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BRITISH COLUMBIA ORDER BY MAY 23, 2016

CÔTE D’OR OF BURGUNDY, LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON AND PROVENCE

THE LEMSTRA FAMILY, PROPRIETOR/WINEMAKER, CHÂTEAU CANET

ORDERING MADE EASY! WHAT TO ORDER Read the description or use the profile chart for each wine to help you make your selections. The profile chart features a variety of symbols; consult the legend below to discover which symbols best suit your palate. THERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO ORDER • Order online. Go to opim.ca , sign in and select Order Wine - Show Details or Quick Order Wine. • Email opim@opim.ca with your selection. • Call 1-800-361-9421. • Fax your order to 514-481-9699. • Mail your order. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO REDEEM YOUR COUPON From the same Cellar Offering… • Order a case of wine and choose your free case from the coupon wines listed on the back cover. OR • Order two cases of wine and receive $75 off your order. Restrictions: Coupons are non-transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash. See coupon for full details Exclusions: Opimian Select and Founders’ Choice Programs. DELIVERY It takes time! The wines on this Cellar Offering are not yet in Canada. When the wine arrives at your local liquor store or distribution center, you will receive a Pick Up Notice with the specified date (the Release Date) and your pick up location. You can follow the status of your shipment at opim.ca. Expected arrival at a Canadian Port is early September 2016. Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry to liquor board, and processing time required by each liquor board. LET US HELP YOU! Contact us at 1-800-361-9421 or email us at opim@opim.ca After pursuing our dreams, we settled at Château Canet in 2007; living in the vineyards, making great wines and sharing them with our guests in our holiday cottages on the property. Nine years later, we’re even more passionate about the vineyards and the wines of Canet. Growing grapes and turning them into something delicious is one of the most rewarding things to do. They are made to be shared and create a wonderful moment. – Floris Lemstra, Château Canet

CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE • Methods of Payment: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or by cheque payable to Opimian. • Prices include all applicable federal and provincial mark ups and taxes, including GST/HST #105 233 217 and QST #1000640430. • A valid 2016 membership card is required to order and pick up. • Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum required. • Last day to order from this Cellar Offering: May 23, 2016.

LEGEND Members’ Choice

White

Aroma

Drink this year

Red

Taste

Enjoyable now; will develop 6 months-2 years

Rosé

Serving temperature

Opimian Suggests Wine meant for laying down

Ideal with

Sparkling

Bottle size Great concentration Heavy oak

Number of bottles in case Medium concentration

Light in body

Medium oak

Light oak

Less than 100 cases available Very limited quantities

Extremely 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

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

Medal Winner

This symbol denotes wines most ordered by Opimian members. These are consistently popular with our membership at large.

Appeared in the C234 Select Cases (2015 Season)

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.

Sweetness scale gms/litre 00 0-3 01 4-6 02 7 - 12 03 13 - 20 04 21 - 34 05 35 - 50 06 51 - 74 07 75 - 100 08 101 - 139 09 140 - 179 10 180 >

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 Spätlese German, Sweet Loire, Port, Dessert Muscat Auslese, Beerenauslese Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port Speciality sweet wines, Trockenbeerenauslese

C ELL AR OFFE RING 242 Côte d’Or of Burgundy, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence In this cellar offering from Southern France and Burgundy we take a close look at the 2015 vintage. It is a vintage of great success. Floris Lemstra in the Minervois says it’s “the best [he has] ever seen at Château Canet”, and for Burgundian grower Jérôme Billard it was “une année sublime”. Many Burgundy specialists agree, comparing 2015 to that of 2005 which was the best vintage for decades and one in which the terroir shines through in the wine. Opimian’s Wine Consultant Jane Masters MW is a graduate of Bordeaux’s famous Institut d’Oenologie and was elected to the Institute of Masters of Wine in 1997. Fluent in French and English, Jane is currently a member of the Council of the Institute of Masters of Wine, regularly speaks at industry seminars and is a Panel Chair for the International Wine Challenge.

2015 has lots to offer. We present to you an exclusive range from simple wines for everyday drinking to wines that will mature in the cellar.

Domaine Billard Père et Fils p. 4

Bernard Perrin p. 8

Paul Sapin p. 18

Château Canet p. 23

LGI Wines p. 12

Château Vignelaure p. 28

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Burgundy

DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS La Rochepot

Based in the little village of La Rochepot in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, the village boasts an impressive 13th century Château at the top of a hill, which was destroyed during the French revolution. Its turrets and coloured tiled roof were renovated in the early 20th century. Jérôme’s kingdom may look a little less grand, but since planting his first vineyard with his father in the 1980s, he has slowly built up his vineyard holdings over the years. He has a total of approximately 18 hectares and makes small quantities of wines from each of the individual plots. Higher regions such as the HautesCôtes de Beaune, where Jérôme Billard is based, benefited from the hot summer temperatures. Many are comparing the vintage to that of 2005, generally considered to be the best for decades. If you have a gap in your cellar for Burgundy, this is the year to fill it!

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS >>

opim.ca ORDER ONLINE AT

8661 BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ, AOC, 2015 $25.83

$155.00

A crisp, dry white wine produced from Aligoté grapes, Domaine Billard Bourgogne Aligoté 2015 has intense pear drop and banana aromas with a savoury iodine edge adding complexity. It is well-balanced with good fruit flavour and a long finish. The Aligoté grape is likely to have originated in Burgundy and is virtually not found planted anywhere else. The wine was fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for seven months with no use of oak. Aligoté Pear drops, banana, savoury White fruits, long finish, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Potato cheese balls and marjoram tomato dip

HAUTES-CÔTES DE BEAUNE, LA JUSTICE, 8662 BOURGOGNE AOC, 2015 Medium yellow in colour, Jérôme’s Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, La Justice has ripe fruit aromas and quince $30.33 complemented by vanilla and matchstick. The palate is soft and smooth with peachy flavours and a long apricot finish. La Justice is planted in a magical spot on a plateau at 400 metres, looking out over the villages of $182.00 Saint-Aubin, Auxey-Duresses and Meursault. The oldest Chardonnay vines, planted by Jérôme and his father in 1983, are now fully mature. The grapes were picked by hand, pressed and two thirds fermented in new oak barrel and one third fermented in tank. Chardonnay Quince, ripe white fruits, vanilla Peaches, apricot, [00] 8° C 2016-2020, M7 D8 The vineyards at Domaine Billard Père et Fils are worked using draft horses to till, weed and invigorate the soil. Sustainable farming is practiced at the Domaine.

BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS >>

Black cod with miso served over soba noodles

BRITISH COLUMBIA

8663 BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES DE BEAUNE, AOC, 2015 $30.33

$182.00

Intense ruby in colour, floral aromas of violets and wild herbs lead to a soft palate with medium weight and firm acidity. Quite light in tannin structure, it has appealing red berry flavours. Pinot Noir was cultivated on loamy clay soils. This is a relatively simple red Burgundy made for early drinking. Half the wine was matured in new oak barrels, the other half in tank.

Pinot Noir Violets, herbs Red berries, medium-bodied 18° C 2016-2019, M8 D8 Veal tenderloin with brandy-peppercorn cream sauce and potato purée

1ER CRU, VIGNES MOINGEON, AOC, 8664 SAINT-AUBIN 2015 Domaine Billard Père et Fils is the exclusive producer of Vignes Moingeon. This premier cru site lies on white $46.00 marl slopes to the north of the village of Saint-Aubin, facing directly south. Jérôme cultivates 0.75 hectares of Chardonnay and has produced a concentrated and complex wine in 2015. Bright in colour, it has a complex $276.00 bouquet with toast, vanilla, lime, custard and matchstick aromas. It is both rich and pure on the palate with great balance and potential to cellar. It is a wine I look forward to enjoying over the years to come. The grapes were picked on September 11th, pressed and fermented in oak, 33% new. Chardonnay Matchstick, vanilla, toast Custard, limes, [00] 8° C 2016-2022, M6 D9

8665 SAINT-AUBIN 1ER CRU, LES CASTETS, AOC, 2015

The village of Saint-Aubin lies in a side valley west from the main Côte d’Or, which may be why it was historically overlooked. The premier cru vineyards are in three $41.17 blocks with Les Castets the westernmost premier cru as one heads up the valley. Les Castets is a concentrated, structured wine, yet feminine and elegant in style. Aromas of red apples and red cherries lead to a soft, $247.00 smooth palate with supple tannins and good weight. This is delicious to drink now with great balance and will cellar for five to seven years. The wine was matured for nine months in barrels from Vosges and Allier oak, one third new. Pinot Noir

Seafood feuilleté

8666 BEAUNE, LES BONS FEUVRES, AOC, 2015 $37.83

Red apples, red cherries Supple with structure 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D8 Roast duck with cherry-rosemary sauce

$227.00

A wine brimming with charm and appeal, Les Bons Feuvres has aromas of red apples and cherries combined with vanilla cream. The palate is structured with some firm tannins and good concentration. A wine with depth and potential, it merits some time in bottle before reaching its peak. The lieu-dit Les Bons Feuvres is on lower slopes to the west of Beaune, on loam soils with a ferruginous seam running through it. Pinot Noir Red apples, cherries Firm structure, good depth 18° C 2017-2022, M6 D6 Pan-seared squab with mushroom risotto

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS >>

LES MORICHOTS, AOC, 8667 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET, 2015 Aromas of red cherries, apples and wild strawberries shine through in Billard’s 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet. $52.67 Medium-bodied, it has a grainy texture with a tight structure and fine tannins, finishing with bitter cherry and succulent red fruit flavours. Les Morichots lies south of the Chassagne-Montrachet village where Jérôme $316.00 farms 0.2 hectares of old Pinot Noir vines planted 56 years ago on limestone marl soils. After fermentation in tank, the wine was matured in barrels with 30% new oak from the Vosges forest in northeast France. Pinot Noir Cherries, berries Elegant, concentrated, fine tannins 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D8 Grilled rack of lamb with Pinot Noir marinade

8668 BEAUNE 1ER CRU, LES CHOUACHEUX, 2015

The most meaty, savoury wine in the line-up, Domaine Billard Beaune 1er Cru, Les Chouacheux has less obvious fruit. This is a more austere, masculine wine $54.17 with good concentration which will mellow nicely with time. Beaune is the centre of the Burgundy wine trade, and it is where each year the famous charity auction Hospices de Beaune takes place, in the iconic medieval $325.00 Hôtel-Dieu, on the third Sunday in November. It achieved a record 11.35 million Euros last November, an indication of the excellent quality of the 2015 vintage. The Premier Cru Les Chouacheux lies southwest of the town on lower slopes with varied soils; brown, limestone, clay, and alluvial deposits. Pinot Noir Meaty, savoury Firm structure 18° C 2018-2025, M6 D6 Prime rib with spinach soufflé

The entrance to Domaine Billard Père et Fils. Inside, an arched cellar greets its visitors.

BURGUNDY DOMAINE BILLARD PÈRE ET FILS

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Here is our selection of favourite small independent growers. BERNARD PERRIN Some of them are breathing new life into estates that their established generations ago, while others have established themselves more recently. All of them are doing great Ternand Négociant en vins ancestors things on a small scale and working exclusively with Opimian.

