NEWFOUNDLAND ORDER BY JUNE 1, 2009
OFFERING 189
wines South Africa, New and& the Australia The GoldenThe Slopes of of Burgundy, Provence, theZealand Loire Valley South of France
Harvest at Domaine Billard - 1948 Michel Billard, Jérôme’s father, pictured on the right
CELLAR OFFERING 189 The Golden Slopes of Burgundy, Provence, the Loire Valley & the South of France We present an eclectic selection of wines from the sun-drenched vines of southern France to the misty, pastel-shaded countryside of the Loire, France’s longest river and one which is rimmed on both banks by vineyards. Between the two, the Côte d’Or of Burgundy provides inspiration for winemakers and wine lovers the world over whose admiration for Pinot Noir knows no boundaries.
Burgundy
The Cote d’Or
DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS La Rochepot Traditionally the home of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals, Burgundy from the Côte d’Or has long been known as the “King of Wines”. Among thousands of smallholdings across the Burgundy area, from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south, there are countless small domaines similar to that of Jérôme and Elisabeth Billard. This couple is utterly passionate about their wines and work long hours among their vines and in the winery to produce wines of superb quality.
The Billard Family - Elisabeth, Victor, Louis and Jérôme with the newest addition to their family, Gautier. Château La Rochepot in the background
2
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS >>
5082
BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ, AOC, 2008 $26.00
6 BTLS/750 ML $156.00
This is the only white wine in Burgundy which is not produced from the Chardonnay grape. It is fermented in steel tanks and bottled early so that it retains its crisp, fresh characteristics. Clean fragrance on the nose is joined by green apples and lemon notes. In the mouth, the acidity is perfectly balanced by the softness of the fruit. Serve it well-chilled. [00] M8 D8
5083
BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES-DE-BEAUNE BLANC, LA JUSTICE, AOC, 2008 $31.17
6 BTLS/750 ML $187.00
The greatest Burgundies are found in this appellation located along the summit of the hills that rise from the river and above the Côte d’Or also known as the “golden slope”. As if following a pattern each year, Jérôme works to capture the essence of his Chardonnay which in Burgundy combines the attributes of the grape with the unique terroir of the vineyards. Partly vinified and aged in oak barrels and partly in stainless steel tanks, this is elegant and well-structured with good acidity. It has an oak and spice nose with complex aromas of dry grass, fern and hazelnuts. [00] M7 D8
5084
SAINT ROMAIN, LA COMBE BAZIN, AOC, 2008 $40.67
6 BTLS/750 ML $244.00
Saint Romain is one of the well-kept secrets of the Côte d’Or, lying just south of the great villages of Meursault and Puligny, sharing the same chalky limestone with a southeastern exposure in one part and gravel and clay with an eastern aspect in the other. The wine, characterized by notes of hazelnuts and fragrant peachy fruit, is quite similar to Puligny-Montrachet. The palate has medium body and depth with fine acidic balance, generous, ripe fruit, supple vinosity and gentle oak notes that lead through the acidity to a clean, sustained finish. [00] M6 D7
5085
BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES-DE-BEAUNE, AOC, 2008 $31.17
6 BTLS/750 ML $187.00
Every glass of Pinot Noir seems to reset the parameters by which the grape can be judged. This one from Billard is typical and correct. Mid-pinkish red, it is not at all deep, but clear and raspberry-hued. If the aroma is still a little hard, there is an enticing promise of ripe cherry fruit, a ripple of oak, sweet spice and the classic Pinot Noir forest leaf note that characterizes Burgundy. A fresh and lively palate, with chewy Morello cherry and a squeeze of raspberries, is the introduction to a long, youthful, acidic finish. M6 D7
BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS >>
The essence and heart of Aligoté is found in its freshness Grape Variety
Aligoté
Aroma
Sliced apple and pear
Taste
Good weight, perfect balance
Serve
9° C
Evolution
At its best in the first couple of years, drink by end of 2010
Ideal with
Seafood, warm chicken salad
Excellent bouquet with subtlety and firm, underlying richness Grape Variety
Chardonnay
Aroma
Citrus with apples and melon
Taste
Light and racy, fresh acidity, green apple and lemon rind, dry finish
Serve
9° - 11° C
Evolution
Needs a little patience to allow the acidity to settle down with the fruit
Ideal with
Roast duck with rosemary-orange butter sauce
From beginning to end, this is about “terroir” Grape Variety
Chardonnay
Aroma
Citrus, pears, honey
Taste
Well-balanced, medium-bodied, small oak, crisp acidity
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Not ready yet, but in a year it will be delightful, drink 2010 - 2015
Ideal with
Poached salmon with tarragon sauce and fingerling potatoes
Here is the striking individuality of a classy Pinot Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
Medium-bodied with intense ripe cherry and raspberry
Taste
Savoury elements are starting to emerge
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Only just started on the journey, drink 2010 - 2015
Ideal with
Asian flavoured salmon cooked in a salt crust
NEWFOUNDLAND
3
5086
AUXEY-DURESSES, AOC, 2008 $38.83
6 BTLS/750 ML $233.00
The commune is situated in the heart of the Côte de Beaune where clay and chalk soils add complexity to the red wines. This wine emphasizes raspberry, blackberry and the first signs of the farmyard, with animal aromas that define the best aged reds. In the glass, it has a light style with fine oak, allowing the fruit characteristics to develop. Soft and rich, the wine displays berry fruit, plums and cherries on the nose and palate with a good tannin structure. M6 D7
5087
BEAUNE, LES BONS FEUVRES, AOC, 2008 $41.50
6 BTLS/750 ML $249.00
The wine has a beautiful red colour with a supple initial impact in the mouth, especially given its youth. The characteristics are quintessentially Beaune, uniting an aromatic bouquet with full body, ample fruit and structure with generous red berry fruit flavours. Great depth of flavour combines the delicacy of ripe raspberries with a good level of sturdy tannin. Billard is a small, environmentally conscious estate where the flow of wine between the arrival of the grapes at the winery until bottling is by gravity. This means that oxygenation during pumping is avoided, resulting in low use of SO2 and captivating pure flavours in the wines as they mature. M6 D6
5088
Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
Plum, raspberry, fresh hay
Taste
Fruity, soft, round with a hint of oak
Serve
13° C
Evolution
Very young and needs patience to allow it to develop, drink 2010 - 2015
Ideal with
Roast saddle of hare with redcurrant jelly
Young wine! Juicy and ripe with small smoke and spice touches Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
Raspberry, dark cherry fruit
Taste
Gushing fruit at the entry, firm structure and a spicy mid-palate, slowly ebbing finish
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Very young, hardly in bottle, don’t spoil it by rushing for the corkscrew
Ideal with
Fillet of pork, veal, duck à l'orange
POMMARD, LES TAVANNES, AOC, 2008 $67.83
6 BTLS/750 ML $407.00
Uniquely a red wine village, Pommard’s soil is made up of yellow marls, dolomitic and marled limestone with ferruginous elements. Billard’s vineyard is close to the Château de Pommard, the entire vineyard of Les Tavannes amounting to less than two acres with several owners. Jérôme and Elisabeth have access to a small portion and this is their first offering to Opimian from this vineyard. The wine has a deep colour with intense aromas of blackcurrant, plum and musk. The crisp, red fruit palate is elegant with firm tannic structure and silky, smooth fruit leading to a lingering finish. M6 D6
4
Proper, perfumed, silky and fruit-driven
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
A fine Pinot with upfront primary fruits Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
A powerful basket of pink and red fruits
Taste
Dark cherries, blackberries, vanilla, hazelnuts
Serve
19° C
Evolution
Do not open until the next comet, drink 2011 – 2018
Ideal with
Roast duck with Morello cherry sauce
BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS
Provence
Harvest at Château Vignelaure
CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE Rians-en-Provence This is one of the most beautiful properties of Provence, inextricably linking its former owner, Georges Brunet, with the late Yves Saint Laurent who visited when he needed rest and refuge. Another owner, David O’Brien selected a label with one of Saint Laurent’s line drawings to be used for Opimian; that label, Le Page, features in this offering. Château Vignelaure has changed owners once more, but we remain entirely convinced by its outstanding quality and the beauty of its wines.
