LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON, CORSICA, BURGUNDY AND THE LOIRE VALLEY
Order between July 14 and August 17, 2020
Grape variety Red - White - RoséSparkling - Port
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
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 - C269
Select Plus 2019 Select Plus Program Case - C269
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, August 17, 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 August 7, 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 January 2021
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
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• Prices include all applicable federal and provincial markups and taxes.
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• 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
Languedoc-Roussillon, Corsica, Burgundy and the Loire Valley
The Languedoc-Roussillon extends across southern France from Provence in the east to the Pyrénées Mountains and the border with Spain to the west. The region’s consistent warm sunny climate makes it ideal for growing grapes. The best sites, on outcrops and mountain foothills, produce individualistic wines with personality. Corsica shares a Mediterranean climate but has its own history resulting in its own traditional varieties and styles of wine.
In the north of France, the country’s longest river, the Loire, is the backdrop to a series of wine regions along its banks stretching from Pouilly-sur-Loire, directly south of Paris, to Muscadet in the west where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. In the north-east, Burgundy is home to the “Holy Grail” of grapes for many winemakers: Pinot Noir. Winemakers around the world try to emulate wines made in Burgundy with this temperamental and difficult to grow grape variety.
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 — Berny the dog explores the vineyards at Domaine de la Jasse.
Rustiques, Languedoc Château Canet
Château Canet, located outside the village of Rustiques, is in the west of the Minervois appellation approximately 10 kilometres east of the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne. Floris and Vicky Lemstra purchased the property, a 12th century wine estate, in 2007 making it their family home and livelihood. Over the years, they have dedicated themselves to making Château Canet special by reinvesting in the winery, the vineyards and the olive groves, and converting the original winemaker’s cottages into holiday accommodations. Their children Oliver and Charlotte, raised on the estate, are now making their own wines too.
Floris is as driven today as he was in the early days at Canet. His wines are delicious. Grapes are grown on Terra Vitis-certified vineyards using bio-protection, thereby eliminating sulphite preservatives.
photo — Château Canet is a family affair: Oliver, Victoria, Charlotte and Floris Lemstra are all actively involved in the winery. 5
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
These wines are great value for money. The new generation of winemakers is onto something!
1966 FLEUR DE CHARLOTTE VIOGNIER, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Fleur de Charlotte Chardonnay has subtle stone fruit aromas with nectarines and peaches. It is medium bodied with fresh fruit flavours on the palate leading to a crisp acidity with a bitter pith finish adding length. This range of wines, created by Floris’ daughter Charlotte, is a young elegant style produced from locally sourced grapes. Chardonnay grapes came from Limoux on the first slopes of the Pyrénées, 25 kilometres south of Carcassonne.
2020-2021,
Grown in the area around Sète, this Viognier has a honeyed nose with some white fruits and peach blossom with a touch of fresh fennel. It is smooth on the palate with a fine texture and long finish. A short skin contact was carried out then the juice fermented at low temperature with no use of oak.
M8 D9
Nectarines, peaches 6°C
Fresh fruits, pith, [00]
Fish tacos with peach salsa and arugula
2020-2021, M8 D9
Honey, peach blossom 6°C
White fruits, smooth, [00]
Lightly grilled pork chops with honey gastrique
all photos — Charlotte poses in a poppy field with her wine: the elegance of the south of France in a glass .
CELLAR 278 — QUEBEC
1967
FLEUR DE CHARLOTTE SYRAH ROSÉ, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Syrah, Cinsault
Pale pink in colour with aromas of rosehip and grenadine and a slight savoury character. It was produced from Syrah grapes grown on younger vines with a small amount of Cinsault added. It is supple with a mouth-filling mid-palate and a crisp cranberry finish.
2020-2021, M8 D9
6°C
Supple, tart red fruits, [00]
salad with spiced chicken breast and Roquefort
DE CHARLOTTE MERLOT, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
20.00 $ 120.00
Violets, candy floss and sweet fruits show on the nose. This is a smooth, supple wine with blackcurrant flavours and a long bitter cherry finish. Merlot grapes were grown in vineyards around the medieval city of Carcassonne.
2020-2022, M8 D9
candy floss 16°C
cherries
of pork with red wine-sour cherry sauce
Rosehip
Cobb
Violets,
Bitter
Gioulbasi
1969
Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 20.00 $ 120.00
Intensely coloured with aromas of spices and dark fruits with a savoury edge. Fleur de Charlotte Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium- to full-bodied wine. It is well balanced with ripe tannins and some structure. Grapes were grown near SaintHilaire in Limoux.
“O” stands for Oliver, Floris and Vicky’s son. Domaine d’O is his and consists of 12 hectares in the Limoux appellation. Vines are planted at 400 metres altitude with an ensuing cool climate compared to other regions in the Languedoc making it ideal to create more Burgundian wine styles. Floris and Vicky lived in Burgundy when they met; Oliver was born and spent his early years there, so it is perhaps only natural that he is drawn to making such wine styles. Domaine d’O 2019 Chardonnay is an oaky wine with aromas of butterscotch, toffee and yogurt. It was part-matured in new oak barrels from the forests of Bertranges and Nièvre. Cooked pears, tropical fruit and custard lead to a firm finish. 2019 was Oliver’s second vintage at Domaine d’O, and the results are impressive.
yogurt, [00]
Vegetable terrine with olive oil and fleur de sel
Dark fruits, spices 18°C
Savoury, ripe fruit
Moroccan lamb meatballs with dates and cinnamon
2020-2022, M8 D9
Butterscotch, toffee 6°C
Pears,
photo — Fleur de Charlotte & Domaine d’O: the next generation in a bottle.
