C259-ON: Bordeaux, Bergerac, Beaujolais and Australia

cellar Bordeaux, Bergerac, Beaujolais & Australia

on

259 Order between June 8 and July 13, 2018

Ordering Made Easy 1. Select Your Wines Let yourself be inspired by our detailed descriptions or use your personal wine profile to find out which wines best suit your palate. Our custom chart also features a variety of symbols (explained below) that can guide your selection.

Legend Grape variety Red White Rosé Sparkling Bottle size

Number of bottles in case

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

2. Place Your Order There are five ways to order • Online: Go to opim.ca, sign in and select Order Now. • Email opim@opim.ca with your selection.

• Call 1-800-361-9421 • Fax your order to 514-481-9699 • Mail your order*

Aroma

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

Taste

Expected arrival for shipments from this Cellar Offering is End-September 2018.

Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry to liquor board and processing time required by each liquor board.

Serving temperature

Once the wine arrives at your local liquor store or distribution centre, you will receive a Pick Up Notice with the specified date (the Release Date) and your pick up location.

You can follow the status of your shipment at all times at opim.ca.

Ideal with Evolution Drink this year Will develop, drink within 2 years Meant for cellaring Concentration Light Medium Great

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

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

• A valid 2018 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: July 13, 2018. Important: no orders will be processed after this deadline. * Deadline for mailing orders: July 3, 2018. Please allow 10 days for delivery by Canada Post.

Oak Light Medium Heavy Limited quantities Limited Very limited Extremely limited Less than 100 cases available Members’ Choice Most ordered by Opimian members Opimian Suggests Starting a cellar

Medal Winner Discovery Opimian Discovery 2017 C250 Select Plus Opimian Select Plus 2017 C250 M—Degree of Maturity (1-10) M1 = lay down M10 = fully mature

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D—Degree of Drinkability (1-10) D1 = needs time D10 = ready to drink

Sweetness scale

Grams/litre

Examples

[00]

0-3

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, many reds

[01]

4-6

Some New World varietals, some reds

[02]

7 - 12

Champagne, Sparkling, Rosés, few reds

[03]

13 - 20

Mosel, some Alsace, Anjou

[04]

21 - 34

Semi-sweet Bordeaux, some sherry

[05]

35 - 50

Kabinett German, Late Harvest, Alsace

[06]

51 - 74

Spätlese German, Sweet Loire, Port, Dessert Muscat

[07]

75 - 100

Auslese, Beerenauslese

[08]

101 - 139

Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port

[09]

140 - 179

Icewines, Sauternes, Barsac, dessert wines, Port

[10]

180 >

Speciality sweet wines, Trockenbeerenauslese

cover — Jacques Charlet has reintroduced submerged cap

fermentation in open vats. Grapes and stems are slowly pushed down and trapped in the must to undergo a gentle infusion process.

Cellar 259 Bordeaux, Bergerac, Beaujolais and Australia 2017 was a difficult vintage in Bordeaux, but some delicious and great wines were produced. The frost in April led to a 50% cut in the overall quantity of wine produced compared to 2016. Depending on the specific site location, grape yields ranged from nothing to a normal production. Even adjacent parcels saw great variations between them. The wines that have been made are good in quality and, despite the low yields, Opimian producers have made great efforts to maintain their Euro prices for members. The preceding 2015 and 2016 vintages, which also feature in this Cellar Offering, are both very good and are really coming into their own.

France

This Cellar Offering contains wine from lesserknown appellations, “petits châteaux” and some second wines. Second wines from top estates are produced with the same care and attention as the “Grands Vins”, by the same expert teams with the resources and no-expense-spared attitude to produce the best wines possible. Wines that don’t quite make the final cut for the Grand Vin can offer high quality at more accessible prices.

The Cellar Offering also includes wines from Beaujolais, a region that, unlike most in France, was not affected by the frost and had a good vintage.

Finally, these are complemented with a selection from McLaren Vale and a new producer Penley Estate in Coonawarra, South Australia.

Opimian’s Wine Consultant Jane Masters MW, tastes, selects and writes the commentary for each of the wines in the cellar offerings. Her aim is to find exclusive wines around the world that offer great value to Opimian members through regular visits to wine producers and trade shows.

A Master of Wine since 1997 (one of 370 globally), Jane was elected as Chairman of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine in September 2016.

Jane trained as a winemaker at the Bordeaux Institut d’Œnologie after a degree in Biological Chemistry and worked for UK retailer Marks & Spencer sourcing and managing the Wine & Drinks Category for 13 years.

Featured Vignobles Darriet -----------------------4 Vintex--------------------------------- 10 Wine and Co.-------------------------- 16 SEMAV-------------------------------- 20 Clos Cantenac------------------------- 28 Château Pique-Sègue ---------------- 32 Bernard Perrin------------------------ 36 Jacques Charlet----------------------- 40 Sew & Sew Wines--------------------- 44 Penley Estate-------------------------- 48

— cellar 259 ontario

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France

Bordeaux

Loupiac

Vignobles Darriet I met up with Sandrine Darriet and her brother JeanChristophe on a crisp February morning earlier this year. The gravelly soils along the Garonne River, where Vignobles Darriet is located, fortuitously escaped the worst of the April frost. We visited some of the vineyards, including a plot of Merlot that is enclosed by 13th-century walls that were originally part of Château de Cadillac, and some more recent plantings. Vignobles Darriet made less wine in 2017, and the quality is good.

“The respect of the environment and our values to produce unique terroir expression in our wines is our speciality since 1792.“

photo — The grapes have reached the “rôti” stage

and are ready to be picked.

— bordeaux vignobles darriet

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9743

Château de Rouquette, AOC Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon $19.50

$117.00

Subtle aromas of grapefruit, lemon and gooseberry lead to a soft, smooth palate.

The 2017 white from Château de Rouquette is fresh and supple with flavours of gooseberry and mango followed by a flinty finish. Produced from an assemblage of 85% Sauvignon Blanc complemented by 15% Sémillon, the grapes underwent some skin contact for 12 to18 hours before gentle pressing. Fermentation was carried out using natural yeast with temperatures controlled at 18°C. 2018-2019, M8 D9 Grapefruit, lemon, gooseberry

9744

Château de Rouquette, AOC Bordeaux Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot $18.67

$112.00

Only a very small amount of rosé is produced at Château de Rouquette, and Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal component in the blend at 70%. The 2017 has nice Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of blackcurrants and herbs with strawberry flavours and crisp acidity. This is a Bordeaux rosé with great personality. The grapes were gently pressed under nitrogen to retain maximum aromas and the wine aged on lees for eight months prior to bottling.

2018-2019, M8 D9

6°C

Mango, gooseberry, [00]

Blackcurrants, herbs

Baked ricotta-stuffed courgettes

Strawberry, blackcurrants, [00]

6°C

Thyme honey glazed ham

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photo — Purchased in 1962, Château de Rouquette overlooks the village of Cadillac and benefits from the best climatic conditions.

9745

Château de Rouquette, AOC Bordeaux, Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $19.50

$117.00

This is a dense and savoury wine with flavours of blackcurrants, almond, kirsch, and a touch of leather. It is medium to full-bodied, finishing with flavours of bitter cherry and dark chocolate. Château de Rouquette was purchased by Sandrine’s father in 1962. The estate comprises 16 hectares of vines at the top of a hill, planted on deep gravelly soils with south, southwest exposition. The red is a blend of 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines an average of 35 to 40 years of age. After an extended maceration of 25 to 30 days, the wine was matured for 18 months in one-year old oak barrels.

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9746

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Château de Rouquette, AOC Bordeaux Blanc Sec, Cuvée du Pavillon, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon $16.50

16°C

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $99.00

$16.50

Cuvée du Pavillon Blanc Sec is produced from the younger vines on the estate, between five and ten years of age. It has aromas of quince and floral white blossoms, a result of the higher proportion of Sémillon in the blend (30%).