5089
LA SOURCE DE VIGNELAURE ROSÉ, 2008, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE $25.33
A holiday wine with which to fall in love
6 BTLS/750 ML $152.00
With a glass of Provencal rosé in hand, one can imagine Paul Cézanne with his inseparable school friend Émile Zola sitting in a shaded promenade in Aix. Sadly, it never happened but it was the luminosity of the Provencal sun that inspired Cézanne and that was the motivation behind the delicacy of this light pink wine. Gathered later than usual from low yielding vines, it was produced from four varieties allowed to cool and settle before slow-chilled fermentation extracted the bright, light, pink colour. [00] M8 D8
PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE >>
Grape Variety
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
Light, delicate, floral, mineral touches
Taste
Beautifully balanced, white fruit with orange blossom
Serve
9° C
Evolution
When tasted in February it was brimming with life, drink whenever the sun shines
Ideal with
On its own, fish, white meats, hot chicken salad
NEWFOUNDLAND
5
5090
LE PAGE DE VIGNELAURE ROSÉ, 2008, VIN DE PAYS DE MÉDITERRANÉE $27.17
6 BTLS/750 ML $163.00
The summer of 2008 was mixed, part wet, but never too hot, resulting in the grapes ripening slowly and together. After harvest, grapes from a small patch of 5 hectares, yielding an uncharacteristically low 30 hectolitres per hectare, were chosen to produce this outstanding rosé. The modest yield explains the depth of the bouquet and the penetration of flavour. Even though light, the grape characteristics are typical and pronounced. Scented by spiced blackcurrant with ample fruit and fine tannins, it still tastes young and fresh, but is persistent in the mouth. [00] M8 D8
5091
LA SOURCE DE VIGNELAURE, 2007, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE $28.50
CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, 2005, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE $44.67
6 BTLS/750 ML $268.00
The mix of soils over the vineyard, limestone, clay and gravel, adds complexity to the concentrated flavours that typify Vignelaure’s wines. The colour is profound, a result of a low yield that would be considered un-commercial elsewhere; here it is part of the pursuit for quality. Before fermentation the grapes were macerated for several days, a process that promotes flavour and aroma extraction. After fermentation and storage for 14 months in small oak, it was clarified with egg whites and lightly filtered. Elemental, powerful fruit aromas with sweet, savoury oak and a strikingly rich and long blackberry and chocolate palate are an indication of a superb vintage. M6 D7
5093
CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, 2000, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, MAGNUMS $119.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
Light notes of blackcurrant and roses
Taste
Delicate, poised, balanced
Serve
9° - 10° C
Evolution
Drink during 2009/2010
Ideal with
Pasta, lightly spiced dishes
A full-bodied red with plenty of personality Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Blackberry fruit, dark chocolate, liquorice
Taste
Supple tannins, dark black fruit, beautifully proportioned
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Still youthful, yet very easy to enjoy, drink 2009 2014
Ideal with
Seared venison steak
The affinity between the “terroir” and the Cabernet Sauvignon produces elegance and power Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Cedar, cassis, raspberry, menthol, leaves
Taste
Fleshy, redcurrants, raspberries, cassis
Serve
18° C
Evolution
After three years in bottle it is very easy, but it has sufficient stamina to last several years, drink 2010 - 2016
Ideal with
Pan-fried fillet steak topped with stilton
Concentrated with lots of ripe fruit and perfume
3 BTLS/1500 ML $357.00
This is a happy return to a great vintage, the year of the Millennium, a year when all the elements combined to create perfect conditions for the production of outstanding quality reds. For this offer we persuaded the Château to take the padlock off the cellar door and release a limited number of magnums. In this large size the development has been slowed down to a crawl. The wine is deep crimson purple, sumptuous, a scented herb garden with blackberries, briars and spice. An elegantlystructured, well-concentrated palate with cedar notes ends with powerful tannins. M7 D8
6
Grape Variety
6 BTLS/750 ML $171.00
Although the modestly-sized property produces several wines, their individuality is assured by the separation of the vineyards used for each. This wine comes from a small parcel of old vines, only nine acres in size, where rigid bunch selection prior to hand-harvesting reduces the yield by 12%, leaving only perfect, evenly ripe fruit. The three varieties are kept apart through the winemaking, each following the appropriate regime until blending and bottling after a year in oak. The deep red colour leads to a savoury mixture of tar, blackberry and coffee. Wellbalanced with plenty of concentration and gripping tannins, it ends with a piquant bite. M7 D7
5092
Perfect served chilled on a scorching summer's day
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Muscular, powerful bouquet with leather, spice bitumen and black fruit
Taste
Fine, grainy, sappy tannins, prunes and dark fruit, dry finish
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Well on the way to full maturity, but still has plenty of life, drink to 2012
Ideal with
Roast duck served with a reduced plum sauce
PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE
T
The wines of the
Loire Valley There is something calming about the Loire, timeless, slowly flowing from the heart of France towards the Atlantic, bordered by Sauvignon Blanc vineyards from the tiny freshet at its source to the wide vineyards of Muscadet at the mouth. Perhaps it is most perfectly evoked by the image of an old country woman, at dawn, gathering fat snails by the river’s verdant banks for a feast of escargot, their shells filled with wild garlic picked nearby. This is the Loire, mother of countless superb wines.
Touraine DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT, Les Martinières, Noyers-sur-Cher The Gibaults are our major source of advice and assistance for all the wines of the Loire. From far upstream to Pouilly and Sancerre, through its length until close to the sea, Danielle and Pascal work with a variety of wineries on Opimian’s behalf. One example, Yves Huchet, supplier of Opimian’s much awarded Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine.