VIGNOBLES CANET, MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SPECIAL OAK RESERVE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
Dark smoky fruits with spicy oak and vanilla aromas lead to a soft juicy wine brimming with fruits and a bitter cherry finish. It is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon; grapes were grown in Minervois, Limoux and Cabardès. After fermentation, it was matured in oak for eight months.
1972 VIGNOBLES CANET, PICPOUL DE PINET, AOP, TÊTE DE CUVÉE, 2019
Aromas of honeysuckle and sherbet mingle with those of lime leaves. On the palate, it is soft and smooth; easy drinking with flavours of sweet limes and elderflower with a supple mid-palate. Citrus flavours of lemon and tinned grapefruit persist on the tongue complemented by a firm acidity. Picpoul grapes were grown in the village of Pinet, close to the Étang de Thau and the Mediterranean Sea.
lime, tinned grapefruit, [00]
Shrimp ceviche with avocado and lime
2020-2022, M8 D9
Smoky, dark fruits 18°C
Vanilla, spicy, bitter cherries
Stir-fried duck breast lo mein with oyster sauce
2020-2021, M8 D9
Honeysuckle, lime leaves, sherbet 6°C
photo — Nestled between vineyards & olive groves, Château Canet offers a perfect place to get away and hear the chatter of the birds. 9
1973
BULLES D’O, BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX, AOP, TÊTE DE CUVÉE, 2017
Mauzac, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
$ 29.00 $ 174.00
A delicious sparkling wine for any occasion, it is pale in colour with appealing white fruits, lime custard and lemon sherbet aromas. The creamy mousse produces a smooth palate with nice lemon acidity. Fermented in bottle to produce the bubbles, it was matured on lees for two years. The monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire started making sparkling wine in 1531; 150 years before Champagne was invented.
2020-2021, M8 D9
White fruits, lime custard 6° C
Creamy mousse, lemon zest, [02]
Peach cobbler with crème fraîche
1974
CHÂTEAU CANET, AOP MINERVOIS, BLANC, 2019
Roussanne, Vermentino
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
Appealing white fruit and lime blossom aromas precede a supple wine with nice mid-palate and smooth texture. It has a refreshing crisp finish with lingering fresh apples and peach flavours. It is a blend slowly fermented over 187 days at low temperature followed by maturation in tank for eight months with a short time in oak. A gold medal winner at Le Concours Général Agricole Paris 2020.
1975
CHÂTEAU CANET, AOP MINERVOIS, ROUGE, 2019
Syrah, Grenache
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
A juicy wine brimming with red berries and dark fruits, it is intensely coloured and intense in flavour. Medium-bodied and supple with smooth, ripe tannins. A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, grapes were harvested at night and kept cool for four days on their skins. After fermentation, 15% of the wine was matured in oak adding depth rather than oaky character. A Coup de cœur, and not only for me: it was awarded a gold medal by French wine guide Gilbert & Gaillard.
1976
CANET FAMILY RÉSERVE, AOP MINERVOIS, 2019
Syrah, Grenache
$ 28.00 $ 168.00
Family Reserve 2019 is a medium- to fullbodied wine with mellow black fruit, spicy aromas and a subtle hint of soot. It is dense with a smooth powdery texture and delicious ripe black cherry flavours mid-palate. Floris and Vicky have family not only in France but Holland, Canada and New Zealand too. Family reserve is a special cuvée made and bottled specially for the family to enjoy.
2020-2021, M8 D9
White fruits, lime blossom 6°C
Fresh apples, peach, [00]
Poached halibut with mango salsa
2020-2023, M8 D9
Red berries 18°C
Juicy fruits
Classic cassoulet
2020-2024, M8 D9
Mellow, black fruits, soot 18°C
Black cherries
Tri-tip with wine-peppercorn sauce
photo — Harvesting by night at Canet. The early bird catches the worm! 11
CANET LA CHAPELLE, AOP, CUVÉE GRENACHE, 2017
Within Château Canet’s grounds are the remnants of a 12th century chapel, and this is where the estate’s oldest vineyard lies with Grenache vines planted over 70 years ago. The vines are gnarled and twisted, yielding fewer and fewer grapes each year, though producing vibrant wines that are elegant with great depth. The 2017 has a raisined fruit aroma with figs, some treacle and fresh wet earth. Fresh red fruit flavours sing on the palate with a vibrant juicy acidity and flavours of redcurrants and cranberries. It has a soft, grainy texture with lingering flavours of incense and fruit. Grapes were harvested late on October 2, 2017 and underwent a cold maceration for ten days. It was fermented in traditional tanks with the cap pushed down by foot twice a day.
Château Canet produces its two top cuvées from the two most special plots on the estate: La Chapelle and Les Evangiles.
Three bottles each La Chapelle & Les Evangiles
CHÂTEAU CANET LES EVANGILES, AOP, CUVÉE SYRAH, 2018
A rich, concentrated and full-bodied wine. The Syrah vines that produce Les Evangiles are located on the highest point of the estate on deep soils of clay and limestone. The 2018 is youthful with aromas of fresh apples, cooked blackcurrants with vanilla and notes of crumble. Maturation in Burgundian oak barrels, with 30% new, has conferred woody flavours with cloves and nutmeg that complement blackberry flavours. It is concentrated with a grainy texture and will benefit from some cellaring before optimum drinking.