It is smooth, with a crisp finish.

This is a medium-bodied wine, simple but with oodles of fruit aromas of plum jam, mulberries, red apples and spice. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is soft with firm acidity and a bitter cherry finish. After fermentation, it was matured in tank.

2018-2019, M8 D9

2018-2021, M8 D9

2018-2022, M7 D8 Savoury aromas, blackcurrant

$99.00

9747

Château de Rouquette, AOC Bordeaux, Cuvée du Pavillon, 2017

White blossoms, floral, quince

6°C

Mulberries, red apples, plum jam

16°C

Kirsch, almond, bitter cherry, dark chocolate

Smooth, crisp finish, [00]

Bitter cherries

Cabernet-braised beef short ribs over cauliflower purée

St. Jacques shells with buttered leeks

Pork tenderloin with Merlot-shallot sauce

photo — Create the perfect wine and food pairing: Cuvée du Pavillon Loupiac and peach pie with almonds.

— bordeaux vignobles darriet

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9749

Château de Rouquette, AOC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Cuvée du Pavillon, 2015 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $22.17

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9748

Château de Rouquette, AOC Loupiac, Cuvée du Pavillon, 2014

$133.00

Delicious ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas are complemented with a touch of violet. The 2015 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux is mediumbodied with soft tannins underpinned by a sour blackcurrant and cranberry finish, producing a pure and balanced wine. Starting to drink nicely now, it will continue to mellow over the next few years. It was matured for 18 months in old oak barrels.

Bordeaux’ sweet wines bring food pairing versatility to the table.

2018-2024, M6 D8 Blackberries, blueberries, violets

18°C

Sour blackcurrant, cranberries Beef Wellington; Saint-Nectaire

Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon $26.00

$156.00

Loupiac sits at the same height as, and looks across the Garonne River at, the regions of Sauternes and Barsac. Like its more wellknown neighbours, Loupiac has the potential to produce high-quality dessert wines and was equally revered historically. The proximity to the river produces nighttime and early morning mists that allow for noble rot to develop. 2014 was a great year for botrytised wines in Bordeaux. This is a glorious golden yellow nectar which exudes intense aromas or raisined fruits, burnt sugar and a touch of earth. The palate is sweet, and has a tangy acidity, producing a wine zinging with life and flavours of fresh mango, orange compote, mandarin and marmalade.

2018-2024, M6 D9 Caramelized sugar, earthy

6°C

Orange compote, mandarin, [06] Crêpes with orange butter sauce; Apple, pear and apricot tarts; Camembert

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photo — Harvesting by hand in small crates allows for the preservation of the best aromas in the grapes.

9751

Château Moutin, AOC Graves, Red, 2011 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $193.00

$32.17

Château Moutin, situated at Portets in the southern Graves, has been in Sandrine and Jean-Christophe’s family for two hundred years. Today, the estate comprises three hectares of black grape varieties planted over fifty years ago and a hectare of white. Dense in colour, the 2011 shows little signs of age with aromas of ripe fruits, blueberries, apples and banana complemented by sweet coconut.

On the palate it is smooth and dense with a fine texture and more dark fruit flavours.

Medium to full-bodied, it is a voluptuous style produced from a blend of 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. A strict selection of grapes was carried out followed by an extended fermentation and maceration on skins. The wine was matured for eighteen months in French oak using 50% new and 50% one-year old barrels.

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9750

Château Moutin, AOC Graves, White, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon $32.83

$197.00

Around the same time as tasting wines for this Cellar Offering, I attended a tasting of top white Bordeaux wines with Philippe Dhalluin from Château Mouton Rothschild, Thibault Pontallier from Château Margaux and Pierre-Olivier Clouet, winemaker at Château Cheval Blanc, amongst others. The wines were stunning, with the 1996 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux demonstrating their ability to age. Château Moutin certainly doesn’t have photo — Traditional aging in French oak barrels brings complex aromas and the tannins required for structure in the Château Moutin wines.

the same resources as these famous estates, however Château Moutin Graves 2015 certainly holds its own amongst the best whites from Bordeaux. Pale in colour, it has intense aromas of grapefruit, smoke and spice typical of the Graves region. It is mellow and supple with tropical flavours, passion fruit, a hint of lychee, lemon and mandarin. Fermented and matured in barrel for eight months, the oak is subtle and adds complexity and length. No doubt the influence of older brother Philippe Darriet, who has dedicated three decades researching the aromas and characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, had a role to play.

2018-2022, M8 D9 Grapefruit, flinty

6°C

2018-2024, M6 D9 Blueberries, apples, coconut

18°C

Passion fruit, lychees, mandarin, [00]

Blackberries, blueberries

Grilled marinated prawns with fresh melon salsa

Venison medallions with port and forest fruit sauce

— bordeaux vignobles darriet

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France

Bordeaux

Vintex The négociant firm of Vintex is run by Philippe Larché. The company works closely with small estates and “petit châteaux” across the region.

“We are proud to be one of Opimian’s long-term partners. At Vintex, we always aim to find new products for members while remaining faithful to our historical suppliers.“

photo — Pierre Taïx’ Château Jouanin has recently converted to organic wine production.

— bordeaux vintex

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9752

Château du Pin, AOC Bordeaux, 2016, SCEA Vignobles J.-M. Constans Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc $17.67

$106.00

Intense spicy incense aromas are laid over a fruity background. Château du Pin 2016 is light to medium-bodied with a grippy finish.

It is produced from a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. The estate at Saint-Martial has been in Jean-Marie Constans’ family since 1880.

He and his wife Claudette (who is a force to be reckoned with) farm 46 hectares of vines with an average age of 30 years. Claudette, a trained nurse, is a self-taught winemaker, while Jean-Marie tends to the vines. They are both aided by one of their five sons, born and raised amongst the vines.

2018-2020, M8 D9 Incense, spicy fruits

18°C

Spices, grippy finish

9753

Château Haut Maginet, Blanc, AOC Bordeaux, 2017, Vignobles Jolivet Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle $18.83

$113.00

The Jolivets produce wine in all three colours. The dry white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. It is a fresh and crisp wine with gooseberry and lime flavours, and a flinty finish. Vines an average of 20 years of age are cultivated on clay and limestone soils.

Gooseberry, flinty

9754

Château Haut Maginet, AOC Bordeaux Rosé, 2017, Vignobles Jolivet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $18.83

Pretty pink and bright in colour, Château Haut Maginet Rosé has an herbal aroma with floral notes in the background. It is medium-bodied with strawberry and strawberry leaf flavours, with a crisp finish.

2018-2019, M8 D9

2018-2019, M8 D9

Floral, herbs

6°C

Strawberry, [00]

Lemon, lime, [00]

$113.00

6°C

Niçoise salad with red mullet

Roasted langoustines with fennel and yuzu

Slow-roasted pork and red wine ragù with pappardelle

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photo — Catherine and Jean-Marc Jolivet, proprietors of Château Haut Maginet since 1981

Petits Châteaux offer exceptional quality at good value.

9755

Château Haut Maginet, Rouge, AOC Bordeaux, 2017, Vignobles Jolivet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc $18.83

$113.00

Château Haut Maginet is situated in the heart of the little village of Soussac in the Entre-deux-Mers region. At an average altitude of approximately 111 metres, it is the highest point in the Bordeaux region. The Jolivet family has cultivated vines for four generations, with Jean-Marc Jolivet taking over running the estate in 1981. He acquired neighbouring vineyards and built the estate up from 27 to over 100 hectares. The 2017 red is vibrant in colour with ripe berry aromas. It is medium-bodied, supple with a fine texture and soft finish with lingering bitter cherry flavours. Despite losing three fourths of their crop in 2017 due to the April frost, the Jolivets have maintained their prices for Opimian.

