas of cooked berry compotes and patisserie create an appealing, ripe mellow bouquet. Quite light in structure, this wine is smooth, and is developing some weight and a distinctive savoury edge on the palate.
2020-2023, M8 D9
One of the oldest wine merchants in Beaujolais, Jacques Charlet was founded in 1754.
Crushed red fruits, red cherries and banana combine to create a medium-bodied wine on the palate. The Beaujolais Villages AOP is comprised of 38 villages that surround the Beaujolais Crus. Winemaker Jean-Pierre Rodet sourced grapes and carried out whole cluster vinification followed by ageing on fine lees in tanks.
NEW
1955
BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ, AOP, JACQUES CHARLET, 2019
Aligoté
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
The warm 2019 vintage has produced an Aligoté brimming with stone fruits, nectarines, peaches and banana. Grown on limestone soils with marl and clay, this wine is medium bodied, easy drinking and smooth.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Red cherries, banana 16°C
Crushed red fruits
Roast turkey
Cooked fruits, patisserie 16°C
Savoury
Fresh cheeses
Nectarines, peaches 6°C
Banana, stone fruits, [00]
Grilled sardines or mackerel
top photo — The Beaujolais region has values such as simplicity, authenticity and sharing. The wines reflect these values.
A steely wine with restraint and a flinty character, crisp, with a marked limey acidity. Winemaker Jean-Pierre Rodet used classic winemaking techniques with ageing on fine lees for a period of six to eight months.
A rich flavoursome wine, with intense grapefruit, pineapple and other tropical fruit flavours. This Chardonnay is smooth and concentrated with lingering fruits. ViréClessé, a sub-region of Mâconnais in the south of Burgundy, takes its name from the villages of Viré and Clessé. Vineyards are cultivated on surrounding limestone hills.
Grapefruit, yoghurt 6°C
Tropical fruits, pineapple, [00]
Spring pesto
2020-2022, M8 D9
Restrained
fruits 6°C
2020-2023, M7 D9
bottom photo — Frédéric Maignet has worked at Jacques Charlet for 25 years and recently became their Chief Winemaker. 37
BEAUJOLAIS
Ternand
Bernard Perrin
Bernard Perrin’s roots to the medieval bourg of Ternand in Beaujolais go back centuries. His family estate, Domaine de Milhomme, has some of the oldest vines in the region, with his great grandfather having the distinction of being one of the first winemakers to plant vines on grafted rootstocks in 1887. A then-untested means to counter Phylloxera, this technique has since become the norm in wine regions around the world.
1958
1959
DOMAINE DE MILHOMME, CUVÉE LE MÛRIER, AOC BEAUJOLAIS, BERNARD PERRIN, 2019
Gamay
$ 25.00 $ 150.00
2020-2023, M8 D9
and black cherries 18°C
2019 was a landmark year for Domaine de Milhomme. After five transitional years, the estate received full certification from Terra Vitis, rewarding the winemaker’s commitment to producing high quality grapes and wines at the same time as protecting the environment. Le Mûrier vineyard has created a wine that is bright in colour, with red and black cherries aromas, and medium bodied with structure.
DOMAINE DE MILHOMME, VIGNE CENTENAIRE, AOC BEAUJOLAIS, BERNARD PERRIN, 2018
Gamay $ 28.00 $ 168.00
This is a wine with earthy notes combined with blueberries, floral and herb aromas. Similar flavours emerge on the palate with a sour blackberry finish, liquorice and a grainy texture. Gamay grapes for Vigne Centenaire come from plots planted in 1887 by Bernard Perrin’s great grandfather. The vines grow on poor stony granite and schist soils, which naturally produce low yields of small bunches of grapes.
2020-2023, M8 D9
18°C
fruits, sour blackberry
Sharp cheeses (aged cheddar, Gorgonzola, etc.)
Red
Earthy fruits
Escargots gratinés with garlic
Blueberries, floral, earth
Herbal
photo — A hundred-year-old Gamay vine at the Domaine de Milhomme in the fall.