Syrah
CHÂTEAU
Grenache
2020-2024, M8 D9
Fresh earth, treacle, raisined fruit 18°C
Red fruits, cranberries, incense
Tunisian beef stew with dried figs
2020-2026, M7 D9
Cooked blackcurrant, vanilla, crumble 18°C
Nutmeg, clove, dark fruit
Venison daube with currant-jelly sauce
Read about the Carcassonne tourist region, where Château Canet is located, in Vino Etcetera.
Syrah, Grenache
$ 32.00 $ 192.00
The Faugères appellation is 100 kilometres north-east of Château Canet and is typified by its schist soils. Mas d’Encha is owned by a friend of Floris, Richard Dalichoux, who purchased five hectares on prime schist terroir at 300 metres in the year 2000. The vineyard is located on the foothills of the Cévennes Mountains facing south. His 2019 is intense in colour with mellow black olives, cherries and cream aromas. It is mouthfilling and succulent. A dense wine with a solid structure, fine-grained tannins, fresh plum fruits and chocolate flavours.
Black olive, cherries and cream 18°C
Fresh plums, chocolate
Lamb shanks with Kalamata olives
photo — Floris has an eye for perfection — the difference is in the detail.
2020-2026, M7 D9
Combaillaux
BLB Vignobles
Domaine de la Jasse
Domaine de la Jasse, located near the village of Combaillaux to the north of Montpellier, is owned and managed by Bruno Le Breton. The vineyard, originally planted by the Baujard family on virgincleared land in the foothills of the Cévennes Mountains in the 1970s, was purchased by Hans Walraven in 1995. Walraven, a Dutch wine importer with an appreciation of fine Bordeaux, engaged Bruno as winemaker. His task? Produce an “everyday Grand Cru.” And so began this lifelong project. When Walraven retired in 2008, he sold the domain to Bruno. The vision to produce the best possible tasting Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines remains the same with equal added focus on how wines are made and drunk respecting the natural environment, social and health considerations.
photo — Spring time at Domaine de la Jasse. The estate mainly produces Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up about 70% of the vineyard.
1980 FINES BULLES DE LA JASSE, BRUT, ROSÉ, VIN DE FRANCE, 2019
Grenache, Syrah, Merlot
$ 27.00 $ 162.00
A soft, smooth glass of bubbly, it is delicate salmonpink in colour with blackcurrant cordial, blackberry flavours and a crisp dry finish. A blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Merlot, grapes were pressed and fermented in pressure tanks to retain the natural sparkle produced by the yeast.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Blackcurrant cordial 5°C
Blackberries, crisp finish, [00]
Spicy vegetable pakoras with tamarind dipping sauce
1981 VIEILLES VIGNES DE LA JASSE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
2021-2024, M7 D8
Herbal, black cherries 18°C
Treacle, cherries, bitter chocolate
Ratatouille with fennel and goat cheese
The vineyards of Domaine de la Jasse are planted in the foothills of the Cévennes Mountains between 150200 metres altitude. The altitude and proximity of the mountains means that during the warm summer months, cool nights allow Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to ripen slowly and develop fresh intense flavours and tannins. The 2019 Vieilles Vignes has herbal and green leaf aromas over a black cherry background. The palate is silky with succulent black cherry fruits, treacle and bitter chocolate flavours. Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Merlot.
photo — “La Jasse” means shelter in Occitan. The plane tree of the Domaine, now 110 years old, inspired the design of the house logo.
Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 27.00 $ 162.00
For many years, the advice of Patrick Léon, previously Technical Director at Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, Bordeaux, helped Bruno discover how to get the most out of his Cabernet Sauvignon. Réserve d’Excellence was the result of the close collaboration between the two. It is made from a special selection of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes which undergo an extended maceration. The 2018 has savoury aromas with spices, curry leaves and green peppers. It is a succulent wine with lots of dark fruits, ripe cherries and blackcurrant. Rich and smooth, it is dense with a fine texture and lingering flavours of bitter cherries and marzipan.
2020-2024, M7 D9
Savoury, curry leaf, blackcurrant, spices 18°C
Bitter cherries, marzipan
Hanger steak with chimichurri
2018 Tête de Cuvée de la Jasse has mellow aromas with a distinctly oaky-spicy character yet is more restrained in aroma currently than the Réserve d’Excellence with subtle dark fruits. It is fine in texture with succulent black cherry and blackberry fruits and a good mid-palate. Grapes came from a parcel selection of the estate’s oldest vineyards on the finest limestone soils. One of my favorites in the Cellar Offering, like all the Domaine de la Jasse reds, it is a wine with both finesse and structure and has the potential for some cellaring.
2020-2025, M7 D9
Mellow, oak spice, subtle fruits
Black cherries, blackberries
18°C
Blackberry-braised beef short ribs with thyme
photo — Bruno Le Breton, the winemaker, is committed to staying true to the terroir and microclimate of the region.
photo — The Château is located in the middle of the Domaine Blomac vineyard. It has been transformed into a luxury bed and breakfast.