Winemaker Julien Cruchandeau has the privilege of owning a “cabotte”, a beautiful little hut made of stone, between his Ladoix and Nuits Saint Georges vineyards.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

BURGUNDY BERNARD PERRIN >>

8669 DOMAINE PIERRE SORIN, SAINT-BRIS SAUVIGNON, AOC, 2015 $28.83

$173.00

Call me cynical, but I do wonder when I come across a new, young producer making good wine how much of the quality is down to skill and how much to beginner’s luck. Pierre Sorin’s 2015 (his second vintage) is every bit as delicious as his 2014! The 2015 Sauvignon Saint-Bris has restrained flinty aromas with gooseberry and floral flavours. It is concentrated with good depth and a long lemon and lime finish. Just re-reading my notes and thinking about it is making my mouth water. Pierre purchased his first vines in April 2014 and currently farms four hectares of land with 2.6 hectares in the appellation on the outskirts of the village of Saint-Bris-le-Vineux. Sauvignon Blanc Flint, gooseberry, floral Lemon, lime, mineral, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Softshell crab tempura

Northern Côte d’Or Côte de Nuits

8670 DOMAINE DU VIEUX COLLÈGE, MARSANNAY, LES VIGNES MARIE, AOC, 2014 $47.67

$286.00

Today, Domaine du Vieux Collège, established seven generations ago, is run by Eric Guyard, a mover and shaker in Marsannay. The whites of Marsannay are sometimes criticized by Burgundy specialists for being relatively characterless. Les Vignes Marie has bags of personality. While the bouquet of vanilla and limes is somewhat restrained, in the mouth it is complex and smooth with flavours of toast, white fruits, vanilla and a touch of quince. Well-balanced, the oak is well-integrated and there is freshness on the palate. Here is a wine that is succulent and a treat to drink now with the potential for cellaring. Les Vignes Marie was planted on gentle slopes behind the village of Marsannay some fifteen years ago, on marl soils fossilized from the Jurassic period and known as Ostrea acuminata. The wine was fermented in oak, 30% new, and matured for 12 months. Chardonnay Vanilla, lime, toast Quince, white fruits, vanilla, [00] 8° C 2016-2020, M7 D8 Haddock and clams with white wine, potatoes and escarole

BURGUNDY BERNARD PERRIN >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

DU VIEUX COLLÈGE, MARSANNAY, LES 8671 DOMAINE RÉCILLES, AOC, 2014

DU VIEUX COLLÈGE, FIXIN, LES CHAMPS 8672 DOMAINE DES CHARMES, AOC, 2014

Bright ruby in colour, Domaine du Vieux Collège, Marsannay Les Récilles is a wine that will benefit from more time in bottle. Dark fruits, intense spicy notes $47.67 with balsamic and a savoury edge combine to create a complex wine. The palate reveals sour cherry flavours and more spice, with good tannic structure and a $286.00 lingering bitter cherry finish. The 30-year-old vines at Les Récilles are situated east of the village, on lower slopes of stoney alluvial soils facing southeast. After traditional vinification, the wine was matured in a combination of oak barrels with 25% new oak and larger “foudres”, wooden vats.

Eric Guyard has a plot of 1.2 hectares of 40-year-old vines at Les Champs des Charmes, situated just south of $54.17 the village of Fixin. These vines produce a more intense and concentrated wine than the Marsannay. The 2014 has an intense, mellow nose with aromas of coffee, balsam and forest fruits. The palate is soft and smooth $325.00 with intense flavours of incense, spice and red fruits. The plot faces directly east on very gentle slopes with clay marl soils. Fixin, like Marsannay, which sits at the northern end of the Côte de Nuits close to the town of Dijon, are often overlooked, but have the potential to make wines with character and longevity. Perfectly enjoyable now, it is more marked by the maturation in oak barrels with 30% new and will continue to develop for some years.

Pinot Noir Balsamic, savoury, spice

Pinot Noir

Sour cherries, bitter cherry finish

Mellow, intense, coffee, forest fruits

18° C

Red fruits, incense

2016-2020, M7 D8

18° C

Roast pheasant with cherries served with crushed roast potatoes and steamed carrots

2016-2022, M6 D8 Côte de boeuf with black pepper sauce

The Château de Brochon is surrounded by Fixin vines. It was built by scholar Stéphen Liégeard during the 19th century, inspired by the châteaux of the Loire. He is also known for coining the term “Côte d’Azur”. The Château is now home to the Stéphen Liégeard high school.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

BURGUNDY BERNARD PERRIN >>

CRUCHANDEAU, LADOIX, LES RANCHES, 8673 DOMAINE AOC, 2014

CRUCHANDEAU, NUITS SAINT GEORGES, 8674 DOMAINE AUX SAINTS JACQUES, AOC, 2014

Created in 2003 by Julien Cruchandeau, this Domaine comprises a total of four hectares across nine $51.50 appellations. Ladoix is close to the famous Corton hill. Julien has just 55.5 ares planted in 1980 at an altitude of 240 metres on clay limestone soils and facing east. The 2014 was quite tight and closed at the time of $309.00 tasting, but showed the structure and weight of a wine with potential. Aromas of dark fruits and slate lead to a palate which is well-balanced with mellow flavours, although it will require some patience. The grapes were harvested and partly destemmed then underwent a cold soak for an extended ten days before fermentation and maceration up to six weeks. The wine was matured in oak for 15 months using 20% new oak.

While more expressive than Ladoix at the time of tasting in February, the Aux Saints Jacques Nuits Saint $75.00 Georges will also benefit from some bottle maturation. Produced from 70-year-old vines, the wine has intense aromas of cassis, red cherries and slate. The palate is tight with great concentration, balance and depth. $450.00 Saint-Jacques sits at the foot of the slope bordering Vosne-Romanée, facing east. Limestone soils are shallow and at an altitude of 240 metres. Some have described 2014 as a “transparent” vintage in Burgundy, meaning that the expression of the terroir is strong; certainly, the nobility of the lieudit and the old vines shine through in this wine. Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir Slate, dark fruit Structured palate 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D7 Roasted rack of venison with Pinot Noir jus

BURGUNDY BERNARD PERRIN

Intense cassis, red cherries, slate Medium-bodied, concentration 18° C 2017-2025, M6 D6 Boeuf Bourguignon

BRITISH COLUMBIA

LGI WINES Carcassonne

Based in Carcassonne, the winemaking team at LGI, led by Xavier Roger, specializes in vineyards and small estates in the region.

