C245-AB: South Africa, Paul Sapin Southern Hemisphere, Alsace, Rhône, Champagne, Whisky and Cognac

cellar

AB

245 Order December 16, 2016 to January 13, 2017

SOUTH AFRICA, PAUL SAPIN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, ALSACE, RHÔNE, CHAMPAGNE, WHISKY AND COGNAC

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.

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.

Legend Grape variety Red White Rosé Sparkling Bottle size

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*

Number of bottles in case

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.

Aroma

Expected arrival for shipments from this Cellar Offering is mid-April 2017. Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry to liquor board and processing time required by each liquor board.

Taste

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.

Serving temperature

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, including GST/HST # 105 233 217 and QST #1000640430.

• A valid 2017 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: January 13, 2017. Important: no orders will be processed after this deadline. * Deadline for mailing orders: January 3, 2017. 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 Select 2016 – C238 M—Degree of Maturity (1-10) M1 = lay down M10 = fully mature

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

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 photo — The Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr cellar

boasts a wide selection of wonderful old vintages.

South Africa

Cellar 245 South Africa, Paul Sapin Southern Hemisphere, Alsace, Rhône, Champagne, Whisky and Cognac South African wines have made huge strides in quality and there has been a parallel increasing interest from members. Thus, we have given it some extra attention. Last year we introduced you to the fabulous wines from Richard Kershaw based in Elgin. This year we are introducing two additional producers; Groote Post in Darling Hills and Marianne Estate in Stellenbosch.

In addition, we introduce a new grower in Champagne, Carole Doyard of Champagne Doyard-Mahé. We are offering white wines from Alsace, some great reds from the Rhône and a selection of major grape varieties from around the world. All these are complemented with premium spirits including some new Single Malt Whiskies from Lorraine, France.

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 340 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 Groote Post -----------------------------4 Marianne Wine Estate ------------------8 Warwick Wine Estate ----------------- 12 Richard Kershaw Wines -------------- 18 Paul Sapin ---------------------------- 22 Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr------------ 28 Bernard Perrin ----------------------- 34 Champagne Doyard-Mahé ------------ 40 Champagne Gardet-------------------- 44 Pràban na Linne----------------------- 48 Maison de la Mirabelle---------------- 50 Domaine Elisabeth and Château Bellevue ---------------- 52

— CELLAR 245 ALBERTA

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“Our vineyards are situated 5 kilometers from the cold Atlantic Ocean. The cooling breezes slow down the ripening of the grapes, leading to superior buildup of flavour in the berries.”

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA

Darling

Groote Post is an 18th century farm in the Darling region close to the Cape’s west coast. This enclave within Swartland is exposed to the cool influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Winemaking traditions have been revived by the Pentz family who were originally dairymen. Historically, Groote Post was the largest guarding post protecting cattle from marauding stock thieves. Now, the family focus is on wine production. The cool conditions and unique aspect of the estate yield high quality grapes.

Groote Post

NEW

8855

GROOTE POST SAUVIGNON BLANC, DARLING HILLS, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc $13.33

$80.00

Darling Hills has developed a reputation for Sauvignon Blanc. The Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is pale in colour and is showing restraint, but has appealing floral and lime blossom aromas. Soft on the palate with good mid-palate fruit and weight, flavours of grapefruit and other citrus lead to a slightly pithy finish. The vines were planted between 1993 and 2002. After some de-stemming and crushing, half the grapes underwent skin contact for six to twelve hours. The free-run juice was then fermented in stainless steel tanks and left on lees for two months.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Floral, lime blossom

6°C

Grapefruit, crisp, bitter lemon finish, [00] Shrimp-stuffed zucchini flowers

— SOUTH AFRICA GROOTE POST

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NEW

8856

NEW

GROOTE POST CHENIN BLANC, DARLING HILLS, 2016 Chenin Blanc $14.00

GROOTE POST MERLOT, DARLING HILLS, 2015 Merlot

$84.00

Winemaker Lukas Wentzel has produced a Chenin Blanc in 2016 with intense fresh fruit aromas, Bramley apples and melon. A structured wine with great length of flavour and a crisp, bone dry finish, it was fermented in stainless steel tanks.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Bramley apples

8857

6°C

$16.17

$97.00

This is a rich, concentrated Merlot with plummy notes, black cherries and plenty of ripe dark fruits on the palate.