CELLAR 278 — QUEBEC
LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
Paul Sapin
Thierry Coulon was a fan of Languedoc wines for many years, appreciating the quality and value of wines that could be made in the region. Collaborating with Olivier Mandeville at Domaine Peirière at Azille, the company purchased their own vineyards at Blomac making a range of varietal wines.
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR 1984 MAISON BELLEROCHE GRENACHE ROSÉ, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Pale baby-pink in colour, this is a light refreshing rosé made from Grenache with fresh fruit flavours. Grown on clay limestone soils, Grenache was harvested with some of the grapes pressed immediately, some left on their skins for hours.
Apples,
Malbec
$
A medium- to full-bodied Malbec with red cherry and mulberry flavours, it is supple and easy drinking.
Malbec grapes were grown close to Béziers on light pebbly soils.
Cabernet Sauvignon
A light- to medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with appealing blackberry and raspberry flavours.
Sauvignon Blanc
$ 17.00 $ 204.00
Intense tropical fruit aromas with a touch of flint lead to a smooth palate. This is a lightbodied white wine with lots of mango and lemon flavours made by Olivier Mandeville at Domaine Peirière. The estate at Azille lies in the heart of the Minervois, while some of the vineyards are just outside the appellation producing varietal IGP wines. The location benefits from the proximity of the Montagne Noire to provide cool relief at night from the summer heat.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Mulberries 16°C
Red cherries
Blue cheese-stuffed grilled hamburger
2020-2022, M8 D9
Blackberries 18°C
Raspberries, dark fruit
Fondue Bourguignonne with Gruyere and Gouda sauce
2020-2021, M8 D9
Tropical fruits, flint 5°C
Mango, lemon, [01]
Sole meunière with lemon butter
photo — Minerve is a small city in the heart of the Languedoc. This is where “Minervois” get its name.
CELLAR 278 — QUEBEC
1988
IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
$ 18.00 $ 216.00
Olivier Mandeville’s father was one of the first to plant Viognier in the Languedoc decades before the grape variety became the commercial success that it is today. His 2019 has ripe peach, banana and white fruits on the nose. It is crisp with a refreshing acidity and a lemon-mango finish.
1989 DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE RÉSERVE
The soft medium-bodied Merlot from Domaine Peirière has leafy and green pepper aromas followed by savoury flavours. This 400-year-old family estate has a total of 230 hectares of vines. The Merlot vines for this wine were planted 20-25 years ago by Mandeville.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Ripe peaches, banana 6°C
White fruits, lemon, mango, [00]
Thai fish cakes with lemongrass
2020-2022, M8 D9
Green leaf, green pepper 18°C
Savoury
Veal chops with rosemary
1990 DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE RÉSERVE PINOT NOIR, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Pinot Noir
$ 19.00 $ 228.00
2019 Domaine Peirière Réserve Pinot Noir is a structured wine with dark cherry aromas and blackberry flavours. It is supple with floral notes evolving in the glass with more weight and structure than most Pinots.
2020-2022,
1991 DOMAINE BLOMAC CHARDONNAY, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Chardonnay
$ 18.00 $ 216.00
A smooth supple Chardonnay with no use of oak, it has appealing grapefruit and lemon curd flavours with a crisp finish.
M8 D9
Black cherries 16°C
Sour blackberry, floral
Classic coq au vin
2020-2021, M8 D9
Grapefruit 6°C
Lemon curd, smooth, crisp, [01]
Blue cheese with a drizzle of honey
bottom photo — Thierry Coulon in the Chardonnay vineyards of Domaine Peirière.
22 CELLAR 278 — QUEBEC
Sourced from the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy, this 2019 Bourgogne Blanc has intense fresh melon and pear aromas. It is smooth and round with a crisp acidity and lingering lemon and nectarine finish. Fermented in stainless steel vats with no use of oak.
Black cherries, sweet blueberries and a touch of spice precede a more savoury character on the palate with dark fruits and a twist of nutmeg. It is medium bodied with a supple mid-palate and sour cherry finish with grip.
Produced from Malbec grapes grown in Limoux, La Maridelle Malbec has appealing berry fruits with just a hint of leather on the nose. More ripe fruits emerge on the palate which is smooth and soft. This is a medium-bodied wine which is easy drinking and flavoursome on the finish.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Blueberries, black cherries, lint 18°C
Savoury notes, dark fruit, nutmeg
Leg of lamb stuffed with dried fruits
2020-2022, M8 D9
Soft berries, hint leather 18°C
Smooth ripe fruits
Grilled drumsticks with hoisin
2020-2022, M8 D9
Fresh melons, pears 6°C
Supple, lemon, nectarine, crisp, [00]
Pan-seared salmon with lemon-butter sauce
top photo — The village of Siran, located at the foot of the Black Mountain, is the ancient site of a Roman castrum. 23
photo — Katie Jones’ Grenache vineyard, under the imposing Queries Castle just over the border in the Roussillon.
24 CELLAR 278 — QUEBEC
LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
Tuchan Domaine Jones
Domaine Jones was started by Katie Jones from her little village of Tuchan in south-west France. Around Tuchan, the landscape is dotted with ruins of ancient fortified castles atop hills. Known as “Cathar country,” the Cathars were a religious sect which flourished in the 12th century challenging the authority of the Catholic Church who condemned them as heretics. During the crusade against them, the Cathars took refuge in these sites.
Katie came to live in Tuchan to work for the local cooperative, and for years she sold Fitou wines around the world. When she heard talk of ancient vines on steep hillsides being abandoned – they were too much hard work with yields which were not economically viable – she was determined to see what she could do. She took the plunge and bought her first small plot in 2009.