2018-2021, M8 D9 Ripe berries

18°C

Smooth, bitter cherries Gruyère burger with grilled onions and bell pepper

photo — The beautiful Château La Chandellière vineyard, 31 hectares located in Civrac-en-Médoc

— bordeaux vintex

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9757 Château Jouanin, AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, 2016

9756

Château La Chandellière, Cru Bourgeois, AOC Médoc, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc $26.00

$156.00

Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Owner Pierre Taïx has vineyards in several appellations to the east of Saint-Émilion, all of which are farmed organically. Château Jouanin has eight hectares of vines close to the town of Monbadon. The 2016 has intense ripe blackcurrant aromas combined with smoky and vanilla notes. Erring on the lighter side of medium-bodied, it is drinking nicely now with a long spicy incense finish. It is a blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. 10% of the blend was matured in new French oak barrels, 30% in one-year old barrels, 30% in two-year-old barrels and the balance in tank.

Château La Chandellière is located in the far north of the Médoc. 31 hectares of vineyards are planted on a small mound of limestone clay.

The estate is owned by the Secret family, and the wines are made by Hubert Secret.

Hubert’s La Chandellière 2014 has aromas of maraschino cherries and cedar notes.

It is medium-bodied with good mid-palate fruit and a savoury twist with persistent bitter cherry flavours. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the blend, with 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. After prefermentation maceration, it was fermented at low temperature and aged using oak chips.

2018-2021, M8 D9

2018-2024, M6 D8

$23.67

Ripe blackcurrants, smoky, vanilla

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$142.00

18°C

Coffee, cedar, cherries

18°C

Incense, dark fruits

Savoury, bitter cherry

Hunter-style rabbit stew with wild mushrooms, capers and olives

Filet mignon with truffle butter sauce

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — Secret brothers of Château La Chandellière, Guillaume (left) and Thibaud

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Château Beau Secret, AOC Haut-Médoc, 2015

9758

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot $31.33

$188.00

2018-2022, M7 D8 Raisins, dried fruit, cranberry

18°C

Ripe fruits, bitter cherry Moroccan lamb tagine

Château Beau Secret really is a very wellkept secret. The 2015 has aromas of raisins, cranberries, dried and cooked fruits. The palate is soft and smooth, with ripe red fruit flavours emerging, leading towards a bitter cherry finale with vibrant acidity. It is a medium-bodied and wellbalanced wine made by young winemaker Lucie Ribeiro Secret from a single plot of 2.6 hectares. The vineyard, on deep gravel soils from the Garonne River, is located on a ridge at Cussac-Fort-Médoc, between the prestigious appellations of Saint-Julien and Margaux, and is planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Lucie made a name for herself as winemaker at neighbouring Château du Moulin Rouge, owned by her parents. Her in-laws are the owners of Château La Chandellière.

9759

Château Fontebride, AOC Sauternes, 2016, SCE Château Haut-Bergeron Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle $184.00

$30.67

2016 was the third consecutive excellent vintage in Sauternes, so it may be that members are already well stocked-up. If not, be aware that frost hit Sauternes hard in April 2017, and next year there will be little wine available. A delightful and bright golden yellow colour sets the scene. Aromas are refined and complex, with vanilla cream and peachy fruits. The sweetness on the palate is offset by zesty acidity and long flavours of barley sugar and mango. Château Fontebride, owned by the Lamothe family, has six hectares of vines in Bommes. Produced from fifty-yearold vines, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are cultivated on gravel soils over a clay subsoil. Multiple “tris” in the vineyards occur, with successive selective picking of a given parcel up to six times, to handpick single berries at the optimum moment, when the noble rot has worked its magic.

2018-2026, M6 D7 Pineapple, vanilla, touch of earth

6°C

Barley sugar, vanilla, [08] Pan-seared scallops and Sauternes beurre blanc; Galette des rois; Stilton

photo — Grapes ready for harvest at Château

Beau Secret

— bordeaux vintex

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France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux

Wine and Co. Located in Bordeaux’ Chartrons district, an area steeped in viticultural history, Wine and Co. maintains long-lasting and privileged relationships with vineyard owners throughout the region. Here is a selection from their portfolio.

“Passion. Engagement.

Innovation. Sustainability.

Success. This is Wine and Co.“ – Constance Chamberlain, Founder

photo — Château Jean Voisin is undergoing major renovations to enable the production of the best wines its exceptional terroir can offer.

— bordeaux wine and co.

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9761

Château Les Tuileries is the second label of Château Roquefort, an estate with 100 hectares of vines owned by the Bellanger family. The wines are made by Samuel Mestre. The name Roquefort dates to the Middle Ages, roca forti, meaning rocky outcrop, and the vines are planted on a limestone plateau. Pieces of pottery dating back to 4500 BC have been found, and a covered walkway 14 metres long from the middle Neolithic period (3700 BC) has been identified as a mass burial site. Items from the Bronze Age and Iron Age, jewelry made from shells and bones, as well as a coin from the Gallo-Roman Era, have all been unearthed, making it an archeologist’s paradise. Château Les Tuileries 2016 has aromas of summer fruits, red apples and dark cherries over a leafy background. It is juicy and vibrant on the palate with flavours of mulberries, soft fruits and bitter cherries.

Predominantly Merlot, with a 10% splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, it is drinking nicely now and will over the coming years.

Château de Lagorce, AOC Bordeaux, 2016 Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $19.33

$116.00

A charming wine with lots of appeal, it is unusual in that the predominant variety is Cabernet Franc, combined with 37% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bright in colour, it has red fruit aromas with red cherries, red apples and floral notes. Soft on the attack, it is medium-bodied with good mid-palate fruit and develops some grip on the finish with a grainy texture. Château de Lagorce at Targon in the Entre-deux-Mers was owned

by Benjamin Mazeau and has recently been sold to a Chinese group. Benjamin and his team remain to manage the 40 hectares of vines located on slopes facing south-southwest.

2018-2021, M7 D8 Red cherries, red apples, floral

9762

Château Les Tuileries, AOC Bordeaux, 2016, SCE Château Roquefort Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $20.33

$122.00

2018-2021, M8 D9 Ripe fruits, black cherry, leafy

18°C

Mulberries, bitter cherries Pan-roasted duck breast with sour cherries

18°C

Bitter cherry Venison on Jerusalem artichoke gratin with saffron, apples and green beans

Eager to explore?

Opimian Discovery offers an introductory tour of the world of wine.

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photo — Château de Lagorce, situated in the rolling hills close to Bordeaux, has been home to the Mazeau family since 1928.

9763

Château Franc Couplet, Privilège, AOC Bordeaux, 2016, Eric Meynaud new

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc $20.67

$124.00

Produced by winemaker Eric Meynaud, this is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc grown around Massugas and Landerrouat in the Entre-deux-Mers region. Château Franc Couplet 2016 is a mellow wine with cooked red fruits, mulberry and strawberry compote aromas, complemented by a touch of spice. It is soft and smooth, mediumbodied with fresh fruit flavours. Eric took over the farming of a vineyard belonging to his father and left his local wine cooperative in 1998 to make his own wine. Every year he has steadily increased the size of the vineyard and today farms 120 hectares.

2018-2022, M7 D9 Mellow cooked fruits, strawberry compote

18°C

Spices, red fruits Coq au vin

photo — Château Jean Voisin’s story began in 1583, although the Romans planted grapevines here as early as the 4th century.