Well-balanced, medium to full-bodied with a juicy black fruit finish, the Merlot vines were planted in 2001 and 2002. After picking, the grapes were carefully selected over a sorting table and then underwent cold maceration for two days. The juice was fermented and then left on skins for 14 days. The wine was aged in 300-litre French oak barrels, 30% new.

Structure, fresh pears, apples, [00] Seared scallops, bacon foam and corn purée

Discover our new website at opimian.ca

2017-2021, M7 D9 Plums, black cherries

18°C

Well-balanced, juicy black fruits Pork scaloppini with plum-port sauce

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — Groote Post is a 3000-hectare farm with 2000 hectares set out for nature conservation.

NEW

8858

NEW

GROOTE POST SHIRAZ, DARLING HILLS, 2015 Shiraz $16.83

8859

GROOTE POST KAPOKBERG PINOT NOIR, VINEYARD SELECTION, DARLING HILLS, 2015 Pinot Noir

$101.00

$17.50

$105.00

A savoury wine with robust structure and chewy tannins, the aroma was a little closed at the time of tasting. The Shiraz was grown on a west-facing block, one of the warmer sites on the estate, on Glenrosa soil, a combination of gravel and clay that retains some moisture, but which is free-draining. The wine was fermented in open-top tanks with daily punching down of the cap. It was matured for 12 months in oak barrels with 20% American oak and 20% new.

Kapokberg is Groote Post’s flagship range and is named after the highest of the Darling Hills, reaching 459 metres. Translated as Snowy Mountain, it got its name from the tapestry of white spring flowers that cover it each year.

Tasted from cask, the Kapokberg Pinot Noir 2015 is deep in colour with intense smoky, spicy aromas. The palate is medium to fullbodied with concentrated dark fruit flavours and a grainy texture. This is a somewhat atypical Pinot Noir. In 2000, vines were planted with a selection of clones on different plots.

After fermentation in open-top vessels, Luke matured the wine for 15 months in 500-litre French oak casks using 15% new.

2017-2020, M7 D9

2017-2022, M6 D9

Restrained, spice

18°C

Smoke, spice

18°C

Savoury, chewy

Dark fruits, firm

Slow cooker barbeque ribs

Glazed quail and potato-turnip purée

photo — Winemaker Lukas Wentzel’s philosophy is all about balance from the vine to the bottle.

— SOUTH AFRICA GROOTE POST

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SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA

Stellenbosch

Marianne Wine Estate This Stellenbosch estate is owned by Frenchman Christian Dauriac, owner of three estates in SaintÉmilion and Pomerol. Christian travels back and forth to South Africa to work with the team at Marianne Wine Estate with help from consultant and friend Michel Rolland. The link with Bordeaux shows through in the wines. The aim at Marianne Estate Wine is to produce bold, fruit-forward wines with well-integrated soft tannins and aging potential, making them suitable for wine collectors. A minimum of three years passes between harvest and release of any wine. Wines are aged in French oak barrels imported to South Africa by Dauriac.

“ French savoir-faire, South African terroir.”

— SOUTH AFRICA MARIANNE WINE ESTATE

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NEW

MARIANNE CUVÉE L’ESCAPADE

8860 SAUVIGNON BLANC, WESTERN CAPE, 2015

Sauvignon Blanc $25.17

Not sure what to order?

Call your Wine Concierge at 800-361-9421

$151.00

A sophisticated barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc style reminiscent of Pessac-Léognan, this wine scored highly in my tasting. It is stunning, tasty and classy! Aromas of toast, vanilla, floral fruits, and passion fruit lead to a broad, structured palate. It is elegant and lingers, leaving one with a strong desire to take another sip. Sauvignon Blanc grapes were hand-picked and stored at 10°C, sorted and then gently pressed. The juice immediately flowed into 50% new French oak barrels and the balance in second-fill barrels from Tonnellerie Bordelaise. It slowly fermented over three weeks at 14°C. The barrels were matured for a further nine months with regular bâtonnage.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Passion fruit, vanilla, toast

6°C

Broad fruits, crisp finish, [00] Chicken and asparagus crêpes with mushroom cream sauce

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — Aerial view of the Marianne Wine Estate

NEW

8861

NEW

MARIANNE PINOTAGE, SIMONSBERG-PAARL, 2012 Pinotage $25.33

MERLOT, 8862 MARIANNE SIMONSBERG-PAARL, 2012 Merlot

$152.00

$29.33

$176.00

This is a Pinotage with great weight and structure. Deep in colour, the 2012 has aromas of blackberries and other dark fruits. Initially soft and rich on the palate, it develops a firm structure with solid acidity and flavour of bitter cherries giving it length.