Languedoc-Roussillon

GRANDE RÉSERVE, IGP CÔTES DE 8675 BEAUREMPART, GASCOGNE, 2015 A great quality year for varieties in Gascony, Gros Manseng, the rising star, and Colombard shine through in $19.17 Beaurempart Grande Réserve 2015. It is well-structured with just a touch of residual sweetness to balance the natural acidity. Exuberant aromas of gooseberry, lime and floral linger on the palate. Chilly breezes blowing in $115.00 from the Atlantic Ocean to the west allow the full flavour development of these white grape varieties in Côtes de Gascogne. It is produced from a blend of 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Colombard and 20% Gros Manseng.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Gros Manseng Intense limes, gooseberry Round, floral, fruits, elderflower, [01] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Prawn and kale linguini

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES >>

The Languedoc appellation refers to the same named ancient cultural region in Southern France. Both the Greeks and the Romans found ideal conditions, near the Mediterranean in the slopes of the northern mountains, for growing vines. The first French vineyards were planted here and benefited from the stony soils which support an intense characteristic.

BLANC, IGP COMTÉ TOLOSAN, SÉLECTION 8676 LAGARDE DU VIGNERON, 2015

$11.25

Lagarde white is soft and easy to drink. It is produced in Comté Tolosan, in the south west of France close to the city of Toulouse, from indigenous grape varieties Ugni Blanc and Colombard. Lagarde is pale lime yellow in colour with hints of gooseberry and a lemon citrus finish.

$135.00

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES >>

Ugni Blanc, Colombard Gooseberry Soft, easy, [01] 6° C 2016-2017, M8 D9 Crispy calamari with green salad and citrus dressing

BRITISH COLUMBIA

DU PONTIF, MARSANNE VIOGNIER, IGP PAYS 8677 CLEFS D’OC, 2015

$11.92

$143.00

Soft and smooth with delightful aromas of stone fruits, nectarines and pears; Clefs du Pontif is a blend of 70% Marsanne with 30% Viognier grown in the Languedoc. The grapes underwent some skin contact before gentle pressing and fermentation at low temperature. The wine was matured on lees giving depth and roundness.

Marsanne, Viognier

CREEK WINES, VIOGNIER, “LE VERGER”, 8678 TORTOISE IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015

$18.33

Stone fruits, nectarines Pears, peaches, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Chicken breast with creamy leek, white wine and smoked pancetta sauce

$220.00

Well-balanced, this is a somewhat restrained Viognier style with flavours of melons, pears, lime and a mineral structure. Viognier grapes were grown on limestone clay soils benefitting from the cooling influence of the Montagne Noire. The grapes were harvested and left for short skin contact maceration, then pressed and the clarified juice fermented at low temperature to dryness. Viognier Melon, pears Light, crisp, lime finish, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Sushi and Sashimi

CREEK WINES, CARIGNAN, “VIEILLES 8679 TORTOISE VIGNES”, IGP PAYS D’HÉRAULT, 2015

$14.08

$169.00

Tortoise Creek old vines Carignan has leafy, brambly fruit aromas leading to crunchy flavours of cranberries, sour cherries and red berries enhanced by the wine’s quite firm acidity. Carignan is a late-ripening variety and needs the warmth of the south to reach full maturity. Planted in the beautiful landscape of the Hérault between the Cévennes Mountains and the Mediterranean, the grapes were picked, de-stemmed, crushed and fermented with some use of oak. Carignan Brambles, green leaf Red berries, cranberries, sour cherry 16° C

ARGELIÈRES, CHARDONNAY, GRANDE CUVÉE, 8680 LES MARILYN LASSERRE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 A Chardonnay with balance, poise and lots of flavour, it is medium yellow in colour with fruit aromas of lemon $16.42 and passion fruit intermingling with hints of wood. Medium-bodied, it has good depth and concentration with a mineral, pithy finish. A tribute to the pebble and limestone terroir on which the Chardonnay vines are $197.00 cultivated, it is a wine of real distinction and a steal at the price! The grapes were gently pressed and a low, slow fermentation with some French oak was followed by maturation on lees to add smoothness.

2016-2018, M8 D8

Chardonnay

Slow-roasted pork shoulder with sour cherry sauce

Passion fruit, lemon, woody Citrus fruits, firm, crisp finish, [00] 8° C 2016-2019, M7 D9 Grilled salmon with lemon risotto and creamy prawn sauce

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES >>

CAMPAGNE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, IGP PAYS 8681 LA D’OC, 2015

$14.58

2015 was an exceptional year for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Languedoc. La Campagne is vibrant in colour with restrained dark berry and blackcurrant aromas. Finely balanced with intense red and black fruit flavours and a smooth palate, it is medium-bodied.

$175.00 Cabernet Sauvignon

SAINT-MARTIN, MERLOT - CABERNET 8682 DOMAINE SAUVIGNON, IGP CITÉ DE CARCASSONNE, 2015 The Domaine Saint-Martin vineyards are located close to the medieval fortress city of Carcassonne, a city $15.50 with 2,500 years of history which has seen Romans, Visigoths, Saracens and Crusaders. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, the region has a relatively continental climate with hot, dry $186.00 summers. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 is deep purple in colour with mellow aromas of black cherries, vanilla and spice. It is medium-bodied with some structure and firm tannins.

Dark berries, blackcurrant Red and black fruits

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

18° C

Mellow, black cherry, vanilla

2016-2019, M7 D9

Spicy, firm structure

Caramelized onions, anchovies, and black Niçoise olives pizza

18° C 2016-2019, M7 D9 Cassoulet

Arnaud Sié, fourth-generation winegrower. The wines he produces are in his image: frank, powerful, but elegant and pleasant.