L’Esprit de Jean Voisin, AOC 9764 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2015 Merlot, Cabernet Franc $56.17

$337.00

Château Jean Voisin is a family-run estate in the northern part of the Saint-Émilion appellation. It has 14 hectares of vines in a single parcel planted to Merlot and Cabernet Franc around the Château. Vines are cultivated on sand and clay soils with ferrous blue clay veins. 19 distinct sub-plots have been identified, each contributing a character of its own. Esprit de Jean Voisin comes from 7.5 hectares within the estate and is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The 2015 has smoky aromas with vanilla, ginger, black treacle and savoury spices, which somewhat mask the dark fruits behind. It is rich and structured with a generous Merlot plumpness enhanced by the linearity of the Cabernet Franc. It is fine in texture, well-balanced with persistent flavors of black cherries and salt liquorice. The grapes were handpicked and sorted between September 21st and October 1st, 2015. Fermentation was carried out in concrete tanks, followed by aging in tank with just 10% of the wine matured in new oak barrels. It was bottled in July 2017.

2018-2026, M6 D8 Black treacle, vanilla, ginger, dark fruits

18°C

Black cherries, liquorice Braised lamb shanks with fennel and baby potatoes

— bordeaux wine and co.

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Bordeaux

Bordeaux

SEMAV The Johnstons have been merchants and wine producers for centuries. Their family history is entwined with the great estates of the region and the families that own them. Second wines from top estates are produced with the same care and attention as the “Grands Vins”, by the same expert teams with the resources and budgets to do so.

Wines that don’t quite make the final cut for the Grand Vin can offer high quality at more accessible prices. Here we include three such wines from Médoc Classed Growths Châteaux Cantemerle, La Tour Carnet and Grand-Puy-Lacoste.

“We are highly committed to traditional values, but with a modern, innovative approach.“ –Archibald Johnston

photo — The 40-year old vines at Château Daugay draw their vitality from the outstanding terroir, a combination of clay and limestone.

— bordeaux semav

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Place your order for wines available in limited quantities today.

9769 9767

Prince Pirate Blanc, Vin Blanc de France Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni Blanc $154.00

$12.83

A light, crisp and refreshing wine with lemon and mango flavours, it is a blend of Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Ugni Blanc in equal proportions.

9768

Prince Pirate Rouge, Cuvée L-A.B., Vin Rouge de France

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6°C

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $16.67

$200.00

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $153.00

$12.75

A light to mediumbodied red, subtle raspberry and blackberry fruit flavours lead to a grippy finish.

2018-2019, M8 D9 Tropical fruit

The Opimian Society’s Claret, AOC Bordeaux

Produced from the same blend of grapes as Prince Pirate Rouge, 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, The Opimian Society’s Claret has a bit more weight and body. Earthy fruits and mulberries with a touch of musk precede a more savoury palate with firm tannins and a chewy finish.

2018-2019, M8 D9 Raspberry, blackberry

16°C

2018-2020, M8 D9 Earthy, mulberries

18°C

Light, mango, lemon, [00]

Light to medium-bodied, grippy finish

Savoury, chewy finish

Sea bream fillets with lime zest, mango and quinoa

Tomato Tarte Tatin

Meatloaf served on creamy mashed potatoes

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — Château La Pointe estate manager Eric Monneret and consultant Hubert de Boüard de Laforest

new

Château Gressina, Cuvée

9770 Pierre Blanche, AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, 2016

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon $17.75

$213.00

2018-2021, M7 D8 Ripe black fruits, vanilla toast Concentrated, bitter chocolate Daube de boeuf

photo — Dating back to the 16th century, Grand-PuyLacoste remains family-owned, today managed by François-Xavier Borie with his daughter Emeline.

18°C

The Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux region sits on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, across the water from the Médoc. The region has a much older viticultural history than the Médoc, as the gentle slopes were originally planted by the Ancient Greeks. Château Gressina has 13 hectares of vines in the communes of Saint-Seurin-de-Cursac and Saint-Martin-Lacaussade. The 2016 has intense ripe black fruit and vanilla toast aromas. It is medium to full-bodied, supple with a bitter chocolate finish. The wine, predominantly Merlot with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is firm in structure with some rusticity on the finish.

— bordeaux semav

23

9772 Saint-Émilion had been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its cultural landscape.

9771

Château Vieux Clos StÉmilion, AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2015, S.C.E.A. Terras-Le Henanff Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec $46.17

Château Daugay, AOC SaintÉmilion Grand Cru, 2015, Christian de Boüard de Laforest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon $63.50

Like Château Vieux Clos St-Émilion, Château Daugay has a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc than many other Saint-Émilion wines.

The wines produced are marked by both the assemblage of varieties as well as the terroir, and confer a rather restrained style.

The seven-hectare estate is situated in the southwestern part of the Saint-Émilion slope.

Restrained and classic in style, it has some savoury notes with vanilla and old oak. The palate reveals cooked fruit flavours with good mid-palate fruit, nice balance and a spicy nutmeg finish. 70% of the final wine was matured in barrel using half new and half one-year old French oak, with the balance aged in tank. It is a blend of 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.

2018-2022, M8 D9

$277.00

Château Vieux Clos SaintÉmilion is located on the western side of the SaintÉmilion plateau. Eight hectares of old vines with an average age of more than 55 years are planted on sandy soils with 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and, unusually, 5% Malbec. The 2015 is vibrant in colour with ripe fruit aromas of red cherries, raspberries, cooked fruit tart and vanilla, complemented by a touch of smoky bacon. It is smooth on the palate with good mid-palate fruit, youthful fruit flavours, a long cherry and vanilla finish, and a grainy texture. After fermentation in concrete tanks with extended maceration, the wine was matured in oak barrels with 50% new oak.

$381.00

Savoury notes, vanilla

18°C

Cooked fruits, restrained earthy fruit Lamb and lentils stew

2018-2025, M6 D8 Red cherries, vanilla, cooked red fruits, smoky bacon

18°C

Cherry, vanilla Pan-seared quail with red wine risotto; Pont l’Eveque

24

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photo — Vieux Clos Saint-Émilion totals eight hectares and is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

Les Allées de Cantemerle,

9773 AOC Haut-Médoc, 2014, Château Cantemerle

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot $42.00

$252.00

2018-2025, M6 D8 Raspberry coulis, rose petal

18°C

Red berries, cherries, strawberries, spice Spiced duck with sweet potato purée and raspberry jus

photo — Hélène Grenié de Boüard manages Château Daugay and applies the same winemaking methods used by her family for generations.

The second wine of Médocain classed growth estate Château Cantemerle, Les Allées de Cantemerle, at Macau in the southern part of the Médoc, is produced from grapes from younger vines. The estate has 91 hectares of vines planted on a mixture of silica and deep gravel soils with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. It is surrounded by a magnificent 28-hectare park, designed in the late 1700s, that has a tree as old as 450 or 500 years old.

Les Allées de Cantemerle 2014, a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, has aromas of raspberry coulis, red cherries and rose petals. It is light to medium-bodied, with complex layered flavors with red berries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries and a touch of spice. It is elegant and perfect for early drinking and over the next five to eight years. The grapes were harvested and sorted by hand. Fermentation was followed by an extended maceration on skins for a month.

The wine was matured in a combination of tank and oak barrels for twelve months.