Top photo - Town of Sancerre Bottom photo - Domaine Charles Pain
LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT >>
NEWFOUNDLAND
7
5094
SAUVIGNON/CHARDONNAY, CARACTER DE L’ANSÉE, 2007, VIN DE PAYS DE LA LOIRE $20.33
6 BTLS/750 ML $122.00
By France’s archaic wine law this wine cannot be classed with an appellation contrôlée as the blending of these two vines is not permitted. The Loire’s Sauvignon Blanc is rich and stuffed with green fruit qualities while the Chardonnay adds elegant, zesty acidic notes and deep nuances of exotic fruit. It is ripe and stylish with good fruit, not grassy, but fresh and generous with a characteristic flinty grip at the end. [00] M8 D9
5095
SAUVIGNON BLANC, AOC TOURAINE, 2008, DOMAINE GIBAULT $22.00
ROSÉ, FRISSON D’ÉTÉ”, AOC TOURAINE ROSÉ, 2008, DOMAINE GIBAULT $19.67
6 BTLS/750 ML $118.00
This delightful rosé has a touch of residual sugar that takes the edge of the acidity and makes it approachable and easy to like. The nose is multi-layered, a sure result of the mix of varietals that Pascal has selected. Both Cabernets bring their sturdy stature to the party, but by adding a small percentage of Pineau d’Aunis, the wine has changed its nature from basic rosé to complex pink. The bouquet has a weighty dollop of grass and leaves, notes of herbs, including thyme and mint, and a deep reservoir of sun-ripened raspberries. As fine and charming in the mouth as a down-filled duvet, the off-dry flavour adds a similar comfort level to the light structure. [01] M9 D9
5097
GAMAY, FRIANDISE, AOC TOURAINE, 2008, DOMAINE GIBAULT $19.67
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
Aroma
Apple tart, gooseberry pie, fresh apricot
Taste
Full, good weight and grip with firm fruit adding depth and length
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Has the weight and gravitas to develop further, try one now and make a judgement, drink 2009 2011
Ideal with
Grilled shrimps
So much in demand that it is permanently “on allocation” Grape Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Aroma
Clean notes of white fruit and oranges
Taste
Poised, balanced, fresh, zesty acidity
Serve
9° - 10° C
Evolution
Matures well, but it is criminal not to drink it while the fruit is fresh
Ideal with
Warm potato salad with lemon and chives
Quite a big wine, very different from quick, thirst-quenching quaffers Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis
Aroma
Ripe, white orchard fruit, pears and crab apples, some earthiness
Taste
Clean, almost dry, weighty entry, good structure
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Like most rosé wine it is meant to be drunk while in its youth
Ideal with
Olive oil dipped barbecued sardines
Wine to make the heart race with excitement
6 BTLS/750 ML $118.00
This is an utterly different wine from the wines of the same grape grown in Beaujolais. A clean, flinty bouquet leads to abundant, young fruit and a mineral-edged palate. It comes from two of Pascal’s small vineyards, totalling only five acres, “Les Cailloux”, covered with small white pebbles and “Les Hayes Jalette”. No casks or wood ever get close during the winemaking as Pascal’s aim is to show off the freshness of the ripe fruit. Utterly uncomplicated, the wine has a vivid, young, purple colour while the bouquet hints at scents of flowers and sap. The taste is totally berry fruit. M8 D9
8
Grape Variety
6 BTLS/750 ML $132.00
Undoubtedly one of the finest wines of its appellation and type, the domaine wine is only available to loyal customers, as demand far outstrips supply. The vines are grown on two south-facing sites, “Les Faitaux” and “La Loge”, totalling 27 acres where the free-draining, sandy soil reflects the sun onto the fruit bunches during the day. Pascal believes in long, carefully paced winemaking and ageing to develop maximum aroma and flavour. It has a full, fat palate filled with fruit salad flavours. With a fine grip, the depth of flavour is impressive and the finish fine and creamy. [01] M8 D8
5096
A thrilling ride through kiwi, apples, guava and gooseberry
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Grape Variety
Gamay
Aroma
Totally up-front, juicy red berries, flowers
Taste
Tastes as it smells, gorgeous fruit, sap-filled with acidity
Serve
10° - 15° C
Evolution
Ready to be enjoyed
Ideal with
Poached egg salad with shredded Boston lettuce and watercress
LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT >>
5098
CABERNET/CÔT, EMOTION, AOC TOURAINE, 2008, DOMAINE GIBAULT $21.33
6 BTLS/750 ML $128.00
Inclined towards the south, the Gibault estate rises gently up from the river, but it is sheltered from the north by a low ridge of higher land. This mini-terroir gives Pascal’s 35 acres a quick start to maturity and allows his fruit to reach perfect phenolic ripeness even in modest vintages. The grapes are better known for their contribution to Bordeaux, but if Gibault’s Cabernets [Franc & Sauvignon] give spice and piquancy, the Côt [Malbec] adds luscious red berry fruit. Good colour, the nose shows structure, finesse and class while the fine, ripe tannins support the luscious fruit. M7 D8
5099
Delectable, ample, summer compote of plum fruit Grape Variety
Côt [Malbec], Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
Full of blackberry and briary fruit
Taste
Soft, filled with bright fruit notes and a good, grainy tannin backbone
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Already showing the early signs of softening, it needs another six months in bottle, drink 2010 2012
Ideal with
Sun-dried tomato and ricotta bread with black olives
CRÉMANT DE LOIRE, AOC CRÉMANT DE LOIRE, NV, FLORE AND EMMANUEL RIALLAND, DOMAINE DU PONT DE LIVIER
With freshness, fruit and fine bubbles, this is a super “sparkler”
$28.33
Grape Variety
Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc
Aroma
Biscuits, peaches, pears, toasted almonds
Taste
Citrus, fresh bread crust, creamy complexity
Serve
8° - 10° C
Evolution
Lovely now, but it will continue to soften in the bottle, drink to 2012
Ideal with
Salad of pan-fried rabbit with a sherry dressing
6 BTLS/750 ML $170.00
Meticulously using the same methods as in Champagne, the Rialland’s wine is outstanding. Like Champagne, it is a blend of red and white grapes, lightly crushed to prevent any coloration of the juice before the initial fermentation in steel tanks and then a second, in bottles. A small addition of cane sugar promotes and regulates the production of carbon dioxide. After fermentation, the wine rested in a dark cellar cut into the limestone where, as it matured, it took on typical biscuit characteristics. Pale-coloured, the bubbles rise in a display that enhances the honey and chalky flavour of the Chenin Blanc. [02] M9 D9 Emmanuel and Flore Rialland
LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT >>
NEWFOUNDLAND
9
5100
CÔTEAUX DU LAYON, AOC CÔTEAUX DU LAYON, 2008, FLORE AND EMMANUEL RIALLAND, DOMAINE DU PONT DE LIVIER
Opulent late-harvest dessert wine
$25.33
Grape Variety
Chenin Blanc
Aroma
Honey, peach, flowers
Taste
Big mouthful of nectar and succulent sweetness
Serve
8° - 10° C
Evolution
For sweetness alone, enjoy now, but these are wines that will last for two decades, drink to 2020
Ideal with
An after dinner drink with coffee, apricot and almond tart
6 BTLS/750 ML $152.00
The cool summer temperatures in addition to the “noble rot” [Botrytis Cinerea] that comes with the mellow mists of early autumn, make the sweet wines of the Loire as fine as any in the world. As each ear of grapes reaches dehydration they are hand-picked before the yeast begins its battle to ferment the huge weight of the residual sugar. Goldenhued, the powerful intensity of alcohol and grape sugar fills the glass with the scents of honey, acacia, camomile and apricot. Rich and unctuous, it finishes with a round, lingering farewell. [06] M6 D7
5101
ROSÉ D’ANJOU, AOC ROSÉ D’ANJOU, 2008, FLORE AND EMMANUEL RIALLAND, DOMAINE DU PONT DE LIVIER $19.17
6 BTLS/750 ML $115.00
The Rialland rosé is produced uniquely from the local red Grolleau grape from their south-facing, fifty acre vineyard on a sloping, free-draining sand and lime terroir. Working together among the vines and in the winery, Flore and Emmanuel are impassioned about the quality of their wines which are ranked among the best of the Anjou appellation. The wine, crystal clear with a salmon pink hue, has an intense bouquet reminiscent of raspberries and strawberries. It is rich with a small hint of liquorice and redcurrant, the fresh acidity creating perfect, lively balance. [03] M8 D9
5102
POUILLY FUMÉ, AOC POUILLY FUMÉ, 2008, JEANPAUL MOLLET, DOMAINE MOLLET-MAUDRY $31.50
6 BTLS/750 ML $189.00
From their restored XVI century home and winery, Florian, with his father Jean-Paul, produces wines from a site-specific vineyard, rich in chalk, planted on the cherished “Les Sables” site of Tracy-sur-Loire. The vines, now more than 35 years old, yield only 22 hectolitres per hectare; these piquant Sauvignon grapes produce wines of huge intensity. It is not just a grassy, acidic, dry white, it is round, lush and filled with fruit, fantastic concentration and balance. With an aromatic, flower fragrant bouquet and finishing with clean, crisp fruit, the limestone-edged minerality has great length. [00] M7 D7
5103
SANCERRE BLANC, AOC SANCERRE, 2008, FLORIAN MOLLET, DOMAINE MOLLET-MAUDRY $32.33
6 BTLS/750 ML $194.00