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

8683 DOMAINE DES TROIS VOIES, AOP CORBIÈRES, ARNAUD SIÉ, 2014 $20.83

$125.00

Domaine des Trois Voies is a beautiful 20-hectare estate located in the small village of Talairan in the Corbières region. Corbières has a complex geological history and the appellation is divided into 11 different terroirs. Owner Arnaud Sié cultivates his vineyards on chalky clay soils which are planted with traditional varieties. The 2014 produced from a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache has aromas of the “garrigues”, wild rosemary, menthol and earthy notes over a fruit background. The palate is soft with savoury, herbal flavours. Syrah, Grenache Rustic, rosemary, earthy, menthol Savoury herbal notes 18° C 2016-2020, M7 D8 Lamb stew with black olives and rosemary

GRANDE MERVEILLE, SYRAH – GRENACHE, AOP CÔTES 8684 LA DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES, 2013

$22.83

$274.00

A wine with great personality, restrained herbs, spice and dark fruit precede a succulent palate with savoury notes. Broad in structure, the wine is rich and smooth with acidity to balance it perfectly. The grapes were grown on the best slopes in the Agly River valley on rocky soils. Hand-picked with careful grape-sorting, traditional winemaking with extended maceration was carried out. The Côtes du Roussillon Villages appellation is shaped like an amphitheatre which faces east to the Mediterranean Sea. Around it are three mountain ranges: Corbières, Pyrénées and Albères, with the source of Agly River, in the hills of Corbières, flowing into the Mediterranean near Le Barcarès.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

Syrah, Grenache Herbs, spice, dark fruits Succulent, savoury notes 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D7 Venison sausage braised in red wine

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES >>

Barrel cellars at Château La Clotte-Fontane which was built on the ruins of a Roman villa. It was bought in the nineties by Maryline and Philippe Pagès who have worked to restore the castle to its former magnificence.

8685 CHÂTEAU LA CLOTTE-FONTANE, CRÉMAILH, AOC LANGUEDOC, 2013 $30.00

$180.00

Château La Clotte-Fontane is located in the village of Sommières in the eastern part of the Languedoc, in the Gard Department close to the town of Nîmes. The estate covers a total of 130 hectares with 38 hectares planted to vines. The Château, built on the ruins of a Roman villa, has been restored by Maryline and Philippe Pagès. The Crémailh 2013 is refined with aromas of dark fruits and damson jam. In the mouth, the wine is soft and smooth with mellow flavours of coffee and red cherries. It has a fine, powdery texture with lingering flavours of Morello cherries and griottes. Syrah, Grenache Damsons, plum jam Coffee, red cherries, griottes 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D8 Standing rib roast with pearl onions

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON LGI WINES

BRITISH COLUMBIA

PAUL SAPIN

Maison Belleroche Merlot – the grapes benefit from ideal climatic conditions which allow for good vine growth and optimal grape maturity.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON PAUL SAPIN >>

Paul Sapin established a firm base in the heart of Minervois with the purchase of the historic Château Blomac. The 130-hectare estate surrounds an elegant 18th century Château with vineyards of white grapes on the cooler sites close to the Canal du Midi and red vines planted in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. Working closely with Olivier Mandeville at Domaine Peirière, they produce affordable wines with personality and flavour.

opim@opim.ca EMAIL YOUR ORDER

8686 MR. PAUL, IGP CÔTES DE GASCOGNE BLANC, 2015 $11.92

$143.00

Very pale in colour with limes, gooseberry and flinty aromas, Mr. Paul Côtes de Gascogne Blanc 2015 is intense in flavour with firm lemon-lime acidity. The vineyards are located in the heart of the region on limestone clay soils over loam subsoil. Relatively light in alcohol at 11.5%, the natural acidity is balanced with a touch of sweetness.

Colombard, Gros Manseng Lime, gooseberry Flinty, firm acidity, [01] 6° C 2016-2017, M8 D9 Tilapia with lemon-caper sauce

8687 MAISON BELLEROCHE, MERLOT, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 $12.50

$150.00

A light to medium-bodied Merlot with intense aromas and flavours of red berries, strawberries and raspberries, the Maison Belleroche Merlot is a soft, easy-drinking wine. The vineyards on calcareous limestone soils were planted 20 to 25 years ago on hillsides around Béziers in the Languedoc. Soils are pebbly, light and freedraining.

Merlot Red berries, strawberry Light to medium-bodied, supple, red fruits 16° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Penne pasta with tomato sauce and roasted eggplant

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON PAUL SAPIN >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

BLOMAC, SAUVIGNON BLANC, IGP PAYS 8689 DOMAINE D’OC, 2015

SÉLECTION, CUVÉE 89, VINCENT CHARLEUX, 8688 MA MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015

$13.33

$160.00

Sweet coconut oak, nutmeg spice and cooked fruit aromas converge in this blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft and round on the palate, it has a grainy texture with good intensity. Merlot grapes were sourced from the cooler region of Limoux while Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the warmer Minervois region; 30 to 40-year-old vines are planted on a diverse range of soils. Each plot was harvested and vinified separately with harmonious use of oak.

The origins of Château Blomac estate can be traced back to Roman times and the old castle was owned $14.25 by the powerful abbots of the Lagrasse Abbey in the 17th century. The current Château is an impressive, yet elegant building constructed in the 18th century. The 130-hectare estate grows red and white varieties with $171.00 the white grapes located on the cooler land on either side of the Canal du Midi. Domaine Blomac Sauvignon Blanc 2015 is pale in colour with smoky gooseberry aromas. It is soft and well-balanced with a lingering limey finish. Sauvignon Blanc Smoky, gooseberry Soft, well-balanced, long finish, [01] 6° C

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

2016-2018, M8 D9

Coconut, nutmeg, spicy, cooked fruits

Thai fish cakes

Smooth, oaky finish 16° C 2016-2019, M7 D9 Tourtière – spiced minced meat pie

8691 DOMAINE BLOMAC, SYRAH, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 $13.33

BLOMAC, CHARDONNAY, IGP PAYS D’OC, 8690 DOMAINE 2015

$14.42

$173.00

Tropical and stone fruits, peaches, nectarines and passion fruit, are all present. Fruity and soft with a crisp finish, the Chardonnay vines are cultivated in light, mineral-rich clay limestone soils. The climate is Mediterranean with temperatures moderated by the nearby Montagne Noire and the Tramontane wind blowing in from the north.

$160.00

Dense in colour and solid in texture, Domaine Blomac Syrah 2015 has mellow black cherry fruits with medium body and firm acidity. The parcels of Syrah stretch over the banks of the Canal du Midi close to the lock at Fontfile. Wines are made by Marie Toussaint using traditional vinification in temperature-controlled tanks with full extraction of colour and tannins.