— bordeaux semav

25

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9774

Les Pensées de La Tour Carnet, AOC Haut-Médoc, 2015, Bernard Magrez Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot $53.17

$319.00

Another second wine produced by one of the oldest estates in the Médoc, Château La Tour Carnet boasts a tower dating back to the 11th century. It is one of the few Bordeaux estates to have a moat and drawbridge. A vineyard was planted there in 1407. Located at SaintLaurent-Médoc on the road towards SaintJulien-Beychevelle, 123 hectares of vines are planted on a patchwork of soils. Deep ruby in colour, the 2015 is starting to show some colour development. It has a mellow, spicy aroma with a touch of resin. Concentrated succulent fruits emerge on the palate with black cherries, blackberries and blueberry flavours complemented with vanilla spice. It is smooth with a fine texture and generous character. The estate has known several illustrious owners, including the family of French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, who was also elected twice as mayor of Bordeaux in the 1580s. Today, it is owned by Bernard Magrez and no expense is spared in producing the best wines possible. Les Pensées de La Tour Carnet 2015, made under the guidance of consultant winemaker Michel Rolland, is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot. All the grapes were harvested by hand into small crates from September 28th to October 7th, 2015 for the Merlot, and from October 6th to October 13th, 2015 for the Cabernet Sauvignon. It was matured in oneyear old French oak barrels for 15 months.

9775

Lacoste-Borie, AOC Pauillac, 2015, Domaines FrançoisXavier Borie, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc $72.50

2018-2025, M6 D9 Mellow, spicy, resin

26

18°C

$435.00

2018-2024, M6 D9 Floral, vanilla, blackcurrant

18°C

Black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla

Blackcurrant, supple

Seared fillet of beef with porcini and Gorgonzola gnocchi

Roast venison with mashed pumpkin and blackcurrant jus

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — Château La Tour Carnet earned Grand Cru Classé status at the Exposition Universelle of 1855 held in Paris.

This is the second wine of Château GrandPuy-Lacoste, a 5ème Grand Cru Classé estate located a couple of miles west of the town of Pauillac. All 90 hectares of vines are arranged in one block around the beautiful and impressive 19th century Château built in 1855 by Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste. It has been fully restored by the Borie family, current owners, who purchased the estate in 1978.

Lacoste-Borie has a floral aroma with vanilla and blackcurrant emerging in the glass. Quite light in structure, it is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It is supple with some firm tannins on the finish and refined flavours. All the grapes were handpicked between September 18th and October 4th, 2015, sorted, de-stemmed, fermented and macerated for about three weeks. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for up to 16 months using 45% new oak.

9776

Château La Pointe, AOC Pomerol, 2013 Merlot, Cabernet Franc $74.00

$444.00

Consultant Hubert de Boüard de Laforest and estate manager Eric Monneret have been responsible for turning around the fortunes of this Pomerol estate, one of the largest in the appellation with 23 hectares of vines, situated to the west of the region.

The vineyard has been restructured, pulling out Cabernet Sauvignon and replacing it with more Merlot and some Cabernet Franc, which are both better suited to the terroir.

The vineyards are now planted with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc on gravel sand and clay soils, with the more recent plantings at high density with 7,600 vines per hectare. Low yields are the objective, to increase wine concentration. Immediately appealing mellow aromas of vanilla, cooked cherries, fruit and cedar emerge from the glass. Soft and juicy on the palate, it has succulent sweet cherry flavours with a menthol twist. A generally challenging vintage in Bordeaux, Pomerol was one of the highlights, albeit with dramatically reduced yields and meticulous sorting of fruit.

2018-2024, M6 D9 Mellow, cooked cherries, vanilla, cedar

18°C

Cooked fruits, menthol Pastilla of guinea fowl with ceps and Murol cheese

— bordeaux semav

27

“Dry vintages are always quality vintages, and 2016 is potentially our greatest vintage to date.“

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cellar 259 — ontario

France

Bordeaux

La Boucharde, Saint-Émilion

Clos Cantenac

Every time I visit Clos Cantenac, it has grown in some fashion or other. When Martin Krajewski purchased the estate with his friend Marcus Le Grice in 2006, they only had 1.7 hectares of vines, a very small, basic 200-year-old shed housing a concrete tank, some vineyard equipment, and a chicken run with 20 chickens which were included in the sale. Wine produced from the estate’s vineyard had been sold in bulk for years, and no wine had been bottled under a Clos Cantenac label since 1982.

Today, the property is unrecognizable. Martin continues to acquire more vineyard in piecemeal fashion and has re-planted some plots. It’s a slow and arduous process, as vines rarely come up for sale in Saint-Émilion. In 2018, Clos Cantenac consists of just over six hectares of vines.

The winery has expanded from the original 60 m² shed to a total of 700 m² including vinification area, barrel cellar and laboratory. At the same time, Clos Cantenac has developed a global following for its wine, but while it has the capacity to produce a little more, it will always be a ‘bijou’ winery.

This year, a new cellar dedicated to the production of L’Exuberance Rosé will be created by converting part of the original building, and Martin’s daughter Charlotte is returning full-time from New Zealand to work alongside him and oversee all winemaking.

Despite all the loving care and attention, nature was not kind to Clos Cantenac in 2017, with 50% of the crop lost in the April frost and a generally small harvest. Clos Cantenac produced just 30% of its usual number of bottles in 2017.

The good news is that the 2016 reds in this Cellar Offering are fantastic!

photo — Clos Cantenac and Petit Cantenac wines, slumbering peacefully in the barrel hall.

— bordeaux clos cantenac

29

Clos Cantenac, AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2016

Petit Cantenac, AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2016 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Merlot

9777 9778 9779

$79.67

9780

$478.00 $159.33

9781

$478.00 $328.00

9782

$328.00

A mouth-filling wine brimming with youthfulness and fruit. It is a dense purple colour, exuding aromas of ripe black fruits, cherries, savoury spice, nutmeg, smoke and black liquorice. On the palate, it is rich with a meaty, savoury edge, full-bodied and rounded with no astringency. Merlot grapes from the oldest vines, planted in three separate blocks, were picked at the end of September and on October 7th, 2016. The grapes underwent a cold soak for a day and were then fermented with regular pumping over. The wine was pumped into oak barrels for the malolactic

fermentation and subsequently matured for 12 months using 45% new French oak and 55% second-use barrels.

2018-2030, M5 D7 Cherries, nutmeg, smoke

18°C

Black liquorice, meaty Rack of lamb with smoked aubergines and artichokes

$50.83 $305.00 $101.33 $304.00 $217.00 $217.00

Petit Cantenac, an assemblage of Merlot with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, is drinking deliciously already, although it has great potential for cellaring; I am not sure how long I will be able to resist temptation! Dense and youthful in colour, it has restrained aromas of forest fruits, ripe blackcurrants and vanilla.

It is soft and rich with a smooth texture, fine velvety tannins and lingering flavours of bitter chocolate and cherries. The oak is completely integrated with no angular character. Made in the same way as the Clos Cantenac, the grapes were picked by hand on September 21st and September 30th and October 7th and October 11th, 2016. It was matured in barrel for twelve months with 30% new oak.

2018-2028, M6 D9 Forest fruits, blackcurrant, vanilla

18°C

Bitter chocolate, cherries New York strip with Bordelaise sauce, French lentils and parsnip purée

30

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — Charlotte Krajewski working on the 2016 blends

9783

L’Exuberance Rosé du Clos Cantenac, AOC Bordeaux Rosé, 2017 Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon $35.50

$213.00

L’Exuberance Rosé was first made at Clos Cantenac in 2015. This year, the plan is to convert part of the original winery building into a dedicated rosé cellar. Because of the frost, a smaller amount of rosé was made in 2017. L’Exuberance Rosé is produced from 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from younger vines. All the grapes were picked by hand in the cool early mornings of September 19th, September 20th and

photo — The colour and art of Clos Cantenac’s tasting room

September 21st, 2017, with 70% of the bunches going directly to press and 30% ‘saignée’, bled off after five to six hours on skins. Half the juice was fermented in French oak barrels with 15% new and 85% second and third fill, although there is no obvious oak character. The balance was fermented in tank. It was matured on lees with regular bâtonnage, producing a wine with complexity and fruit. It has a creamy texture with strawberry leaf, herbs, redcurrant and cherry fruits. It is structured with a crisp, fresh finish.