The wines from Mollet’s estate manage to capture the wild aromas of nettles and elderflowers with tropical and grapefruit nuances. The grapes for this wine, sourced exclusively from Mollet-Maudry’s vineyard on the hills of Sancerre, were lightly pressed as soon as they reached the press-house, then chilled and fermented slowly to preserve their exuberant varietal characteristics. No oak was used, only a light filtration before bottling. The bouquet is an adventure, a wild mix of green fruit, sappy leaves, peach and lime followed by a powerful, grassy palate with racy acidity and big bold features. [00] M7 D8
10
A soft and crisp swirl of strawberries and cream
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Grape Variety
Grolleau
Aroma
A bouquet of flowers and ripening red berries
Taste
Fresh, clean, generously grapey with memories of grape sugar
Serve
8° - 10° C
Evolution
Simply delightful now, it will drink well for a couple of years
Ideal with
Appetizers, cold meats, poultry and other white meats
Distinctively summer flowers, gooseberries, flint and liquorice Grape Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Aroma
Aromatic with pungent “green” aromas of bell pepper and fresh crushed herbs
Taste
Mouth-watering streak of minerals, hints of subtropical fruit and a layer of grassy gooseberry
Serve
9° - 10° C
Evolution
Allow a few months for it to stretch to the bottle, it will last for three to five years, drink 2010 2014
Ideal with
Warm jasmine rice salad with shrimp and Thai herbs, salmon and rice wrapped in pastry with dill sauce
Clean, dry, pure, filled with ripe fruit Grape Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Aroma
Clean, fresh, enticing lemon, leafy green aromas
Taste
Citrus and mineral fruits leading to crisp acidity and exotic fruit, good length
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Try it young, enjoy its march to soft maturity, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Baked fish fillets with a spinach and pine nut topping
LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT >>
Florian Mollet
5104
SANCERRE ROUGE, AOC SANCERRE, 2007, FLORIAN MOLLET, DOMAINE MOLLET-MAUDRY $33.33
6 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
Mollet-Maudry has Pinot Noir in the best vineyards in Saint-Satur, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre and Sancerre. Their passion, “quality before quantity”, is secured by restricting the vines through vigorous bunch pruning throughout preripening. The grapes, from vines planted on stark, white chalk soil, were de-stalked before 10 days of maceration in stainless steel vats followed by light pressing. Fermentation was immediately followed by malolactic fermentation which reduces the impact of acidity and develops and broadens the flavours. In the glass the wine has a moderate red colour with a pleasant bouquet supported by vibrant raspberry fruit. Juicy berry flavours fill the mouth and accompany cool, mineral-nuanced undertones. M7 D7
5105
MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE, SUR LIE, AOC MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE, 2008, YVES AND JÉRÉMIE HUCHET, DOMAINE DE LA CHAUVINIÈRE $19.83
6 BTLS/750 ML $119.00
The unique terroir of Chauvinière is partly responsible for its fantastic quality. It is a degraded granite [granodiorite with biotites and hornblende] known as the “Granit de ChâteauThébaud” which covers only 4% of the Muscadet region. The estate, now 75 acres built up by Yves from his original holding of only 10 acres, follows the TERRA VITIS regime, a midpoint on the road to organic production. The wine has a pale green colour and lively acidity with a complex and intense nose. In the mouth look for sliced green apple, dessert pears and lime fresh acidity. The ample body is in part due to fermentation in ancient oak casks. [00] M8 D8 LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT >>
A double winner, this has both grace and elegance Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
Soft, rich wine displaying plums and cherries
Taste
Perfect balance between juicy ripe fruit, fresh acidity, grainy tannins and elegance
Serve
18° C
Evolution
No intention here to create a wine for long life, drink to 2013
Ideal with
Roast lamb, game, soft cheeses
Simply put, it is outstanding! Grape Variety
Melon de Bourgogne
Aroma
Complexity brought about by ageing on the lees
Taste
Good weight and concentration followed by a clean, crisp finish
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Huchet’s wines are among the few that can take time to mature, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Dandelion salad with warm hazelnut vinaigrette, salmon trout poached in white wine
NEWFOUNDLAND
11
5106
ST-NICOLAS-DE-BOURGUEIL, AOC SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL, 2008, DOMAINE OLIVIER $23.50
6 BTLS/750 ML $141.00
Along the banks of the Loire, the ramparts of limestone tower steeply. Above, a flat plain of pastel-shaded vineyards stretches over clay and limestone producing wines of fine quality, their characteristics a mirror of the terroir. The Olivier domaine, once a pear orchard, now covers 75 acres, producing supple wines with fruit, a floral bouquet reminiscent of violets, and raspberry, blackcurrant and cherry on the palate. Although delicious when young, Agnes suggests that her wine can be kept for up to 30 years! This vineyard has adopted “agriculture raisonnée”, minimum use of fungicides and natural grass with vegetation over 50% of the vineyard to sustain wildlife. M5 D6
5107
CUVÉE PRESTIGE, AOC CHINON, 2008, DOMAINE CHARLES PAIN $24.50
Grape Variety
Cabernet Franc
Aroma
Soft, ripe, hints of green peppers and string beans
Taste
A firm injection of cassis and black cherry
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Drinks well when just past youth, drink 2010 - 2020
Ideal with
Grilled rib-eye steaks with green chile mushroom salsa butter, grilled lamb kebabs with cumin and cinnamon
A bright, fruity, youthful red with supple tannins
6 BTLS/750 ML $147.00
Chinon, on the south bank of the central Loire, has a rich wine history with the Cabernet Franc being introduced by Cardinal Richelieu in the 1600s. The area was made more celebrated by the great author Rabelais, who was born close to Chinon and used the village as a setting in his writing. Charles Pain, with 45 acres of Cabernet Franc, produces wine with a complex aroma offering cassis, eucalyptus and sweet spice. The palate is notably fresh with an exuberance of juicy cassis, strawberry and soft redcurrant. With a firm, tannic structure and length, in a cool cellar the Cuvée Prestige will keep for many years. M6 D7
5108
An attractive red from a little known appellation
Grape Variety
Cabernet Franc
Aroma
Pungently spicy with red fruit, damsons, mirabelles and attractive secondary spice notes
Taste
Raspberry jam mingled with velvet tannins
Serve
12° - 14° C
Evolution
Plenty of stocky tannin to keep this in maturation for several years, drink 2010 - 2015
Ideal with
Fatty meat dishes such as shoulder of lamb or game
SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY, AOC SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY, CUVÉE TRADITION, 2007, JEAN-LUC AND JEAN ALBERT MARY, DOMAINE DE LA CUNE
Roots are down to 15 metres to extract water and mineral nutrients
$27.00
Grape Variety
Cabernet Franc
Aroma
A bowl of freshly picked black berries with a roll of milled black pepper
Taste
Friendly attack, easy fruit, soft tannins provide grip and length
Serve
16° - 18° C
Evolution
Good when young, matures majestically, will live a decade, drink 2010 - 2019
Ideal with
Grilled quail salad with creamy garlic vinaigrette
6 BTLS/750 ML $162.00
Nine small communes to the southeast of Saumur comprise this Cabernet Franc appellation. The estate is farmed by Jean-Luc and Jean-Albert Mary, qualified oenologists who, due to their formal training in Bordeaux, Australia and California, ensure that traditional winemaking is enhanced by technology rather than replaced by it. Now showing a deep purple colour, their wine has huge concentration of red and black fruit aromas, raspberry and blackcurrant. Fullbodied, the sumptuous fruit is balanced by soft, vibrant tannins. Already attractive, it will age gracefully for up to ten years, becoming spicier as the tannins soften. M5 D7
Pascal and Danielle Gibault
12
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
LOIRE VALLEY DANIELLE AND PASCAL GIBAULT
This vast area, hot and windless in summer, is a landscape of rocks and crags with little soil, making it difficult to cultivate. It is perfect for olives and stone fruit, but most of all for vines which flourish in the dry soil and make wines of endless variety. With consumption falling in France there is no encouragement to produce great volume. Therefore, lowering harvest levels has lead to an exponential increase in quality.
The Wines of
Southern France
SOUTHERN FRANCE >>
Carcassonne
NEWFOUNDLAND
13
TORTOISE CREEK Languedoc As a young man Melvyn Master worked for Ken Christie, but having been born into one of Britain’s great brewing families, he did not stay around long. With his new bride, he ventured to the other side of the world, before returning to buy vines and make wine in France. Mel and Janie now own a number of restaurants and bars in Denver, as well as their home and wine estate in the south of France.