Syrah Mellow, black cherries Dark fruits, solid structure 16° C

Chardonnay

2016-2019, M7 D8

Peaches, nectarines

Grilled lamb chops with herbes de Provence and roasted potatoes

Broad, tropical fruits, crisp acidity, [01] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Seared scallops with tropical fruit salsa

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON PAUL SAPIN >>

The 230-hectare Domaine Peirière estate, in the heart of the Minervois appellation, enjoys plenty of sunshine year-round, but cools down at night because of the Montagne Noire nearby, resulting in an ideal climate that fosters the development of the grapes’ aromas.

8692 PLATINUM, DOMAINE PEIRIÈRE, CHARDONNAY, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 $20.17

$121.00

Olivier Mandeville can trace his family roots at Domaine Peirière back over 400 years. Located in the heart of the Minervois, Domaine Peirière is a beautiful place to live and to farm grapes. Two selected parcels within the estate, each with distinctive soil types, one facing south, the other north, were used for this wine, producing a restrained mineral style. Yeasty aromas of fresh bread dough, lime and gunflint combine to give a wine with depth and elegance. The grapes were harvested and gently pressed, allowing the juice to naturally decant. The clear juice was fermented at 20°C and the wine kept on lees for several months. Chardonnay Bread dough, limes, gunflint Limes, flinty, [01] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Creamy chicken pot pie

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON PAUL SAPIN >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

8693 1889 PAUL SAPIN MALBEC, HÉRITAGE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 $21.83

$131.00

The Malbec grape has grown in popularity following its success in Argentina, but it is originally a French variety. In this case, it was grown on two parcels in the western Languedoc close to the Pyrenean foothills on calcareous clay and sandy clay soils. It is a vibrant purple colour with intense sweet aromas of coconuts, violets and blueberries. Concentrated and generous on the palate, with blackberries and black cherry flavours, it has good acidity and a long finish. Malbec grapes were harvested by hand and stalks removed. After fermentation in tank, the wine was transferred to barrel and matured for six months with 1/3 new, 1/3 once-used and 1/3 twice-used oak barrels. Malbec Coconut, blueberries, brambles Blackberries, cherries 18° C 2016-2020, M7 D9 Braised beef short ribs with potato gnocchi

Thierry Coulon bought Paul Sapin in 1996. The 1889 Héritage is a range created to commemorate the establishment of this house and as a tribute to the founders Lucien and Paul Sapin. It was also the year of the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower during the Paris Universal Exposition.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON PAUL SAPIN

CHÂTEAU CANET Rustiques, Languedoc Boys and their toys – next to the traditional, though very functional cellar dating from the beginning of the 1900s, in 2013 Château Canet was fitted with a state-of-the-art winery, including a new bottling line.

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CHÂTEAU CANET >>

For Floris and Vicky Lemstra, 2015 was the best year since they made Château Canet their home and life in 2007. Winter rains replenished water reserves in the soil and was followed by a beautiful summer. The vines acquired just the right amount of water to produce super quality grapes.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

BARONNIE DE CANET, IGP PAYS D’OC, 8696 SAUVIGNON, 2015

$14.67

$88.00

ROSÉ, BARONNIE DE CANET, IGP PAYS D’OC, 8697 SYRAH 2015

Pale in colour and quite restrained aromatically, Baronnie de Canet Sauvignon presents lime scents with a hint of fennel. The palate is light to medium-bodied with flinty flavours ending with grapefruit and lime notes. The grapes were sourced just south of Carcassonne, grown on clay and limestone soils. After harvest, the juice was left to macerate on grape skins for several hours prior to pressing and cool fermentation.

$14.67

$88.00

Produced from Syrah grapes grown in the Minervois region, Baronnie de Canet Syrah Rosé is baby pink in colour with appealing aromas of rosehip and grenadine. Soft and crisp on the palate, it is fruity with balanced acidity. Made from the first Syrah of the season coming from younger vines, these were picked at night, pressed, fermented at low temperature and bottled early so as to retain maximum fruit flavours.

Sauvignon Blanc

Syrah

Fennel, flinty

Rosehip, grenadine

Lime, grapefruit pith, [00]

Red fruits, crisp acidity, [00]

6° C

2016-2017, M8 D9

Spaghetti with roasted fennel and ricotta cheese

Warm goat cheese salad

CANET, PICPOUL DE PINET, TÊTE DE CUVÉE, AOP 8698 VIGNOBLES PICPOUL DE PINET, 2015

$19.83

$119.00

The Picpoul de Pinet appellation is located close to the Pond of Thau behind the port of Sète and the Mediterranean Sea. It produces crisp, dry white wines from the Picpoul grape, one of the oldest grape varieties of the Languedoc. The 2015 is pale in colour with aromas of apple blossom, fennel and fresh green apples. It is a delicate, yet powerful wine with a pure mineral finish, good acidity and flinty flavours. A versatile food wine, Picpoul de Pinet wines are now found on the very best restaurant lists. Picpoul Apple blossom, green apples Lime, fennel, smoky, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Fresh oysters

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CHÂTEAU CANET >>

CANET, CHARDONNAY, SPECIAL OAK 8699 VIGNOBLES RÉSERVE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 Vignobles Canet Chardonnay Special Oak Réserve 2015 is medium intensity of colour with woody, oaky aromas, vanilla custard and quince fruits. It is broad $17.67 in structure with banana fruits and woody spices. Chardonnay grapes from Canet’s vineyards were combined with grapes sourced from the foothills of the $106.00 Limoux at 300 metres. The impact of altitude and the cool westerly wind mean the grapes in Limoux retain a higher natural acidity and freshness. 30% of the wine was oak-vinified and matured, with the balance fermented in tank, and the two combined after eight months.