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
1996 KATIE JONES ROUGE, VIN DE FRANCE, 2018
Grenache, Syrah
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
Katie Jones Red is a wine with restraint; brambly fruit on the nose follows through onto the palate. It is light- to medium-bodied and supple with a velvety mid-palate and some grip on the finish. A blend of 80% Grenache with 20% Syrah.
1997
HERBARIUM CARIGNAN, DOMAINE JEAN-MARC ASTRUC, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2019
Carignan $ 24.00 $ 144.00
Deep in colour, Herbarium Carignan has mellow, cooked plummy fruits and mulberry jam aromas. It is soft, smooth, mediumbodied and dense with a fine-grained texture and lingering flavours. It was produced from Carignan grown in two sites, both organically farmed: Puy de la Gardie and Les Rouires.
Vinification was adapted to keep the tannins soft by first placing a layer of hand-picked whole-bunch Carignan in the bottom of the tank, then filling with destalked grapes. It was kept on skins for eight days.
Aromas reminiscent of the wild scrub in spring and summer –lavender, wild herbs and blueberries – are all present. This is a light- to mediumbodied Fitou with fresh tangy fruit flavours and a powdery cocoa finish made by Katie’s husband, JeanMarc Astruc, who comes from a traditional winemaking family in Tuchan. Grapes for this came from three sites: Puy de la Gardie, a hillside with clay and limestone soils; Les Rouires, in the valley on colluvial and schist soils; and La Tuilerie, in the valley on clay and limestone. This new range of wines was inspired by the numerous wildflowers and herbs found in vineyards around Fitou including wild rosemary, lavender and olive.
2020-2026, M7 D8
Red fruits, red apples 18°C
Vanilla, black cherry
Hachis Parmentier (shepherd’s pie)
Follow Katie’s vineyard adventures on her Instagram page @domainejones
Grenache
$ 32.00 $ 192.00
90-year-old Grenache vines are planted on black slate soils near the village of Maury, a short drive south-west of Tuchan. The vineyard has breathtaking views and is overlooked by Quéribus Castle, perched like an eagle’s nest at the top of a crag. A refuge for the Cathars during their persecution, Quéribus was the last bastion in the region to fall to French crusaders in 1255 to become part of the Kingdom of France. The historic spot is where Katie started Domaine Jones, purchasing her first plot of 8,000 vines. Her 2018 is deep in colour; raspberry aromas are nicely complemented by an herbal green leaf edge. On the palate, it is a rich, mouth-filling wine, smooth with flavours of raspberries, cherries and chocolate. It is dense and fullbodied yet supple with lingering appeal.
green leaf
Crushed raspberries, cherries, chocolate
Bulgogi Korean beef barbecue
2020-2026, M7 D8
Raspberries,
18°C
bottom photo — Katie loves rambling around the vineyards in her trusty Citroën Dyane.
2000 DOMAINE JONES FITOU, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOP, 2018
Carignan, Grenache, Syrah $ 35.00 $ 210.00
Bitter cherries, blackberries, savoury
Braised marinated rabbit
Spicy forest fruits, redcurrants with a hint of green leaf make up the bouquet of the old vine Fitou. On the palate, a great tension exists between ripe fruit and savoury rosemary and liquorice notes with lots of forest fruits, bitter cherries and blackberries. A wine with great depth and potential for cellaring. Domaine Jones has 20 small vineyard parcels around the village of Tuchan; each was picked by hand and vinified separately. The fermentation was adapted to each variety and vineyards with grapes macerated from 10 days up to five weeks. The final assemblage is 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache and 30% Syrah with 30% aged with oak.
2018 Carignan Vieux Cépages has pure flavours of cassis and blackcurrants combined with a fresh crystalline sourness. This is a medium-bodied wine with a grainy texture, restrained on the nose with aromas of plums and apricot skins. Carignan grapes came from two small plots planted over 100 years ago in Tuchan. Both are farmed organically: one on limestone and clay soils, the other schist.
blackcurrant, bitter cherry
Vegan Irish stew with savoury dumplings
2021-2026, M7 D8
Spicy forest fruits, redcurrants 18°C
2020-2024, M7 D8
Plum skins, blueberries 18°C
Cassis,
photo — Katie and “Monsieur Jones”. A true vine romance! 27
Lieu-dit Morta Majo Patrimonio
Domaine Orenga de Gaffory CORSICA
The island of Corsica is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Often called a “mountain in the sea,” it is the most mountainous island of the Mediterranean, reaching to 2,700 metres. Most of the island is granite formed about 250 million years ago, but a small corner in the north, around Patrimonio, has deep sedimentary limestone soils pushed up from the ocean floor. Henri Orenga de Gaffory organically farms 56 hectares of vineyards on these clay-limestone soils with gravels and schist.
photo — Patrimonio is Corsica’s oldest appellation, created in 1968, with a reputation going back to the Middle Ages.