Mel and Janie Master
5110
CHARDONNAY, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $17.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $209.00
This wine is produced by several growers from the village of Argeliers on free-draining and reflective gravel that ripens the fruit early. After picking, the cleaned juice is fermented at very low temperatures before resting for three months on the fine lees to enhance the fruit-driven structure. This vintage has absolutely no oak, the nose showing tropical fruits and summer flowers along with guava. The palate follows the same path, adding pineapple, mango and passion fruit on the finish. [00] M8 D8
5111
SAUVIGNON BLANC, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $17.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $209.00
The Tortoise Creek story is one of romance and fun, dating from Mel and Janie’s early days in France when they were fascinated by the amorous terrapins in the local creek. The grapes for this wine came from close to Montpelier, chosen because of its cool climate. After crushing, the juice was held at zero degrees for ten days before fermentation to enhance the aromas and balance. Pale yellow with hints of green, the colour leads to an aromatic bouquet that sings with upfront grapefruit and passion fruit and is followed by citrus, honey and flint. The flavours are fresh, crisp and dry, packed with citrus notes that go on to the full, generous finish. [00] M8 D8
14
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Seriously good wine Grape Variety
Chardonnay
Aroma
Expressive, wildly apple and pear
Taste
Fat, opulent, balance and harmony
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Delicious, hardly worth putting it away
Ideal with
Great on its own, rich chicken dishes
A delicious, crisp Sauvignon Blanc enhanced by lees contact Grape Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Aroma
Flint with edges of honey and citrus
Taste
Great fruit concentration, fresh lingering finish
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Don’t lose the freshness of the upfront fruit, drink 2009 - 2010
Ideal with
Grilled chicken with goat cheese salad
SOUTHERN FRANCE TORTOISE CREEK >>
5112
VIOGNIER, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $17.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $209.00
The grapes come from a small parcel of vines in Argeliers which produces outstanding varietal fruit that gives a floral, peachy nose and lifted fruit with great acidity and weight on the palate. The soft, yellow straw, bright colour introduces a full-bodied wine with balanced acidity. It offers tropical fruits, soft, sweet herbs and a smooth floral aroma with a pure and intense flavour. Rich and lush in the mouth, it has fine length and intensity. [00] M8 D8
5113
GRENACHE ROSÉ, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $16.67
12 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
This is another of those simply irresistible pink wines made from upfront, fruity, ripe Grenache grapes. To enhance the fruit, the grapes were picked when just past ripeness, then gently pressed and cold-stored to obtain the perfect shade of onion skin pink. Grenache makes lovely rosé; this is dry, crisp, fresh and fruity with refined, subtle flavours of strawberry jam. Fresh pears dominate the palate leaving the mouth refreshed and clean. [00] M8 D9
5114
MERLOT-CABERNET, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $16.67
12 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
The fruit came from four fine estates lying between Montpelier and Nîmes, where cool ambient temperatures create ideal conditions for perfect polyphenolic ripening. The developed condition of the fruit gives the wines full body with complex, red fruit flavours and subdued grainy tannins. The nose shows lifted aromas of sweet, ripe blackcurrant, mint and green leaf. These are dominant on the palate with the less obvious Cabernet Sauvignon only playing a supporting role adding black cherry and spice that mingles with liquorice and tar notes on the finish. M8 D8
5115
SHIRAZ, TORTOISE CREEK, 2008, VIN DE PAYS D’OC $16.67
12 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
The fruit for this mellow monster was sourced from two top estates sited close to Béziers, both selected for the ripeness and the balanced characteristics of their wines. The estates made their wine separately, but followed the same fermentation practice with maceration on the lees extending over three weeks. After blending, a portion was aged in new French oak. It is now elegantly fragrant, the nuances of oak vanillin suggesting blackberry, anise, flowers and liquorice while a fat, supple palate mingles harmony and finesse. This is a huge wine with velvet texture against a mass of ripe plum and dark berry fruit. M8 D8
SOUTHERN FRANCE TORTOISE CREEK
All the primary fruit flavour you would expect of fine Viognier Grape Variety
Viognier
Aroma
Peaches, pears, honeysuckle
Taste
Savoury cereal impression, peach, pear, a long, buttery finish
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Don’t lose the lemonade freshness of the delicious fruit
Ideal with
Char-grilled baby squid
The ideal partner to a sunny afternoon Grape Variety
Grenache
Aroma
Delicate, forward fruit perfumes
Taste
Sappy, leafy, acidic, strawberry, citrus
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Utterly ready, catch this beauty early
Ideal with
Grilled prawns with a squeeze of lemon and garlic butter
A classic red blend with plenty of southern character Grape Variety
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
Piquant spice, warm red berries
Taste
Ripe red fruit, black cherries
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Not quite together, will drink well within a few months, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Veal in a creamy mushroom sauce
A combination of spice and pepper with ripe blackberry Grape Variety
Syrah
Aroma
Mulberries, leather, vanilla and warm summer pudding
Taste
Soft, warming, big fruit, mellow tannins
Serve
17° - 19° C
Evolution
It has great structure and will last several years, drink end 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Lemongrass beef skewers with aromatic rice
NEWFOUNDLAND
15
ALAIN GRIGNON, LGI Carcassonne From his office in the heart of the Midi, Alain Grignon looks over the ancient walled city of Carcassonne towards nearby vineyards where skirting mountains and rocky limestone outcrops roll for a hundred miles and more in each direction. Alain, the best known négociant of the Languedoc Roussillon, keeps close contact with the best growers in each of the many appellations that lie between the sharp folds in the unpromising landscape.
5116
LAGARDE, VIN DE PAYS DU COMTÉ TOLOSAN, 2008 $12.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $149.00
The fruit was harvested early, in perfect condition of optimum ripeness and, more importantly, before the acidity started to wane. Gently crushed, the must was left overnight to settle and clarify the juice. Natural malolactic fermentation added an extra dimension to the palate, a bold, integrated apple and peach flavour. This is an attractive, aromatic white, with delicious fruit, fine balance and fresh, racy acidity at the finish. [01] M8 D9
5117
Grape Variety
Ugni Blanc, French Colombard
Aroma
Floral, fragrant, solid grapey background
Taste
Good weight, fresh, clean, sappy flavour
Serve
8° - 10° C
Evolution
Made to drink young
Ideal with
Baked halibut steaks with mustard-fennel butter
LAGARDE, VIN DE PAYS DE L’HÉRAULT, 2008 $12.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $149.00
The wine is made in the traditional manner with the grapes harvested by hand and then gently crushed. The very latest winemaking techniques are used to release the colour and to produce a modern, forward, fruity wine with no oak ageing. Designed for immediate drinking, it is deep garnet in colour with a spicy, ripe nose. The palate is rich with fruit and a hint of peppery spice. It is well-balanced with soft and elegant tannins on the finish. M8 D8
16
Much more interest than its price suggests
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Quaffable and versatile Grape Variety
Carignan, Grenache, Merlot
Aroma
Concentrated, ripe berries and pepper
Taste
Welcoming red fruits accompanied by silky tannins
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Produced for early enjoyment
Ideal with
Ideal on its own, red meat dishes, pasta
SOUTHERN FRANCE ALAIN GRIGNON, LGI >>
5118
MERLOT, LA CAMPAGNE, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008 $14.92
12 BTLS/750 ML $179.00
Over a number of years Alain, with the inspired work of his winemakers Eric Roure and Xavier Roger, has reshaped the Midi Merlot, moving to wines with bold and well-rounded flavours, easy to enjoy and with no oak ageing. The destemmed fruit was crushed and cold-macerated for five days. Fermentation in temperature controlled steel tanks followed before fifteen days of skin contact after which it was pressed and gently filtered before bottling. It has fine, piquant, peppery aromas showing intense cherry with violet nuances. The palate is brimming with ripe, black fruit flavours and subdued, mouth-caressing tannins. M8 D8
5119
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, LA CAMPAGNE, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008 $14.92
CHARDONNAY, LES ARGELIÈRES , VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008 $16.67
Merlot
Aroma
Lavish plum and black cherry
Taste
Generous, finish dominated by blueberry and cassis with ground pepper
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Easy to enjoy now, this is a two year wine, drink to 2011
Ideal with
Penne with stir-fried beef and red bell pepper
Versatile, flavourful, wine at a corking price Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
Blackberry jam, cherry, black fruit
Taste
Dark berries, cassis, black cherries
Serve
17° - 19° C
Evolution
Already coming around, still rather shut in after recent bottling, it will develop quickly, drink late 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Lamb chops with coarse-grain mustard and red tomato chutney
Awash with fruit
12 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