CANET, MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 8700 VIGNOBLES SPECIAL OAK RÉSERVE, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015

$17.67

$106.00

Deep purple in colour with aromas of cooked summer fruits and apples, Vignobles Canet Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Special Oak Réserve 2015 has flavours of blackcurrants and cranberry juice with coconut ice and a smoky finish. Produced from a blend of 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes were sourced from different regions including the warm Minervois, cooler Limoux and Cabardès for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was oak-matured for eight months. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Chardonnay

Cooked summer fruits

Woody, vanilla, quince

Blackcurrant, cranberry, vanilla

Banana custard, toast, [00]

18° C

6° C

2016-2019, M8 D8

2016-2018, M8 D9

Peppered duck and blackcurrant sauce served with broccoli and mashed potatoes

Grilled pork chops with creamy sautéed crimini mushrooms

Château Canet has been following the “Terra Vitis” ecological brief for sustainable agriculture since 2003. Floris comments: “Some things are just so logical: why use weed killer if you can simply plough? It requires a little more work, but it will also ensure that the next generation (Oliver and Charlotte) have a vineyard with a future.”

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CHÂTEAU CANET >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

8701 DOMAINE CANET, SYRAH ROSÉ, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015 $18.33

$110.00

Produced from Syrah grapes from Château Canet’s younger vines, the 2015 is pale to medium-pink with floral and red berry aromas. It is soft and smooth in the mouth with more weight and flavour than the Baronnie de Canet Syrah Rosé. The grapes were harvested, directly pressed and the juice fermented at 17°C in stainless steel tanks with maturation on lees for five months prior to bottling. Syrah

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8702 DOMAINE CANET, SYRAH, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015

Red berries, floral Medium-bodied, [00]

$18.33

6° C 2016-2017, M8 D9

$110.00

Vibrant in colour and in flavour, Domaine Canet Syrah has aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries. The palate is smooth with pure cassis and chocolate flavours; think black forest cake. The sweet, ripe black fruits are balanced by the acidity, giving a wine with depth and balance; great value. The grapes were harvested by machine during the cool of the night and a cold maceration carried out for four days at 8°C.

Grilled swordfish and tomato kebabs Syrah Black cherry Cassis, chocolate, black fruits 18° C 2016-2020, M7 D9 Steak frites

8703 CHÂTEAU CANET, AOP MINERVOIS, BLANC, 2015 $22.50

$135.00

White fruits and pears with a savoury edge and smoky notes, Château Canet Minervois Blanc is a blend of 40% Roussanne, 20% Bourboulenc, 20% Vermentino, and 20% Viognier. The four varieties combine to produce a round and smooth wine with firm acidity and a fresh, pithy, zesty finish. After some skin contact, the pressed juice was left to slowly ferment for a massive 187 days! A short spell in oak adds an extra dimension.

8704 CHÂTEAU CANET, AOP MINERVOIS, ROUGE, 2015

Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Vermentino, Viognier White fruits, pears

$22.50

Smooth, soft , good acidity, [00] 6° C

$135.00

Medium to full-bodied, this is a dense wine which needs some time. Intensely coloured, it has dark berry aromas and fruit flavours with fine-grained tannins. Produced from a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, the grapes were picked and fermented at 27°C for twenty days. A fraction of the wine was matured in old barrels produced from oak from the Vosges forest, but the wine has no overt oaky characteristic.

2016-2018, M8 D9 Veal blanquette

Syrah, Grenache Dark berries Medium to full-bodied, black fruits 18° C 2016-2020, M7 D8 Sausage and bean casserole

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CHÂTEAU CANET >>

8705 CHÂTEAU CANET, AOC LANGUEDOC, MAYRONNE, 2015 $28.00

$168.00

Mayronne refers to the parcel of Grenache, planted in 2002 on rocky terrain, which makes up 80% of this special cuvée. The grapes harvested by hand late in the 2015 season were super-ripe with potential alcohol levels at 15.5% to 16%, the addition of Syrah bringing balance to the wine. Ten days cold maceration was followed by fermentation at 27°C for three weeks with pushing down of the cap by foot twice daily. This is a rich wine with cooked fruits, plum and black olive aromas. The palate is smooth with tangy acidity revealing jammy fruits, raspberries and red cherries.

Grenache, Syrah Cooked fruits, plums, black olive Raspberries, red cherries 18° C 2017-2024, M6 D6 Beef, red wine and black olives stew

8706 CHÂTEAU CANET, LES EVANGILES, AOP MINERVOIS, 2011 $44.33

$266.00

Les Evangiles is the highest plot on the Château Canet estate. Planted with old Syrah vines on deep soils of clay and limestone, yields are extremely low and grapes small and hugely concentrated. The 2011 is smooth and mellow. Ruby in colour, it has vanilla and cooked dark fruit aromas. Soft and rich on the palate, flavours of red cherries, vanilla and savoury notes emerge. It is a concentrated wine with great balance which simply lingers in the mouth. The wine was matured in oak with 30% new, 40% one-year-old and 30% two-year-old barrels. Syrah, Grenache Mellow, vanilla, dark fruits Smooth, red cherries, vanilla, savoury edge 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D8 Braised lamb shank over creamy polenta

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CHÂTEAU CANET

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Provence

The round and symmetric stone stairs at Château Vignelaure are inspired by Château La Lagune in the Haut-Médoc.

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE Rians-en-Provence Château Vignelaure and its surrounding vineyards are located in the wild countryside, set up high on an isolated plateau to the north of the town of Aix-en-Provence. Its vineyards cover more than 60 hectares planted on limestone and clay mixed with gravel. Winemaker Philippe Bru makes classy wines with personality, purity and longevity.

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE >>

PAGE, VIGNELAURE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON ET 8708 LEMERLOT, ROSÉ, IGP MÉDITERRANÉE, 2015

$26.83

Pale baby pink in colour with a cassis leaf nose, this is most definitely a Cabernet Sauvignon-based rosé; unusual for Provence. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, it is intense with pure blackcurrant flavours and firm acidity.