L’ALZETANA BLANC, AOP PATRIMONIO, ORENGA DE GAFFORY, 2019
Vermentino
$ 31.00 $ 186.00
A deliciously subtle wine with ethereal aromas of nectarines and orange blossom. After the tasting day was over, I took it home and it was an absolute treat. The fresh fruit aromas lead to a smooth palate with more stone fruits –nectarines, apricot and cream with a citrus finish. A wine with grace and presence.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Nectarine, orange blossom 6°C
Ripe stone fruits, [00]
carpaccio with blood orange
2004
L’ALZETANA ROSÉ, AOP PATRIMONIO, ORENGA DE GAFFORY, 2019
Nielluccio, Sciacarello
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
Candied peel, red fruits, [00]
2020-2021, M8 D9
Corsican rosé wines are akin to Provence rosés, although they are generally made from different grape varieties – in this case, a blend of 90% Nielluccio and 10% Sciacarello. Pale in colour, it has a winey nose with some spice and earth with subtle red fruits. It is smooth and well-balanced with some candied peel and red fruit flavours.
Tuna
Salade Niçoise
top photo — Harvest takes place in September when plump sun-drenched berries burst with delicious flavours and fragrant aromas.
L’ALZETANA ROUGE, AOP
PATRIMONIO, ORENGA DE GAFFORY, 2017
Nielluccio, Grenache
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
A light- to mediumbodied red wine with aromas of treacle, plums, raisins and floral notes with some coffee. Fresh raspberries and plum flavours come through on the palate with a grippy chocolate finish. Nielluccio, a local variant of the Sangiovese grape (Corsica is geographically closer to Italy and Tuscany than France), does best cultivated on the chalky limestone soils of Patrimonio in the north of the island.
2006 DOMAINE ORENGA DE GAFFORY, MUSCAT DU CAP CORSE, 2019
Muscat
At the very top of the island, Cap Corse is a rugged peninsula 40 kilometres long and just 15 kilometres wide, yet it takes a full day to drive the narrow windy route around it. In this modern age, Cap Corse feels somewhat forgotten although it was once one of the most prosperous regions of the island. At its centre are mountains and untamed landscapes dotted with ancient chapels and convents; around its edges lie picturesque fishing villages, hamlets and remote beaches. The region makes a unique sweet wine: Muscat de Cap Corse. The 2019 Domaine Orenga de Gaffory has lemon curd aromas with just a touch of rose petal. On the palate, it is sweet with just the right level of alcohol and acidity to give balance. It is smooth with great depth of flavour leading to a long bitter orange finish.
Lamb tagine with dates
Jane Masters MW got her start working for this vineyard! Read about it in Vino Etcetera.
Sichuan peppercorn-spiced wings
2020-2023, M8 D9
Treacle, raisins, coffee, plums, floral 18°C
Raspberry, chocolate
2020-2024, M7 D9
Lemon curd, rose petal 6°C
Ripe fruits, Turkish delight, bitter orange, [07]
Ternand
Bernard Perrin BURGUNDY
Burgundy is home to two world famous varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir is a capricious grape. Winemakers around the world strive to harness its potential and to emulate the wines of Burgundy. Growing conditions and centuries of know-how in Burgundy produce wines that are distinctive, elegantly perfumed and relatively light bodied yet with savoury characters and longevity.
photo — Morey-Saint-Denis is a charming village in Côte de Nuits. Il has managed to keep its soul and traditions alive. 33
2007
DOMAINE DES TERRES GENTILLES, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOP BOURGOGNE ROUGE, 2018
$ 34.00 $ 204.00 NEW
A light-bodied Pinot produced in the southern Mâconnais region at Azé, it has a spicy balsamic nose with sour cherry flavours. While light in structure, it has some grip and a bitter cherry finish.
2020-2023, M8 D9
2008 DOMAINE BONNARDOT, AOP CÔTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES, 2017
$ 49.00 $ 294.00
and bitter cherries
A complex bouquet with aromas of fraises des bois (wild strawberries), blueberries, spices and lots of vanilla oak. It is mediumto full-bodied with dark fruits, bitter cherry and chocolate all present on the palate. 2017 was the first good year after a series of vintages affected by hail, frost and drought. Made by Daniele Bonnardot from 70 to 80-year-old vines in plots at PremeauxPrissey, Comblanchien and Corgoloin in the south of the appellation. No herbicides or insecticides are used in the vineyards and all grapes were picked by hand. After a short cold maceration, the juice was naturally fermented in tank followed by malolactic fermentation in oak barrels with 20% new. It was matured a further 12 months in barrel and bottled in March 2019.
Vanilla, dark fruits, chocolate
Roast quail with balsamic reduction
Spicy 18°C
Sour
Pot-au-feu
2020-2025, M7 D9
Wild strawberries, blueberries, spice 18°C
photo — Domaine Désertaux-Ferrand owns these vineyards in the Beaune 1er Cru appellation. This landscape is typical of Bourgogne.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Translucent ruby in colour, Domaine Désertaux-Ferrand 2018 Bourgogne has aromas of blackcurrant, coffee and smoke. It is smooth with a fine silky texture and medium bodied with a ripe cherry finish. Vincent Désertaux makes his Bourgogne Pinot Noir from 2.32 hectares of 40-year-old vines with the aim to produce a wine ready for early drinking with no use of oak. The winery at Corgoloin is ideally situated at the juncture of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
2010 DOMAINE DÉSERTAUX-FERRAND, AOP CÔTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES, LES PERRIÈRES, 2018
Les Perrières is a single large parcel of 2.6 hectares to the west of the village of Corgoloin. The 2018 has fresh red fruit aromas with bitter cherry and marzipan. On the palate it is supple with good mid-palate fruit, finishing on notes of red cherries, redcurrant, and vanilla. It was matured in oak for 12 months.