This starts with a simple, youthful bouquet while in the glass building an interesting quality. The pale, straw-golden colour moves to refined citrus, peach and fig, a touch of exotic floral elements and subtle oak complexity with hints of hazelnut and cream. Snappy and fresh with intense lemony acidity, the palate has exceptional purity of flavour, balance and length. Clearly, the oak-ageing has had a great influence and benefit on the presentation. [00] M7 D8
5121
Grape Variety
12 BTLS/750 ML $179.00
Alain took the name for this blend from the local description of a large farm, La Campagne. It is produced entirely following traditional winemaking, using large concrete fermentation tanks open to the air with control of the temperature managed by opening the barn’s wooden shutters. Elemental as it is, this system of cooling works perfectly! Recently bottled, the colour is a deep purple while the nose is energetically aromatic with a perfume of sweet pepper, cassis and crushed berries infused with notes of cinnamon and fennel. Full flavours in the mouth lead to an impressive, long and balanced finish. M7 D8
5120
Seamlessly smooth with succulent fruit flavours
Grape Variety
Chardonnay
Aroma
Citrus and peach with butterscotch, toasted oak and butter
Taste
Pineapple, mango, the mid-palate showing small notes of integrated oak
Serve
9° C
Evolution
It will develop for 3 years, drink 2009/2010 - 2012
Ideal with
Seafood, particularly lobster and shrimps
SYRAH, LES ARGELIÈRES, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008 $16.67
12 BTLS/750 ML $200.00
Produced on the hot, flat plain between the coast and rising foothills, this has a warm heart and gushes with juicy fruit. Not yet mature enough to have developed complexity, what has yet to evolve is more than compensated for by the energy and concentration of the palate. It has a dense, dark red colour with a fresh and piquant bouquet, totally characteristic of the Syrah of Southern France, offering black berries, spices and liquorice. The mouth, well-structured and smooth, extends this confection of flavours into the lengthy finish which is continually supported by fine, supple, grainy tannins. M7 D7
SOUTHERN FRANCE ALAIN GRIGNON, LGI >>
Spicy Syrah sure to be a hit! Grape Variety
Syrah
Aroma
Great fruit, windfall damsons, black plums, ripe blackberries, a twist of black pepper
Taste
The attractive, open fruit hides the robust, tannic, structure
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Just out of the crib, but growing fast, drink late 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Casseroles, stews, pâté, tomato-based pasta sauces
NEWFOUNDLAND
17
GREAT ESTATES AND DOMAINES OF THE MIDI
La Clotte-Fontane Cellars
5122
DOMAINE MONDIÉ, MERLOT-SYRAH, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008 $15.00
12 BTLS/750 ML $180.00
Alain never fails to offer this estate. He feels that in a very competitive market, for wines of little known estates, this one offers a great deal. This well presented bottle of wine is blended from the most popular grapes of the south. The nose is expressive and offers a mix of fruit with fragrant aromas from the shrubs of the garrigue that surround the vines. In the mouth it opens with the sweet flavour of strawberry jam before building on the ripe grape tannins in the middle palate. With great colour and masses of fruit, this is a lot of wine for the money. M7 D7
5123
CHÂTEAU MONTOULIERS, AOC MINERVOIS, 2008 $15.42
12 BTLS/750 ML $185.00
In an area fought over through the Middle Ages, the isolation of the region remains an historical bookmark with villages still crowning hilltops for protection against surprise invasion. The vineyard of Montouliers is spread over a rocky hillside with vines going back over a century. Its colour is almost opaque, the nose shows concentrated black fruit with an intense, complex bouquet of plums, notes of freshly picked thyme and figs. In the mouth it starts with the stringy grip of tannin, at first harsh, but then softer as cassis with old leather mixes with forest floor leaves. It is a wine of great concentration and obvious tannins creating delightful texture and black fruit complexity. M7 D8
18
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Wonderful red for every day Grape Variety
Merlot, Syrah
Aroma
Fruity nose of berries, hints of spice and freshly picked mint
Taste
Juicy, round and plump in the middle with the finish dominated by blackberry fruit
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Will drink well later this year, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Braised beef fillets with a Syrah sauce
Rich flavour, typical warm southern characteristics, easy to enjoy Grape Variety
Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Black fruit, figs, dried fruit, plum
Taste
Firm and gripping, but softening in the mouth
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Almost ready, although tannic this is part of the overall mouth-feel
Ideal with
Pâté, fine hard cheese
SOUTHERN FRANCE ALAIN GRIGNON, LGI >>
5124
DOMAINE CASTAN, LES TERRES ROUGES, AOC COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOC, 2008 $18.75
12 BTLS/750 ML $225.00
Thirty years ago André Castan, wishing to express his artistry in his wine, bought this parcel of land and planted vines which now root deeply into the volcanic, iron-rich subsoil. Terres Rouges speaks for itself. It is strong red soil perfect for the classic reds, Syrah and Grenache, which produce a fine blend with a deep ruby colour and fruit-driven aromas of cassis, redcurrant, smoke and spice. Soft, lush and ripe, with enticing fruit, it is easy, generous and balanced. M7 D8
5125
CHÂTEAU SALITIS, CUVÉE PREMIUM, AOC CABARDÈS, 2007 $20.42
CHÂTEAU LA CLOTTE-FONTANE, CUVÉE MATHIÉROU, AOC COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOC, 2008 $21.67
Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Red berries, spices
Taste
Full-bodied with firm tannins
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Made to be enjoyed young, but it has enough tannin to give it several years of life, drink 2010 - 2014
Ideal with
Spiced beef and sweet potato stir fry, venison steaks with red cabbage confit and red wine sauce
Sophisticated wine from a little known region Grape Variety
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Grenache
Aroma
Raspberry, sweet plum fruit
Taste
Savoury and focused with a peppery, spicy-edge to taut, dark fruit
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Fruit-driven, it will do well if matured for a couple of years, drink 2010 - 2015
Ideal with
Grilled porterhouse steaks with mixed green salad
A dense, dark wine with Syrah taking the passenger seat
12 BTLS/750 ML $260.00
This stunning wine, with an intense aroma and palate, comes from the property belonging to Philippe and Maryline Pagès, built on top of a Roman villa which gives it its name. The winery was built on several different levels so that the wines can be worked by gravity. The temperature control equipment is “state of the art” and the winery so pristine that one feels that eating off the floor would be no problem! The Cuvée Mathiérou comes from within the 35 acres of sloped vineyards covered with large, red volcanic stones. Deep ruby in colour, the ripe blackberry fruit reveals a touch of smoke, not from barrels but from the ash and pine forests that once covered the land. This big wine features abundant fruit and hearty tannins with liquorice notes adding to perfect balance. M6 D7
5127
Grape Variety
12 BTLS/750 ML $245.00
The new winemaker, Anne Marandon, has undoubtedly made this the most important property in the appellation. It lies on a south-facing bluff with large vineyards running down the slopes towards the Canal du Midi which cuts the region in two. Using at least five varietals in her top blend, Anne allows the wines to rest on their lees for long periods, leaching flavour from the activity in the tanks. Château Salitis wines were formerly dominated by wood, but it is not used here as Anne seeks the characteristics found in her sun-ripened fruit rather than the forest. Medium deep in colour, the nose has brought the varieties together in a vinous symphony. The refined bouquet is joined by a rich, lively, structured flavour. M6 D7
5126
Early drinking appeal
Grape Variety
Grenache, Syrah
Aroma
Fragrant smoke with ripe cherry, chocolate and blackberry juice
Taste
Great poise and structure balanced with juicy red cherry and blackberry
Serve
17° C
Evolution
Very young, not yet into its stride, drink 2010 -2015
Ideal with
Boeuf Bourguignon
LE ROUGE DE L'AZEROLLE, AOC MINERVOIS, 2008 $22.83
6 BTLS/750 ML $137.00
Pure Cinsault is a rare and wonderful challenge to anyone curious to see what has happened to a grape that was once a pillar of French ordinariness. By greatly reducing yields and selecting only the best clones, Raymond Julien has found his answer. Hand-picked bunches go straight into the tanks where carbonic maceration loosens the pigment ensuring deep colour and intense aroma. The colour is dense, thick and purple, the bouquet overflowing with soft, fresh fruit nuances that linger in the mouth. M7 D8
SOUTHERN FRANCE ALAIN GRIGNON, LGI >>
Supple, fruity, full-bodied Grape Variety
Cinsault
Aroma
Diverse bouquet of red fruits, turned earth, violets
Taste
Fruity palate, cassis, blackberry
Serve
14° - 19° C
Evolution
Best drunk young, within 2 to 3 years
Ideal with
Red meat dishes, aged cheeses
NEWFOUNDLAND
19
PAUL SAPIN SA Southern France
Un nouvel esprit du Vin
20
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
The partnership between Thierry Coulon, owner of Paul Sapin, and Olivier Mandeville-Peirière of Domaine Peirière is hugely successful, built upon respect between the two partners. Olivier grows the fruit on his 560+ acres of vineyards, leaving Sapin to produce the wine. With Canadian exclusivity for the domaine, Opimian is perfectly placed to enjoy the wines of the large southern estate certified under ISO 9001. Sapin’s bottling plant has reached full authentication under the HACCP scheme, the systematic preventive approach to food and pharmaceutical safety that addresses physical, chemical and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection.