Deep plum in colour, the 2012 Merlot has mellow dark fruits and a black cherry bouquet. Soft and round on the palate, it is smooth and medium to full-bodied. This is a vibrant and youthful wine with flavours of vanilla, dark fruits, cinnamon and cloves.

2017-2020, M7 D9

2017-2022, M6 D9

Blackberries, ripe fruits

18°C

Dark fruits, black cherry

Bitter cherry, structured

Smooth, vanilla, spice, dark fruit

Lamb Rogan Josh

Roasted chicken masala

photo — Regular bâtonnage during barrel fermentation protects fruit aromas and enhances roundness on the palate.

16°C

— SOUTH AFRICA MARIANNE WINE ESTATE

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photo — The Warwick Sauvignon Blanc vineyard with the majestic Simonsberg Mountain in the background.

SOUTH AFRICA Stellenbosch

Warwick Wine Estate

SOUTH AFRICA

Warwick Wine Estate in Stellenbosch was purchased by Stan Ratcliffe and his wife Norma in 1964. This was during the time of Apartheid. South Africa was isolated as a nation and South African wines had nothing like the reputation of today. Norma, Canadian by birth, was interested in wine and so the couple planted Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on the farm. The quality of the grapes produced was apparent as neighbouring wineries clambered to buy them. Norma became more and more interested in making wine herself, training and becoming the first female winemaker in South Africa. Her wines have been recognized as flagships for the industry for decades and she remains an inspiration to younger generations of winemakers. Today, the estate is run by Norma’s son Mike and the wines made by Nic van Aarde.

8863

WARWICK THE FIRST LADY UNOAKED CHARDONNAY, WESTERN CAPE, 2016 Chardonnay $12.83

$77.00

A great value Chardonnay, Warwick’s The First Lady Unoaked Chardonnay 2016 has nice ripe fruit aromas of pineapple and lemon. The palate is soft with a crisp edge, finishing with flavours of lemon and green apples. A great everyday quaffer, it was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on lees for six months.

2016 was another early harvest and produced a small crop due to hot temperatures and drought conditions.

2017-2018, M8 D9 Pineapple, lemon

6°C

Citrus, green apple finish, [00] Grilled shrimp with avocado, apple and citrus vinaigrette

— SOUTH AFRICA WARWICK WINE ESTATE

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8864

WARWICK THE FIRST LADY CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon $12.83

2015 was one of the earliest (until 2016 came along) and driest harvests in years. It is generally considered to produce great wines from a range of grape varieties, and it shows in the red wines! This is a light to mediumbodied Cabernet Sauvignon with mellow aromas of black fruits and herbs. The palate reveals more dark fruits; black cherries and blackcurrants complemented by smoky notes. This is a great value Cabernet Sauvignon with a pure mineral structure and firm tannin on the finish. The wine was matured for 18 months in French oak.

2017-2020, M7 D9 18°C

Black cherries, blackcurrants, smoke Tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce

CAPE, 2016

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

$77.00

Mellow, black fruits, herbs

WARWICK PROFESSOR BLACK

8865 SAUVIGNON BLANC, WESTERN

$14.67

$88.00

Every year I look forward to tasting this wine with anticipation, and I am sure that one year I am going to be disappointed, but not with the 2016. Pale in colour, it has intense aromas of gooseberry and slate. The palate has a mineral character, linear structure with limey flavours, good length and a long, pure finish. 2016 was a hot year, and it is not easy to make great Sauvignon Blanc under such circumstances, but Warwick has done it again!

2017-2018, M8 D9 Gooseberry, slate

WARWICK ESTATE PINOTAGE,

8866 OLD BUSH VINES, SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH, 2015

Pinotage $16.00

$96.00

The old Pinotage vines are in a single plot within the Warwick Estate and are dry-farmed bush vines. In other words, they are not irrigated. The plot faces north and is one of the warmer sites resulting in low yields of small berries with thick skins. The 2015 has mellow aromas of ripe cherries, cooked fruits and vanilla. This is a medium-bodied wine with good structure and oodles of fruit -red cherries, redcurrants and raspberries – with a chewy finish. The grapes were left to cold-soak for three days before initiation of the fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 months in second, third and fourth fills French oak barrels.