Chardonnay
$ 31.00 $ 186.00 1961 DOMAINE
This wine’s bready aromas and toasted brioche are complemented with quince and sherbet. The palate shows a lively fizz and refreshing acidity with citrus flavours. Chardonnay grapes for this wine were grown in the communes of Ternand, Létra and Oingt in the south of the region.
Brioche toast, quince 6°C
Fresh creamy texture, lemon, [02]
Ceviche with lime
Gamay $ 27.00 $ 162.00
Dark fruits, red cherries, and spices with a hint of musk are all apparent in this wine. Initially soft in the mouth, this wine develops a grainy texture and a grippy finish to give it good weight with sour cherry flavours. Vineyards lie on the grounds of a 15th century castle in Lantignié with wines made in some of the original converted buildings.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Dark fruits, red cherries, spice 18°C
Sour cherries
Dessert chocolates
2020-2021, M8 D9
photo — The St-Laurent d’Oingt chapel, overlooking Ternand, is located on Mont-Joli and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Pierre Dorées Beaujolais sites.
$ 29.00 $ 174.00 1963
This is a structured wine brimming with black cherries and other dark fruits that finishes with bitter chocolate notes. It will benefit from a short time in bottle before reaching its peak. Produced by Gilles Aujogues, the winery faces a small chapel on Mont Brouilly with grapes cultivated on 12 hectares.
2020-2024, M7 D8
Black cherries, dark fruit 18°C
Gamay
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
Appealing aromas of coffee and dark fruits lead to a smooth palate, velvet in texture and a refreshing acidity. This wine was matured in tanks and large oak vats. Frédéric Montangeron farms 10 hectares of vines. Fleurie is his speciality. Certified as “Haute Valeur Environnementale” (top environmental rating) in October, Frédéric encourages biodiversity in his vineyards by creating green zones, planting trees and hedges, and keeping bees.
2020-2023, M7 D9
18°C
Bitter chocolate
Ratatouille
Coffee, dark fruit
Velvety texture
Pot-au-feu
photo — The Chapel of the Madonna is the symbol of the Fleurie appellation. It is a lovers’ hideout… Beaujolais lovers, that is!
1964 CRUS BEAUJOLAIS CASE
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
The prime spots in Beaujolais are the 10 crus that stretch along the gentle slopes of granite-based hills. Thomas Broyer owns 9.5 hectares of vines that are planted in different appellations and crus. The Gamay grape, the only grape permitted, expresses the terroir of each cru and the climatic conditions of the growing season. This mixed case contains three crus from the 2019 vintage, thus allowing a direct comparison.
After a relatively warm winter, Domaine Sancy witnessed a speedy start to the growing season in 2019. Some frosty temperatures in April caused limited damage, but a warm spring and summer with some very hot days led to a perfect maturity and harvest from September 16 onward.
Two bottles each Chénas, Juliénas & Saint-Amour
DOMAINE SANCY, AOP CHÉNAS, THOMAS BROYER, 2019
DOMAINE SANCY, AOP JULIÉNAS, THOMAS BROYER, 2019
DOMAINE SANCY, AOP SAINT-AMOUR, THOMAS BROYER, 2019
Thomas Broyer has only 56 ares in Chénas on a south facing plateau. His 2019 Chénas has floral aromas with violets and lavender. This is a medium-bodied wine with a supple mid palate. It’s also elegant, with lingering bitter cherry flavours.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Violets, lavender 18°C
Dark fruits, bitter cherries
Grilled andouillette sausage
This wine features warm aromas of dried fruit and pot pourri that precede more savoury flavours on the palate. Juliénas 2019 has some grainy tannins and quite a firm structure. Forty to 70-year-old Gamay vines are cultivated on schist and granite soils on a south facing slope.
2020-2023, M7 D8
Dried fruits, pot pourri 18°C
Here’s a wine that is dark purple in colour and offers a ripe black cherry aroma and gives Saint-Amour 2019 an immediate appeal. It is supple and structured with nice mid palate weight offering some chewy tannins and a long bitter cherry finish. This is the most northern and smallest of the 10 Beaujolais crus.
Broiled tournedos
Plums, dark fruits, bitter cherry
Shepherd’s pie
photo — Thomas Broyer from Domaine Sancy is a winemaker and lover of vines and wines. He is committed to the environment.