2018-2019, M8 D9 Complex, strawberry, yeasty

6°C

Creamy texture, redcurrant, [00] Littleneck clams with tomatoes and chorizo

— bordeaux clos cantenac

31

“Time is a quality we cannot disregard when it comes to traditions and soil-rooted values.“

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France

bergerac

Port-Sainte-Foy-et-Ponchapt

Château Pique-Sègue

Situated on the slopes of the last hills of the Libournais, north of the Dordogne River between Libourne and Bergerac, Château Pique-Sègue has over seven hundred years of history. The Archbishop of Bordeaux noted the domaine’s calibre as far back as the 14th century and apparently King Henry III of France stopped by during the country’s Wars of Religion to water his horse on his way to sign the Treaty of Fleix in 1580.

Philip and Marianne Mallard have entirely renovated the ancient estate over the last 30 years. 180 hectares of land extends down to the Dordogne River, with 66 hectares of vineyards and a prize herd of Limousin cattle for breeding. The estate lies directly east of Bordeaux and of Saint-Émilion by 100 and 35 kilometres respectively, and so the influence of the Atlantic Ocean is diminished significantly. The climate is more continental and extreme in nature, producing wines that are linear in style and reds with good cellaring potential.

photo — Château Pique-Sègue is of great beauty with sixty-six hectares of vineyards that extend to the Dordogne River.

— bergerac château pique-sègue

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9785 Pique-Sègue, AOC 9784 Château Montravel, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris

$21.67

$130.00

Subtle honeyed aromas combine with grapefruit and a flinty character. Château Pique-Sègue Montravel is a blend of three different types of Sauvignon grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc and the lesser known Sauvignon Gris. It is medium-bodied with a firm lemony acidity. After picking, the grapes were left to macerate on skins for twelve hours before pressing. The juice was fermented at low temperature followed by aging on fine lees.

2018-2019, M8 D9

2018-2023, M6 D7

Honey, spring fruit blossom, grapefruit

cellar 259 — ontario

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

The climate in Bergerac is more continental and extreme than in Bordeaux, and this can show through in the wines as a mineral or rustic edge. Château Pique-Sègue 2016 has earthy blackcurrant fruit aromas with a slight farmyard character behind. On the palate, it is a firm wine, tight, medium-bodied with a mineral structure. It is produced from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on white clay limestone soils rich in tuff.

$21.50

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Château Pique-Sègue, AOC Bergerac, 2016

$129.00

6°C

Earthy fruits, blackcurrant

18°C

Lemon, [00]

Blackcurrant, mineral finish

Deep-fried whitebait with lemon aïoli

Braised and roasted pork shanks with Jambon de Bayonne and porcini mushrooms

photo — Marianne and Philip Mallard taste the Terre

de Pique-Sègue Montravel with winemaker Patricia, cellar master Marc, and vineyard manager Gilles.

Pique-Sègue, AOC 9786 Château Côtes de Montravel, 2016 Order online at Opimian.ca

Sauvignon Gris $26.00

9787

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

$156.00

Sauvignon Gris grapes are left on the vines to sweeten for an extra time, developing more and different ripe fruit aromas. Once picked, the grapes were gently pressed, the juice decanted and fermentation initiated. The fermentation was arrested, producing a moderately sweet wine with flavours of apples, pears and peaches with a broad structure.

Terre de Pique-Sègue, Anima Vitis, AOC Montravel, 2012

$201.00

$33.50

2018-2020, M8 D9 Apples, pears, some cheesy notes

6°C

Soft, sweet, [05] Seared foie gras with apples and quince; Peach crumble; Bleu Benedictin

The wines from Château Pique-Sègue often don’t show their true colours before a certain number of years. The 2012 Terre de PiqueSègue is just coming into its own, with mixed aromas of plums, vanilla, blackcurrant and floral notes, and a savoury graphite edge.

The palate is soft and round with a fine texture. Predominantly Merlot with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a definite linear structure, very different from Merlot from neighbouring Saint-Émilion, marked by the more extreme climate. It was aged for fifteen months in new French oak barrels.

2018-2025, M6 D7 Plums, vanilla, floral

18°C

Blackcurrants, bitter chocolate Beef tenderloin with dark chocolate blackcurrant pan sauce served with braised vegetables

photo — Doughnut, the Mallards’ Staffordshire Bull-Terrier, makes a regular appearance in our Cellar Offerings.

— bergerac château pique-sègue

35

“At the beginning of 2018, our beloved region of Beaujolais was awarded Global Geopark status by UNESCO.“

36

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — The famous “heart” of the Domaine de Milhomme looks out on the hillside vines where the shoots await winter pruning.

France

Beaujolais Ternand

Bernard Perrin

In 2017, the Beaujolais region was one of the few relatively unscathed wine-growing regions in France, although some areas were hit by hail in summer. The quality of the 2017 Beaujolais is high and conditions at Bernard Perrin’s Domaine de Milhomme produced juicy and concentrated Gamay grapes.

Crémant de Bourgogne, AOC

9788 Crémant de Bourgogne, Bernard Perrin

Chardonnay $27.33

$164.00

This is a dry, crisp sparkler with zesty fruits, nectarines, pears and lemons. Crémant de Bourgogne is fashioned in the same way as Champagne, but with grapes coming from more southern vineyards in Burgundy, in this case from around Ternand, Létra, Oingt and Saint-Laurent-d’Oingt. Vineyards are an average of forty years old with a west and north-northwest exposition. The second fermentation in bottle followed by aging on lees results in a soft, frothy mousse and persistent finish.

2018-2019, M8 D9 White fruits, melon, peach

5°C

Pears, nectarines, [01] Shrimp tempura

— beaujolais bernard perrin

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9789

Domaine de Milhomme, Cuvée Le Mûrier, AOC Beaujolais, 2017, Bernard Perrin Gamay $19.83

Domaine de Milhomme, Vigne

9790 Centenaire, AOC Beaujolais, 2016, Bernard Perrin Gamay

$119.00

Bernard’s family estate at Ternand sits on a granite seam with stony schist soils akin to those found in the prestigious ten Beaujolais Crus. Vines are planted on old Vialla rootstock and produce low yields of smallsized grapes. The 2017 Cuvée Le Mûrier has aromas of dark fruits, blackberries and a slight whiff of earth. It is supple, mediumbodied, finishing on notes of raspberry and juicy blackberry acidity. Having escaped the April frost, Domaine de Milhomme experienced a dry summer with just a light overnight shower one week before harvest, producing a small crop of high quality, concentrated grapes.

$23.17

$139.00

Vigne Centenaire is produced from the oldest vines on the estate, including some planted in 1887.

These were some of the first vines to be planted on rootstock to overcome the phylloxera pest. The old vines produce small concentrated grapes. Vigne Centenaire 2016 is deep in colour, with savoury and black fruit flavours, and is medium-bodied.

There is a lot more to the Beaujolais region than “nouveau” wines.

2018-2021, M7 D9 Dark fruits, savoury

18°C

Black cherries Ribs with black cherry barbecue sauce and parsnip fries

2018-2020, M8 D9 Blackberries, earth

16°C

Raspberries, blackberries Toulouse sausage and mushroom cassoulet

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photo — Bernard Perrin’s vines, under a dusting of snow; full dormancy is key to healthy and productive vines.

new new

9791

So Red So Wine, Vin de France, 2016, Bernard Perrin

9792

Domaine Dit Barron, AOC Brouilly, 2017, Gilles Aujogues Gamay

Gamay $29.83

$24.67 $179.00

9793

Domaine Sancy, AOP Chénas, 2017, Thomas Broyer Gamay

$148.00

$153.00

$25.50

Ripe plummy fruits, blackberries and white pepper, this new project from Bernard Perrin is soft and smooth on the palate. While dry, it gives a sweet impression mid-palate with flavours of blackberries, violets, a fine silky texture and long chocolate finish. Bernard’s aim is to produce a more voluptuous wine style than is classic in Beaujolais, a wine richer on the palate with lower acidity achieved by leaving the grapes longer on the vine and picking later. After picking the grapes were de-stemmed and fermented, followed by some time in oak to give extra body rather than oak flavour.