$161.00

PAGE, VIGNELAURE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON ET 8709 LEMERLOT, IGP MÉDITERRANÉE, 2011

$28.00

$168.00 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

A moody wine deep ruby in colour with aromas of chocolate, spice, black cherries and herbs, Le Page Vignelaure Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011 is medium-bodied with concentrated fruit and a firm, tight structure, keeping it youthful and fresh. 2011 was an excellent year at Vignelaure. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, all the grapes were handpicked and macerated for three weeks. The wine was then matured for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Cassis leaf, blackcurrant

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Well-balanced, juicy fruits, long finish, [00]

Chocolate, spice, black cherries

6° C

Herbs, fruits, concentration

2016-2017, M8 D9

18° C

Spinach, pancetta and shallot quiche

2016-2024, M6 D7 Filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus

SOURCE, CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN 8710 LA PROVENCE, ROSÉ, 2015

$28.00

$168.00

Provence is famous for rosé, and no wonder! Subtle red fruits on the nose are followed by soft elegant flavours of fresh fruits; raspberries and strawberries. The palate is smooth and well-balanced. La Source rosé 2015 is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Each variety was picked separately and the grapes lightly pressed to give this pale-coloured wine with a pretty salmon hue. Slowly fermented at low temperature, it was aged on lees for three months and bottled early. Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Subtle red fruits Soft, elegant, [00] 6° C 2016-2018, M8 D9 Niçoise salad

PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE >>

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Hand-picking of 40-year-old Syrah from the La Colline vineyard, the highest at Vignelaure at 420 meters — this is a very low-yield vineyard at 25 hectolitres per hectare. The harvest lasted four weeks with 30 hand-pickers.

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, 2012 Produced from the estate’s best blocks of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the vines were planted over 50 years ago and produce low yields of concentrated grapes. Intense ruby in colour, Château Vignelaure 2012 has aromas of red and black fruits. The palate is refined with elegant, smooth texture leading to ripe fruit flavours and firm structure. 2012 was a very good year at Château Vignelaure and this wine has lots of life ahead of it. It is definitely one for my cellar.

8711 $42.83

8712 $95.33 $286.00

$257.00

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Red and black fruits Fine texture, ripe dark fruits 18° C 2016-2025, M6 D7 Roast haunch of venison with blackberries

OPIMIAN CELLAR OFFERING 242

PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE >>

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE - MIXED VINTAGE CASE - THREE BOTTLES EACH: 2009 AND 2010 VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN 8713 CHÂTEAU PROVENCE - MIXED VINTAGE CASE - THREE BOTTLES EACH: 2009 AND 2010 (WOOD CASE)

$45.50

$273.00

The potential of the red wines of Château Vignelaure to age gracefully is amazing. These are classical, elegant, pure wines. The estate boasts some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in Provence in the 1960s from cuttings from Château La Lagune in the Médoc. 2009 and 2010 were both good years, producing concentrated wines, albeit for different reasons. Personally, I would tackle the 2009 first and hold onto the 2010 for a while, if you can.

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, 2009 After three years of drought, the winter prior to the 2009 growing season brought much-needed rain and replenished water reserves in the ground. Cold weather delayed bud-break until April 29th, but a combination of warm spring temperatures and water lead to fast vegetative growth, making up for the late start. Summer was sunny, warm and dry so that harvest started on September 7th lasting until October 3rd. 2009 is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Syrah. Coffee, cooked fruits and raisin aromas lead to a mellow palate with flavours of dried figs and prunes over a red cherry background with lively acidity and an elegant bitter cherry finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Coffee, cooked fruits, raisins Figs, prunes, red cherries 18° C 2016-2022, M6 D8 Herbed lamb in fig-port wine sauce

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE, AOC CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, 2010 2010 was a colder year with late-budding followed by below-average temperatures in spring. Summer was sunny and mostly dry, but not too hot, leading to a long, slow-ripening and late harvest. Picking of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah plots for the “grand vin” was done between October 3rd and October 15th. The result is a wine with savoury fruit and woody notes that will repay some keeping. The palate is soft and fine with a powdery texture, tight-knit with a red cherry finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Cocoa powder, woody, savoury Dark fruits 18° C 2016-2025, M6 D7 Jarret de veau braised with sage served with chanterelle mushrooms

PROVENCE CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE

BRITISH COLUMBIA

A NEW MEMBER, and upon joining, both you and the OUR COUPON PROGRAMS REFER new member will receive a coupon for one of two great rewards.

Your coupon gives you options! Opim.ca or 800-361-9421 ORDER ANY CASE OF WINE & CHOOSE YOUR FREE CASE FROM THE CHOICES BELOW BLOMAC, SAUVIGNON BLANC, IGP PAYS 8694 DOMAINE D’OC, 2015 The origins of Château Blomac estate can be traced back to Roman times and the old castle was owned by the powerful abbots of the Lagrasse Abbey in the 17th century. The current Château is an impressive, yet elegant building constructed in the 18th century. The COUPON 130-hectare estate grows red and white varieties with the white grapes located on the cooler land on either side of the Canal du Midi. Domaine Blomac Sauvignon Blanc 2015 is pale in colour with smoky gooseberry aromas. It is soft and well-balanced with a lingering limey finish.

ORDER ANY TWO CASES OF WINE & RECEIVE $75 OFF YOUR ORDER

8695 DOMAINE BLOMAC, SYRAH, IGP PAYS D’OC, 2015

Syrah

Sauvignon Blanc

Mellow, black cherries

Smoky, gooseberry Soft, well-balanced, long finish, [01]

Dark fruits, solid structure 16° C

6° C

2016-2019, M7 D8

2016-2018, M8 D9

Grilled lamb chops with herbes de Provence and roasted potatoes

Thai fish cakes

OUR WINE PROGRAMS

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Expand your horizons, cellar, taste — it doesn’t matter what it is. Opimian Select will provide you with several different wines to try from eight different wine regions. You can sample and taste the great, everyday selection of wine from our suppliers… find a few favourites and discover what characteristics you love. Over the course of the year, members enrolled in this program receive eight mixed cases of wine, one from each Cellar Offering.

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Invest in your cellar, palate, experience – the Founders’ Choice program will enrich many aspects of your life… it will refine your palate and develop your cellar. Over the course of the year, members enrolled in this program receive eight cases of premium wine, one for each Cellar Offering. This program is for members who are looking to expand their cellars and refine their palate. Founders’ Choice is a hidden jewel among Opimian’s wine selection – rare with many unique facets that reveal something new with each case. Château Vignelaure is the Founders’ Choice feature supplier on this Cellar Offering.

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