6°C 2017-2020, M7 D8

Soft, crisp, linear structure, [00] Baked halibut with a lemon-garlic herb crust

Red cherries, cooked fruits, vanilla

18°C

Raspberries, redcurrants Magret de canard with tossed spinach served with raspberry sauce

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — A perfect cluster of Cabernet Sauvignon

WARWICK THREE CAPE LADIES

8867 CAPE BLEND, SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH, 2014

Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon $21.33

$128.00

WARWICK ESTATE TRILOGY,

8868 SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH, 2013

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot $29.33

$176.00

Trilogy comes from the oldest, most established vineyards on the Warwick estate and is a blend of three Bordeaux grape varieties. A cool ripening season in 2013 resulted in the picking of Merlot on March 1st. The grapes were left to cold-soak for six days and a cool fermentation carried out to preserve fruit flavours. The Cabernet Franc was picked a week later. Small, thickskinned berries of Cabernet Sauvignon

were picked between March 20th and April 3rd. After hand-sorting, these were left to cold-soak for seven days, followed by a warmer fermentation with daily pumpovers, leaving the wine on skins for a total of 24 days. Each of the components was matured in French oak barrels, with over 62% new, for 26 months. Meticulous tasting for selection of the best barrels and blending followed. The Trilogy 2013 is still youthful with restrained aromas of red cherries and earth. Soft and smooth on the palate, the oak is perfectly integrated, creating a concentrated wine with good weight and vibrant, juicy acidity.

2017-2022, M6 D9 Red cherries, earth

16°C

Smooth, concentrated Filet mignon with cherry-balsamic reduction

The Three Cape Ladies label represents three generations of the Ratcliffe family in the wine industry. Norma is “The First Lady”, her daughter Jenny the second and her first grandchild Eve the third. Each grape variety is harvested and vinified separately and brings a different characteristic to the end wine; Pinotage and Shiraz bringing fruit, Cabernet Sauvignon backbone and structure.

The proportion of each variety varies with the vintage. Pinotage and Shiraz were picked late in February 2014 with Cabernet Sauvignon harvested particularly late, in the middle of April, due to the cool season. The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend is higher than usual at 30%, due to its high quality. The resulting 2014 is a wine with mellow aromas of blackberries and cooked summer fruits complemented with vanilla notes; the wine was aged in French oak barrels, with 22% new, for 24 months. Light to medium-bodied on the palate, it is fresh and well-balanced with a red fruit finish.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Summer fruit pudding, blackberries

16°C

Red and black fruits Slow-cooked pork belly with extra crispy crackling served with Hoisin dipping sauce

photo — Multiple vintages of the legendary Warwick Cabernet Sauvignon.

— SOUTH AFRICA WARWICK WINE ESTATE

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FARM PINOTAGE, 8869 FARAWAY WESTERN CAPE, 2016 Pinotage $14.33

8870

BONNIEVALE UNPRETENTIOUS SAUVIGNON BLANC, WESTERN CAPE, 2016

$12.83

BONNIEVALE UNPRETENTIOUS MERLOT, WESTERN CAPE, 2015 Merlot

Sauvignon Blanc $86.00

8871

$77.00

$12.83

$77.00

A soft, light, fruity wine with red berry flavours of strawberries and cranberries, it has firm acidity and some chewy tannin. Ideal weather conditions in spring led to good, even bud burst followed by warmer than normal temperatures in October and then a full-on heatwave in January. Yet, the wine sings out fresh fruit rather than scorching heat.

Pale in colour with pear drops and lime aromas, Bonnievale Unpretentious Sauvignon Blanc tastes dry with an imperceptible touch of residual sweetness finishing with lemon and lime notes.

Bonnievale sources grapes from vineyards around the Breede River. The grapes were pressed and fermented at the low temperature of 11°C in stainless steel tanks.

The wine was left on lees for four months.

This is a well-made, great value red for everyday drinking. Red cherry aromas lead to more sour cherry flavours, a touch of vanilla, mocha and a persistent cranberry aftertaste. Merlot grapes underwent a cold maceration on skins for 24 hours before fermentation. The wine was matured with a combination of French and American oak.