Winemaker Gilles Aujogues makes concentrated, structured wines from his 12-hectare estate in Brouilly, where some of the vines are nearly ninety years old. His 2017 Domaine Dit Barron has mellow aromas of loganberries, spices and a hint of white pepper. This is a well-balanced wine with mid-palate richness, nice acidity and tannin on the finish. 2017 experienced an early harvest, and all grapes were picked by hand and fermented in concrete tanks.

Thomas Broyer makes the wines on his family estate of three generations. Domaine Sancy comprises a total of 9.5 hectares across several appellations, with approximately one hectare in Chénas.

Thomas Broyer’s Domaine Sancy Chénas 2017 is subtle in aroma with cooked sweet fruits, nuts and some black cherry. Mediumbodied, it has a succulent mid-palate leading to a bitter chocolate finish. The parcel, planted in 1927, consists of south-facing vines planted on a plateau with granite soils.

2018-2021, M8 D9

2018-2021, M7 D9

2018-2021, M8 D9

Plums, blackberries, white pepper

18°C

Loganberries, spice, white pepper

18°C

Cooked sweet red fruits, nutty

18°C

Violets, blackberry, chocolate

Fresh acidity

Black cherries, bitter chocolate

Beaujolais-braised beef stew with Dauphinoise potatoes

Charcuterie

Lentil soup; Muenster

photo — Manual harvesting at the start of September 2017, proclaimed a great vintage for Beaujolais wines.

— beaujolais bernard perrin

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cellar 259 — ontario

France

Beaujolais

Pontanevaux

Jacques Charlet The Charlet name has been recognized in Beaujolais and southern Burgundy since before the French Revolution. The family are owners of a number of properties in the region as well as being négociants.

“We believe that respect for the environment is essential and actively promote the use of eco-friendly vine growing techniques and working the soil.“

photo — The Jacques Charlet gentle rolling vineyards as seen from a traditional village street, built with the unique “pierres dorées”

— beaujolais jacques charlet

41

new new

9794

new

L’Or des Pierres, AOP Beaujolais Blanc, 2017, Jacques Charlet Chardonnay $25.67

9795

L’Or des Pierres, AOP Beaujolais, 2017, Jacques Charlet

Gamay

Gamay $154.00

$19.67

9796

Les Sablons Rouges, Côte de Granit, AOP Brouilly, 2017, Jacques Charlet

$118.00

$26.50

$159.00

Fresh apples, melon and pear drop aromas create a wine with fruit appeal. On the palate, more citrus flavours emerge. Lemon and mandarin combine with green apples on the finish. Vineyards are in the south of the region near Lyon, and along the hills to the east up to Saint-Amour.

This wine simply screams Beaujolais, with vibrancy of fruit and flavours of banana and red fruits leading to a spicy finish. It is medium-bodied with a firm finish and has bags of appeal.

Traditional whole-cluster fermentation of Gamay grapes was carried out and maceration lasted eight to ten days.

Deep purple in colour, with intense aromas of blackberries and banana, there is a hint of pepper in the background. Les Sablons Rouges 2017 is smooth and round with a fine, grainy texture finishing on flavours of sour apples and blackberries. It is produced from 45-year-old Gamay vines grown on the deep sandy soils at the foot of Mont Brouilly.

2018-2020, M8 D9

2018-2020, M8 D9

2018-2023, M6 D9

Melon, fresh apples, pear drops

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6°C

Banana, red fruits

16°C

Blackberries, banana, white pepper

18°C

Lemon, mandarin, apples, [00]

Red fruits, spice

Apple, blackberry

Zucchini and goat cheese lasagna

Basque-style chicken

Roasted salmon with spring vegetables

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — The nearly 500-year-old windmill, a landmark of the Beaujolais Crus area, surrounded by vineyards producing the famous Moulin-à-Vent wines

new

de La Viroylette, AOp 9797 Domaine Fleurie, 2016, Jacques Charlet Gamay $28.50

$171.00

2018-2022, M8 D9 Dried fruits, plums, white pepper

Domaine de La Viroylette is in the hamlet of Vivier.

Its vineyards are situated in prime sites of the Fleurie appellation, Le Clos and La Roilette, on granite soils facing south. The 2016 reveals aromas of ripe, fresh and dried fruits, plum skins, and some white pepper. It has nice weight and more structure than many Fleurie wines. The palate is vibrant with a juicy mid-palate and flavours of redcurrants and cranberries.

18°C

Juicy fruits, redcurrants, cranberries Asian grilled pork tenderloin with sautéed bok choy and rice

new

9798

Les Philibons, Côte de Granit, AOP Moulin-à-Vent, 2016, Jacques Charlet Gamay $29.00

$174.00

Savoury spicy aromas of tea leaves and white pepper are laid over a red fruit background.

On the palate, meaty flavours complement red cherries and raspberries over a long herbal vermouth finish. The grapes were handpicked, partially de-stemmed and fermented with the skins submerged for 15 to 20 days. The wine was aged on fine lees in tank, with 10% in oak barrels. The Moulinà-Vent Cru, which takes its name from the old windmill in the heart of the vineyard, produces the most powerful Beaujolais wines with the most aging potential.

2018-2022, M7 D8 Tea leaves, white pepper

18°C

Meaty, red cherries, raspberries Rabbit rillettes with cherry chutney on crusty baguette

photo — Jean-Pierre Rodet, chief winemaker of Charlet estates for nearly 40 years, is a pillar of the company’s growing success.

— beaujolais jacques charlet

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cellar 259 — ontario

Australia

McLaren Vale

Sew & Sew Wines Jodie Armstrong is a consultant viticulturist by day and a seamstress by night and at weekends. Sew & Sew Wines is Jodie’s personal project to make handcrafted wines from the best lots of grapes she comes across.

“We believe that the vineyards create their own patterns; whether it be from sun, water, soil structure or insect behaviour.

Predicting and embracing these patterns allows for the creation of high-quality, balanced fruit.“

photo — Jodie Armstrong, winemaker, is also a keen sewer and incorporates this element in her wine labels.

— australia sew & sew wines

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new

Sauvignon Blanc, 9799 Sashiko Adelaide Hills, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc $30.33

Chardonnay, Adelaide 9800 Sashiko Hills, 2017 Chardonnay

$182.00

$30.33

$182.00

With subtle aromas of melon and fresh apples, Sashiko Sauvignon Blanc is a soft and elegant wine with a crisp finish. The grapes come from a single vineyard in Kuitpo. After picking, the grapes were crushed and the juice fermented at low temperature.

A restrained Chardonnay with flinty mineral aromas, it is more “old world” in style rather than Australian. Subtle flavours of lemon, lime and passion fruit emerge on the palate, giving it depth. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel with 10% fermented in oak.

2018-2019, M8 D9

2018-2020, M8 D9

Melon, apples

6°C

6°C

Light, crisp, [00]

Passion fruit, lemon, lime, [00]

Freshly shucked oysters dressed with fresh lemon

Crispy skin wild barramundi with creamy mash and red curry beurre blanc

Sashiko Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 9801 2017 Shiraz $36.33

cellar 259 — ontario

Not sure what to order?

Our Wine Concierge can help!