Brie and pecans
2020-2023, M8 D9
Blackcurrant, coffee 18°C
Ripe cherries, smoky
Herbed pork roast with fennel
2020-2025, M6 D9
Bitter cherries, marzipan 18°C
Redcurrant, red cherry, vanilla
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc $
This wine has an intense and appealing perfume with citrus, verbena, lime, fresh apples, nectarine and spring meadow notes. It is medium bodied and smooth with a creamy texture and flavours of passion fruit. It lingers on the palate, finishing with some bitter fruit. Predominantly Chardonnay with 30% Pinot Blanc, grapes were grown in a 1.7-hectare plot. Fermented in vat, it was then matured in oak barrels using 25% new oak for 10 months.
2020-2023, M7 D9
Tropical fruits, [00] 6°C
Mussels with basil and lemongrass
ideal with
After a series of small crops, the 2018 harvest was the second consecutive year to produce high-quality wines. The Dubois family have been vintners in Chorey-lesBeaune since the 1800s. Jacques Dubois farms several parcels around Chorey and Savigny. Wines are all fermented with indigenous yeast and matured in oak barrels with no filtration or fining.
Two bottles each Clos Margot, Les Ratausses & Les Brunettes
photo — Raymon Quaile has been picking grapes for over 36 years at Désertaux-Ferrand—he wouldn’t miss harvesting season for anything!
CELLAR
DOMAINE DUBOIS BERNARD & FILS, AOP CHOREY-LES-BEAUNE, CLOS MARGOT, 2018
DOMAINE DUBOIS BERNARD & FILS, AOP SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNE, LES RATAUSSES, 2018
Clos Margot 2018 is a medium- to full-bodied wine with cola, spices, woody notes with figs and cooked damson fruits. It is concentrated and tightly knit needing some time to open. Decanting with aeration is recommended if it is to be drunk soon. The vineyard is close to the village of Chorey-les-Beaune and is a single plot of 18 “ouvrées” or 0.75 hectares. It was matured in barrels made of oak from the Allier and Vosges forests for 12 months.
Red forest fruits, cola and just a hint of leather comprise the nose of 2018 Les Ratausses. This is a medium-bodied wine with a supple palate and lots of spicy fruit flavours. It is smooth with nice depth and a black liquorice finish. Les Ratausses is a one-hectare plot of 50-year-old vines in the southern part of the Savigny-les-Beaune appellation. Made in the same way as the Clos Margot, it is ready for drinking earlier.
DOMAINE DUBOIS BERNARD & FILS, AOP ALOXE-CORTON, LES BRUNETTES, 2018
Pinot Noir
Tightly wound and not very expressive, 2018 Les Brunettes is well balanced with a firm grippy finish and will benefit from some bottle maturation before drinking. It has restrained aromas of earth and spice which precede a supple concentrated palate. Some red cherry flavours emerge on the finish giving it a delicious freshness. Les Brunettes is a parcel of 80-year-old vines lying on the lower slope close to the village of Aloxe-Corton. Soils are deep and produce powerful wines.
Restrained, spices 18°C
Tight, concentrated, red cherries
Vegetarian mushroom and squash bake
photo — This photo from 1905 shows the Dubois Family, their children and cousins getting together to harvest with wicker baskets.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
2020-2026, M6 D7
Figs, cola, damson, spices 18°C
Cherries, woody
Baked ham with cherry-balsamic glaze
2022-2030, M6 D6
2020-2026, M6 D8
Red forest fruits, hint leather 18°C
Cola, spicy fruits, black liquorice
Braised duck with cardamom and cloves
THE LOIRE VALLEY
Alligny-Cosne Maison Foucher Lebrun
Maison Foucher Lebrun specializes in wines from across the Loire Valley. The meandering Loire is the longest river in France at 1,012 kilometres. Rising in the Cévennes Mountains, it flows north to Orléans then westwards at which point it becomes the backdrop to a series of wine regions starting with Sancerre and Pouilly and ending with Muscade,t close to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. A variety of grapes and wine styles are made along it. After a mild winter, spring 2019 alternated between warm days and cooler temperatures. It was relatively dry during the growing season with a heatwave in June and again in August. Harvest in September took place when mornings were fresh with mild to warm afternoons, resulting in fresh, flavoursome wines.
Melon de Bourgogne
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
Fresh green apples, spring blossoms, fresh fennel and a yeasty character lead to a steely palate with nice mid-palate apple fruits and a saline finish. Domaine de la Bretonnière has 23 hectares of vineyards on granite schist soils. The Muscadet region constitutes the most western vineyards of the Loire Valley, close to where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire. The fresh crisp white wines go perfectly with a plate of oysters.
2020-2021, M8 D9
2015 TOURAINE SAUVIGNON, AOC, CÉCILE LEBRUN, 2019
2014
CABERNET D’ANJOU EN MIREBEAU, AOC, 2019
Cabernet Franc
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
An off dry rosé, medium pink in colour with blackcurrant and leaf aromas. The residual sweetness gives a rich impression with lots of character. The vineyard lies on the north-east boundary of the Anjou appellation on the right bank of the Loire. Anjou was a province prior to the French Revolution and takes its name from the city of Angers which was the capital.