SOUTHERN FRANCE PAUL SAPIN SA >>
5131
LES OMBRAGES, VIN DE PAYS DES CÔTES DE GASCOGNE BLANC, 2008 $13.25
12 BTLS/750 ML $159.00
Wines from this Vin de Pays are particularly bright and fragrant with lovely floral perfumes. After the harvest, but before the acidity started to wane, the grapes were gently crushed and then left refrigerated overnight to settle and clarify the juice. Fermentation was temperature-controlled and the wine saw no oak; only the pure fruit gives the wine its characteristics. It is already a bold, fresh, intensely aromatic white wine with delicious green fruit flavours and attractive, balanced acidity. [02] M8 D9
5132
12 BTLS/750 ML $152.00
This medium-bodied red comes from the area immediately north of Avignon where three quarters of the wines are entirely produced from flavoursome Grenache grapes. Picked at full ripeness before crushing and fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, it is bottled young to conserve the parade of red fruit flavours that emphasize blackcurrants and raspberries with soft, supple tannins and a clean finish. M8 D9
CHARDONNAY, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, LOUIS MONDEVILLE $14.33
Colombard, Ugni Blanc
Aroma
Floral notes, fruit blossom
Taste
Apple, white cherries
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Enjoy the cool, fresh lift of flavour
Ideal with
Thai spices shrimp salad with Asian greens and pesto dressing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, LOUIS MONDEVILLE $13.33
Lively, easy, simply red fruit Grape Variety
Grenache, Carignan, Syrah
Aroma
Soft blueberry, plum and raspberry
Taste
Smooth structure, gentle tannin, rounded and well-balanced palate
Serve
16° - 18° C
Evolution
Intended to be enjoyed when young
Ideal with
Broiled lamb chops with lemon caper sauce
A million miles ahead of flabby, oaky competitors
12 BTLS/750 ML $172.00
After picking and pressing, the juice was cooled to 8 to 10º C for 4 to 6 hours before cool fermentation at 18º C. This produced a golden-coloured wine with bright and young attributes which quickly fill the glass with stone fruit aromas of peaches and nectarines combining with melon and lemon-scented acidity. On the palate, rich, juicy notes balance the creamy textures that result from malolactic fermentation. Development in the bottle will provide complexity which will bring forward a fuller fruit flavour and richness. [01] M8 D8
5134
Grape Variety
LES OMBRAGES, VIN DE PAYS DU VAUCLUSE, 2008 $12.67
5133
Lively, bright, charming
Grape Variety
Chardonnay
Aroma
Green apple, macadamia nuts, honey
Taste
Soft and rich, fresh fruit, some fatness on the middle palate
Serve
10° C
Evolution
Rather steely now, it will develop well, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Chicken with fettuccine in a cream sauce
Good structure, fairly complex, very good value
12 BTLS/750 ML $160.00
Olivier Mandeville-Peirière has emerged as an incredibly talented viticulturalist having won the “Winemaker of the Year” award. He now focuses on producing fine grapes, allowing Paul Sapin to make the wines in the state-of-theart winery near Mâcon. The vines were rigorously controlled throughout the summer with green-pruning in late July to reduce the crop size before harvesting, pressing and fermentation in steel tanks prior to spring bottling. Bright purple, it is a medium-bodied wine with classic cassis aromas and a palate of red berry fruit underpinned by ripe, grainy tannins. Not completely dry, the low residual sugar softens the attack making the entry and mouth-feel fuller. M7 D8
SOUTHERN FRANCE PAUL SAPIN SA >>
Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma
A whiff of blackcurrant, tea leaves and a hint of green leaves
Taste
Mingled notes of black fruit, plums and berries
Serve
18° C
Evolution
While still youthful, it will mature quickly, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
All-American half-pounders seared on the barbecue
NEWFOUNDLAND
21
5135
SYRAH, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, LOUIS MONDEVILLE $13.33
12 BTLS/750 ML $160.00
The Syrah from Olivier’s estate is sourced from vines planted by his father. The vines, now over 30 years old, come from a clone that yields distinctly small berries with a high skin to pulp ratio guaranteeing deep colour and a superior level of flavour. After pressing, the crush was macerated before the onset of fermentation to help the extraction of the gentle tannins. Following two months on the yeast lees, the wine was gently filtered and bottled. Powerful with blueberry and cinnamon, the ripe tannins and small notes of cedar add to the soft, lingering finish. M7 D7
5136
VIOGNIER, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE $14.67
SAUVIGNON BLANC, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE $14.67
GRENACHE ROSÉ, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE $13.67
Aroma
Lifted sweet fruits, notably blackberry, with vanillin and pepper notes
Taste
Spicy red fruits fill the palate with added fine tannins, black pepper and spice
Serve
17° - 20° C
Evolution
Good, but more time in bottle will improve the harmony and presentation, drink 2010 - 2013
Ideal with
Chicken with sherry vinegar garnished with tarragon and rosemary
Fantastic wine, beautifully balanced Grape Variety
Viognier
Aroma
Apples, unripe pears, just-picked peaches
Taste
Fresh, light, pungent, malic
Serve
9° - 10° C
Evolution
Just bursting to get out of the bottle
Ideal with
As an apertif, seafood such as mussels, langoustines or lobster
Wonderful roundness with delicious, full citrus fruit Grape Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Aroma
Impressive, fresh fragrance, gooseberry fruit
Taste
Clean, vigorous, neat mineral with forceful fruit
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Absolutely ready now
Ideal with
Malpeques, Thai fish cakes with cucumber sauce
Sip and relax
12 BTLS/750 ML $164.00
One of a modern generation of light, but complex, rosés, it fills the glass with an attractive light pink. Then it shows nuances of cherry, raspberry and herbs on the nose alongside grassy, fresh Sauvignon Blanc style aromas. On the palate small rosehip and cranberry notes add interest where the fresh acidity penetrates a flood of raspberry jam and cherry. In spite of the vivid, bright fruit, it retains tangy acidity and steely mineral in the mid-palate, leaving the finish crisp. [01] M8 D9
22
Syrah
12 BTLS/750 ML $176.00
This wine is a grand success. It has masses of fun-filled interest starting with its greenish colour followed by an irrepressible bouquet and then a lively lime-accented palate. While acknowledging the place of New Zealand in producing fullflavoured Sauvignon Blanc, this is one of the best tasting examples of the grape to have passed our tasting room door; it is an absolute steal at the price! The bouquet shows lifted elderberry and white peach reinforced by apple notes. Fresh with a ripe, creamy palate it is lined with rich mineral and citrus acidity that carries the flavours and underpins the crisp finish. [01] M8 D8
5138
Grape Variety
12 BTLS/750 ML $176.00