Call 800-361-9421

$218.00

There is no doubting the provenance of Sashiko Shiraz 2017; it screams McLaren Vale. Intense chocolate and dark fruits combine to give a mellow aroma. It is soft on the palate with red and black cherry flavours, some coffee and vanilla before finishing on savoury notes. The grapes were fermented in open-top fermenters and the skins hand-plunged twice a day. It was matured in oak for eleven months using 80% matured American and French oak, and 20% new American oak.

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Flinty, pears, cheese rind

2018-2025, M6 D8 Chocolate, dark fruits

18°C

Red and black cherries, coffee, vanilla Juniper-spiced loin of venison with cherry and port wine reduction

Chardonnay, 9802 Contour Adelaide Hills, 2017 Chardonnay $274.00

$45.67

A great oaky Chardonnay, the aromas are of buttered toast and vanilla fudge, with some butterscotch over a white fruit, peachy background. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love this wine. On the palate, it is elegant with lemon flavours complemented by roasted hazelnuts and a hint of toffee. The oak is apparent, but does not dominate, creating a pure and sophisticated wine with a long finish. It is complex with a layered texture, delicious now with some potential for cellaring. It was fermented in French oak, with 40% new and 60% matured, and left on lees until bottling.

2018-2022, M7 D9 Buttered toast, vanilla fudge

6°C

Peaches, roasted hazelnuts, toffee, [00] Spatchcock chicken with grilled peaches chutney

photo — The Sashiko Shiraz is made with minimal interference in the natural winemaking process. The ferment is hand-plunged twice daily.

— australia sew & sew wines

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cellar 259 — ontario

Australia

Coonawarra

Penley Estate The Penley name was born from the joining of two famous Australian wine families, Penfold and Tolley.

Reginald Lester Tolley and Judith Anne Penfold Hyland married in the late 1940s. When their children Ang, Bec and Kym bought a plot of land in Coonawarra in 1988, they named it Penley Estate after their parents.

The very next year, they won their first gold medal.

When winemaker brother Kym decided to retire in 2015, his sisters Ang and Bec seriously considered selling up. Instead they decided to “revitalize, reinvigorate and refresh the wine”. The estate continues to be managed by Matt Tilby, with wines now made under the supervision of Kate Goodman.

“Our history is a rich mix of endeavour, passion and vision with a touch of scandal and madness thrown in for good measure.“

photo — Proprietors Ang and Bec Tolley with winemaker Kate Goodman (center), regarded as one of Australia’s best contemporary winemakers

— australia penley estate

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Argus, Coonawarra, 2016, Penley Estate

9803

new

Coonawarra, 2016, 9804 Gryphon, Penley Estate

Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc $29.17

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc $29.17

$175.00

Intense cherry menthol aromas with resin and mellow oak lead to similar juicy fruit flavours on the palate.

This is a light to medium-bodied wine with supple tannins and a long spicy finish. It is a blend of 43% Shiraz, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. A warm spring and dry summer preceded an early harvest in 2016, two weeks earlier than the norm. This wine is named after the mythological Argus, a thousand-eyed giant with eyes all over his body. Argus was slain by Hermes and his eyes transferred to the peacock’s tail feathers.

Gryphon 2016 has a similar cherry menthol character, but with an herbal leafy edge and a hint of smoke. It is complex and has more weight on the palate. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon was blended with 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It is medium to full-bodied with a firm juicy fruit acidity and cranberry finish. It was barrel-aged for fifteen months using 30% new and 70% older oak barrels. Drinking deliciously now, it should cellar nicely for some years. The gryphon has the head, wings and talons of an eagle and the body of a lion, combining the characteristics of the king of birds with the king of animals. It is known for guarding treasures and precious things.

2018-2024, M6 D9

2018-2024, M6 D8

Cherry menthol, mellow oak

50

$175.00

18°C

Green leaves, cherry menthol, smoke

18°C

Cherries, spices

Cranberry, herbs

Sage pork chops with cherry balsamic glaze

Garlic and rosemary-studded rump of lamb with herb risotto and red pepper sauce

cellar 259 — ontario

photo — The winery was built in 1995 with all the bells and whistles, a truly state-of-the-art winery.

new

9805

new

Tolmer, Coonawarra, 2016, Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $30.33

$182.00

Tolmer is named after Ang and Bec’s great-greatgrandfather Alexander Tolmer, a dashing and colourful character who also happened to be South Australia’s Commissioner of Police. Tolmer 2016 is a mellow wine with red berry fruits and chocolate over an earthy background. A pure Cabernet Sauvignon, it is dense and full-bodied with a firm grippy finish. It was matured in French oak barrels for twelve months, 60% new.

2018-2024, M6 D7 Mellow, red berries, chocolate

18°C

9806

new

Penley Estate Casablanca Vineyard Cabernet Merlot, Coonawarra, 2016

Scottsburn, Coonawarra, 9807 2015, Penley Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz

$30.33

$182.00

$309.00

$51.50

85% Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 15% Merlot to create an ensemble that exudes ripe floral aromas with violets and black cherries.

The palate is soft and smooth, with a rich midpalate complemented by juicy acidity and some grippy tannins on the finish. The grapes were picked by hand and 30% were whole-bunch fermented, followed by maturation in French oak for 15 months, 60% new.

2018-2026, M6 D8 Parma violets, black cherries

18°C

Rich dark fruits Earthy, blackcurrant Venison short loin with red wine-braised Cipollini onions and roasted garlic potato purée

Caramelized-onion and Gorgonzola grilled pizza

Scottsburn 2015, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon with 35% Shiraz, has smoke, dark fruits, chocolate spice and earthy aromas.

It is supple and rich on the palate with great concentration, brimming with dark fruits. This is a big wine, typically Australian, rather than a typical Coonawarra wine; it has vanilla and ginger flavours complemented by a savoury aspect and a dark bitter chocolate finish. It was matured in French and American oak for 24 months, 50% new. A dry and mild spring with good conditions at flowering, a sprinkling of rain in early January and dry conditions in the run up to harvest produced a healthy crop of grapes in 2015.

2018-2026, M6 D9 Dark fruits, chocolate, earth

18°C

Savoury, dark chocolate, ginger, vanilla Grilled Black Angus tenderloin with fricassee of wild mushrooms and morel jus

photo — Where the magic happens and the people who make it happen.

— australia penley estate

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

Eager to learn your way around the world of wine or simply enjoy a selection of bottles for everyday drinking? The Discovery program has it all. Over the course of the year, members enrolled in this program receive one mixed case of six bottles from a featured supplier per cellar offering. These wines are all for immediate drinking so you can indulge in one or two the moment they get to you. Whether you’re new to Opimian or fancy hopping on an introductory tour of the world of wine, we recommend this route. $109 per cellar offering The Discovery supplier for this cellar offering is Wine & Co.

Delve into a versatile selection of bottles and explore the four corners of the world of wine. This program features both early drinkability and mid-term aging potential bottles so you can enjoy some now and lay the others down. Throughout the year, Select Plus members receive one mixed case of six bottles per Cellar Offering. These wines may all be enjoyed young but will benefit from some maturing time. The ideal program for those who wish to expand their horizons and refine their palate one bottle at a time. $144 per cellar offering The Select Plus supplier for this cellar offering is Vintex.

A collector’s dream. Dedicated to the spirit of our Founders, this program features wines that are exclusive to this program and don’t appear on our Cellar Offerings. Made up of six bottles of a premium wine with a dedicated back label and a special message with tasting notes from the producer, each of the cases you will receive represents some of the very best our producers have to offer. These bottles offer long-term aging potential so you might want to free up space in that cellar … or start building one. $188 per cellar offering The Founders’ Choice supplier for this cellar offering is Wine & Co.

www.opim.ca opim@opim.ca

#420 - 5165 Sherbrooke West, Montreal QC H4A 1T6 T: 514-483-5551 or 800-361-9421 F: 514-481-9699