Dark fruits, [03]
beet salad with goat cheese and a cherry vinaigrette
Sauvignon Blanc
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A characterful Sauvignon wine with floral aromas of lilies and a touch of citronella. It is soft and round, broad in structure with a lime-citrus finish. The Touraine appellation in the middle Loire extends over a large area around the town of Tours. Sauvignon vines for Cécile Lebrun are cultivated in the town of Thésée on the banks of the Cher – a tributary of the Loire – with south-west/ south-east exposition.
Blossom, yeasty, fennel 6°C
Green apple, [00]
Raw oysters with green-apple mignonette
2020-2021, M8 D9
Leafy, blackcurrant leaf 6°C
Roasted
2020-2021, M8 D9
Floral, lilies, citronella 6°C
Lime, citrus, [00]
Risotto with asparagus and lemon zest
An intensely perfumed wine with aromas of blackcurrant juice, floral notes and coffee grinds. It is medium-bodied and supple with more fresh juicy black fruits showing through in the mouth, complemented by a hint of herbs. Gamay was grown on sandy clay soils in the commune of Oisly.
A medium-dry wine with honeysuckle and camomile aromas. Its sweetness is contrasted by a tangy acidity giving perfect balance. It is smooth with ripe yellow nectarine flavours and a bitter grapefruit finish giving length. Vouvray, an appellation within Touraine on the right bank of the Loire, produces some of the most distinctive Chenins in the world. Cécile Lebrun was grown in the commune of Chancay in a westfacing hillside parcel. Soils are mainly sand and gravel from the Miocene period over a flint clay subsoil.
Juicy black fruits, fresh mint
Roasted chicken thighs with currant-hoisin glaze
2020-2022, M8 D9
Floral, blackcurrant juice, coffee 18°C
photo — Caroline Moro, winemaker, tastes a rosé wine in the cellar.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Honeysuckle, camomile 6°C
Sweet nectarine, bitter grapefruit, [04]
Bûcheron cheese and toasted walnuts
Cabernet Franc $ 27.00 $ 162.00
Lots of fresh herbs, tarragon, fresh grass and tobacco leaf are present with blackcurrant cordial and raspberry juice flavours emerging. Cécile Lebrun 2019 Chinon is medium bodied with dark fruit flavours and a savoury grippy finish. 20% of the final assemblage was matured in old oak barrels. Chinon is a red wine gem of the Touraine region, located at its western end. The area lies on the left bank of the Loire and is bisected by the Vienne River. Grapes for this wine were grown in two plots close to the town of Chinon on gravelly soils over a tufa subsoil.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Tarragon, tobacco, blackcurrant cordial 16°C
Dark fruits, herbs
Classic baked ziti
Sauvignon Blanc
$ 38.00 $ 228.00
Fresh apples, white blossoms with a hint of passion fruit, 2019 Cécile Lebrun Pouilly Fumé is supple and smooth with fresh lime flavours. It is quite light in weight yet broad in structure with a pithy citrus finish. The Pouilly Fumé appellation in the far east of the Loire Valley lies just across the river from Sancerre around the town of Pouilly-sur-Loire. Both appellations make similar dry crisp wines from Sauvignon Blanc grown on limestone and clay hills on either side of the Loire. Pouilly Fumé should not be confused with Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy, which is made from Chardonnay.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Fresh apples, spring blossom, passion fruit 6°C
Fresh lime, [00]
Smoked salmon
photo — Freshly harvested grapes are placed in small boxes before going to the winery.
2020 CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT, AOC, CÉCILE LEBRUN
Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
Green apples and grapey aromas are typical of Chenin Blanc in this Crémant de Loire sparkling. It is creamy in texture with honeyed flavours, a deliciously crisp acidity and slight bitter citrus finish adding length. Produced using the traditional bottle fermentation, it is a blend of 50% Chenin Blanc, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir which was matured for 24 months on lees. The northern geography of the Loire Valley, and the influence of the Ocean on climate, means that some years it can be difficult for grapes to ripen. Like Champagne, this led to the development of sparkling wine production which requires higher acidity and less natural sugar in the grapes.
PROVENCE
2021 MARINETTE, AOP CÔTES DE PROVENCE, 2019
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah $ 28.00 $ 168.00
A delicious Provence rosé which will work well as an apéritif and with food. It is pale in colour with subtle aromas and a hint of rosehip. Produced from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, it is easy drinking yet has substance on the palate. Packaged in a smart “skittle,” or bowling pin shaped, bottle, it adorns any table. Provence is the home of rosé wines: their popularity has led to many other regions taking rosé seriously. Previously considered a “summer” wine, rosé is now drunk year-round. In fact, one in every three bottles of wine drunk by the French is now rosé.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Grapey, green apple 6°C
Honey, apples, citrus pith, [02]
Lightly fried calamari and citrus aioli
2020-2021, M8 D9
Rosehip, subtle fruits 6°C
Vinous red fruits, silky smooth, [00]
Lobster and Bibb lettuce salad
photo — Pruning the vines is a crucial part of growing quality grapes. 43
OPIMIAN SUBSCRIPTION CASES
WITH 1 SIMPLE SUBSCRIPTION automatically receive 9 surprise cases of Opimian wines per year selected by Jane Masters MW, Opimian’s Master of Wine. Each case is carefully prepared by an independent winemaker from a different region.
9 surprise cases with producer tasting notes
6 bottles of one premium wine sourced uniquely for Founders’ Choice
54 bottles per year of rare wines to distinguish your cellar