This is so often a staid and oily-flavoured variety that this vaulting, leaping, lively star is a huge surprise. The aromas are pure, joyful expressions of mildly acidic fruit; think of freshly picked crab apples or lime squeezed on an oyster. The nuances of the bouquet are endless primarily featuring exotic aromas of tropical fruit. Within moments of pouring, a fine rim of tiny bubbles points out the reason for its vivacity. It is filled with dissolved, natural CO2 carrying and promoting the flavours. Un-oaked, it explodes with notes of peaches, nectarines and apricots. The crisp and fresh malic acidity and pear flavours leap through to a clean finish. [01] M8 D8
5137
Fine marriage of ancient vineyards and modern winemaking
OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 189
Grape Variety
Grenache Noir
Aroma
A potpourri of bright red and pink fruit nuances
Taste
Herby, sappy, fresh fruit with vivid acidity
Serve
9° C
Evolution
Perfectly ready
Ideal with
Grilled langoustines, marinated rainbow trout with fennel
SOUTHERN FRANCE PAUL SAPIN SA >>
5139
MERLOT, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE $13.67
12 BTLS/750 ML $164.00
This is one of the best examples we have seen of this much-loved grape from the Pays d’Oc. It has just the perfect level of spice to add interest to the fruit. Good concentration of ripe red and black fruits, fine tannins and a smooth, elegant texture are further enhanced by a touch of smoke from a short period of American oak ageing. The nose is intense and leads to flavours that are bursting with ripe black fruit and spicy influences with gentle, although youthful, tannins. M7 D8
5140
PINOT NOIR, VIN DE PAYS D’OC, 2008, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE $15.17
Bulging at the seams with fleshy fruit
12 BTLS/750 ML $182.00
This is a difficult grape with which to work in the southern summer, but though this has little of the subtlety of northern wines, it has a notably pinkish colour which mirrors the thin skins of the grapes. Full ripeness developed the complexity of the bouquet and palate. The nose is light with raspberry-scented fruit mixed with red cherries and a subtle hint of wild herbs. It is delicate and refined with perfumed oak vanillin harmonizing with ripe, succulent berries, mineral notes and lively, grainy acidity that extends the flavour. M7 D8
Grape Variety
Merlot
Aroma
Intense, ripe cherry aromas with black pepper and capsicum
Taste
Ripe black fruit, spicy influences, gentle tannins
Serve
18° C
Evolution
Young and boisterous, with another six months it will drink well, drink 2009 - 2012
Ideal with
Barbecued leg of lamb with anchovies and garlic
An all-around winner with grace, elegance and plenty of rich fruit too! Grape Variety
Pinot Noir
Aroma
Black cherry aromas without jammy excess
Taste
Smooth raspberry with black cherry and lively acidity
Serve
16° C
Evolution
It will age, but will probably be at its best within a year, drink 2009-2010
Ideal with
Pan-fried venison sausage, mashed potato and red wine gravy Domaine Peirière Cellars
SOUTHERN FRANCE PAUL SAPIN SA
NEWFOUNDLAND
23
COUPON PROGRAMS
WINE PROGRAMS
Refer a new member, and upon joining, the new member will receive a Free Case Coupon and you will receive a Referral Case Coupon.
OPIMIAN SELECT
WWW.OPIM.CA or 800-361-9421 NEW MEMBERS With your valid Free Case Coupon, choose one of the 6 bottle cases listed below, with the order of any other case on the same Cellar Offering (excluding Opimian Select and Founders’ Choice). REFERRING MEMBERS With your valid Referral Case Coupon, choose one of the 6 bottle cases listed below, with the order of any other case on the same Cellar Offering (excluding Opimian Select and Founders’ Choice) OR Redeem your valid Referral Case Coupon for a Wine Credit (based on tenure) and apply against a case of your choice, with the order of any other case on the same Cellar Offering (excluding Opimian Select and Founders’ Choice).
5129 LES OMBRAGES, VIN DE PAYS DES CÔTES DE GASCOGNE BLANC, 2008
FOUNDERS’ CHOICE
Receive one premium wine (6 bottles) from Opimian’s most trusted suppliers.
6 BTLS/750 ML
Every Founders’ Choice selection features a dedicated back label and we provide a detailed description of each wine region, terroir, winemaking style, grape type, and food match.
Packaged in cases of 6, this is the same wine as lot 5131, available only with the coupon as explained above.
5130 LES OMBRAGES, VIN DE PAYS DU VAUCLUSE, 2008 Coupon
Receive a mixed case (6 bottles) from a region’s most representative wines from every offering. This is a great way to sample the many styles, grape varietals, and terroir from the world’s best wine-producing regions.
A Collection of Premium Wines
YOUR FREE CASE CHOICES FOR THIS CELLAR OFFERING Coupon
A Selection of our Wines
The Founders’ Choice feature supplier is Danielle & Pascal Gibault.
6 BTLS/750 ML
Packaged in cases of 6, this is the same wine as lot 5132, available only with the coupon as explained above.
These wines are not available on the Cellar Offering and can only be ordered through reserving on these programs. For an application, please visit our website, www.opim.ca, “Downloads” section OR call us at 800-361-9421.
opim.ca CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE FOR CELLAR OFFERING 189
• Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum nor maximum required.
• 4 ways to order: Online: www.opim.ca Email at: opim@opim.ca Phone: 800-361-9421 Fax: 514-481-9699
• Last day to order for this Cellar Offering: June 1, 2009
• A valid 2009 membership card is required to order and pick up.
• Expected arrivals at Canadian Port: End of September, 2009. Arrival dates at liquor boards depend on their distances from port of entry.
• Methods of Payment: Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or by cheque made out to Opimian in Trust.
• Release dates: Dependent upon actual arrival dates, and processing time required by each liquor board. • Your order status: Updated weekly at www.opim.ca.
SYMBOLS
Members’ Choice
White
Drink this year
Red
Enjoyable now; will develop 6 months-2 years
This symbol denotes wines most ordered by Opimian members. These are consistently popular with our membership at large.
To help novice members, this symbol is a guide to wines that are suitable for starting a cellar, and/or for drinking within two years of delivery.
Wine meant for laying down
Sparkling
Heavy oak
C182 Select Cases (2008 Season)
Opimian Suggests
Rosé
Great concentration
Medal Winner
Medium concentration
Light in body
Medium oak
Light oak
Less than 100 cs available
Extremely limited quantities
Very limited quantities
Limited quantities
Degrees of Maturity (M) (Scale of 1-10) 1 = lay down 10 = fully mature Degrees of Drinkability (D) (Scale of 1-10) 1 = needs time 10 = ready to drink Prices include all applicable federal and provincial mark ups and taxes, including G.S.T & H.S.T #R 105 233 217 • Q.S.T #1000640430
Sweetness scale
gms/litre
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
0-3 4-6 7 - 12 13 - 20 21 - 34 35 - 50 51 - 74 75 - 100 101 - 139 140 - 179 180 >
Examples Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, many reds Some New World Varietals, some reds Champagne, Sparklers, Rosés, few reds Mosel, some Alsace, Anjou Semi-sweet Bordeaux, some sherry Kabinett German, Late Harvest, Alsace, dry White Port Spätlese German, Sweet Loire, Port, Dessert Muscat Auslese, Beerenauslese Ice Wines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port Ice Wines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port Speciality sweet wines, Trockenbeerenauslese
#420 - 5165 Sherbrooke West, Montreal, QC, H4A 1T6 T: 514-483-5551 or 800-361-9421 F: 514-481-9699 opim@opim.ca www.opim.ca