2017-2019, M8 D9

2017-2018, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

Red berry fruits

16

16°C

Pear drops, lime

6°C

Cherries

16°C

Soft, fruity, chewy finish

Dry, crisp, lemon and lime twist, [01]

Sour cherries, cranberries

Charcuterie and course country pâté

Nori hand rolls

Beef stew with roasted garlic mash

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — Home of the Bonnievale Winery nestled between the valleys and the mountains

VILAFONTÉ SERIES M, PAARL, 8872 2014 Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon $43.33

$260.00

The Vilafonté vineyard is located in the Paarl region close to the Simonsberg Mountain. It is the joint project of Mike Ratcliffe, winemaker Zelma Long and viticulture consultant Phil Freese. The trio is committed to producing the highest possible quality wine. The vineyard soils have been dated back to between 750,000 and 1.5 million years old. I am not sure what impact this has on the vines themselves, but the wine is delicious! 16 hectares are planted with four Bordeaux grape varieties and are meticulously tended to by vineyard manager Edward Pietersen. The boutique

photo — Friends and founding partners of Vilafonté: Mike Ratcliffe, Zelma Long and Phil Freese.

winery in Stellenbosch, designed by Zelma, is where winemakers Martin Smith and Jonathan Daniels do their stuff. In 2014, the harvest started slightly later than average, on February 18th. The cooler vintage particularly suited the blocks of Merlot, resulting in great colour and concentration.

Intense in colour, the 2014 Series M has great depth of aroma with mellow, ripe dark fruits, cherries, plums and herbs. The palate is a little more savoury. Youthful with good acidity, it will benefit from a couple of years more in bottle. The wine was matured for 20 months in French oak barrels.

2017-2025, M6 D8 Rich, ripe dark fruits, mellow

18°C

Cherries, plums, herbs, savoury notes Grilled beef tenderloin with herb-garlicpepper coating

— SOUTH AFRICA WARWICK WINE ESTATE

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA

Elgin

Richard Kershaw Wines Richard Kershaw sets out to make world class wines that will sit easily with and hold their own against the classics. Having settled in South Africa, Richard (a Brit) has made Elgin his home. This is South Africa’s coolest (in more ways than one!) wine district. Its high altitude, proximity to the ocean and diurnal temperatures create the ideal conditions for a long, cool ripening of grapes to make first class wines.

Separated from Stellenbosch by the Hottentots Holland Mountains, Elgin sits in a basin at between 250 and 400 metres.

“Our passion for wine and attention to detail will show in every glass you pour.”

photo — Richard Kershaw Wines was established in January 2012 to create clonally selected, site-specific, cool climate wines.

— SOUTH AFRICA RICHARD KERSHAW WINES

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NEW

8874

THE SMUGGLER’S BOOT CHARDONNAY, WESTERN CAPE, 2016

8875

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay $18.00

The Wellington boot was used to smuggle in grape vines during the time of embargoes.

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

$108.00

$22.50

$135.00

Tasted while still maturing in barrel, The Smuggler’s Boot Chardonnay has delicious, complex aromas of toast, lemon yogurt and wet stone.

The palate is round and structured with citrus flavours of lime, mandarin and peaches. A dry cold winter with plenty of frosty mornings was followed by a warm October so that bud break and flowering were early, but uneven.

January was very hot and very dry. Fortunately, February saw temperatures cool down so that grapes were picked between February 8th and March 2nd. Grape skins were thicker due to the heat and, this year, Richard did not carry out any skin contact in order to avoid extracting bitter phenolic compounds. Half the grapes were fermented in barrel using a number of artisanal coopers from Burgundy and 10% new oak. The wine was matured for eight months on lees with periodic stirring.

Here is a subtle wine with mellow, earthy aromas. Soft and smooth on the palate, riper red fruits emerge, complemented by smokiness. The Smuggler’s Boot Pinot Noir is supple with a lingering finish. It was produced from three parcels of Pinot Noir from three French clones – PN667, PN115 and PN113 – and would put many red Burgundies to shame.

The grapes were picked by hand into small baskets on February 14th through February 16th and were manually sorted at the winery.

The grapes were destemmed and dropped uncrushed into 500-kilo open-top fermenters and left to macerate for three days prior to the alcoholic fermentation. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and was subsequently matured for 11 months using a number of artisanal Burgundian coopers and 10% new oak.

2017-2020, M7 D9

2017-2020, M7 D9

Lemon yogurt, toast, stone fruit

20

THE SMUGGLER’S BOOT PINOT NOIR, ELGIN, 2014

6°C

Mellow, red fruits, earthy

16°C

Peaches, mandarins, [01]

Ripe fruit, smoky, smooth

Poached salmon with a lemon-dill sauce

Veal chops with Pinot Noir-porcini mushroom sauce

photo — Extensive cloud cover in Elgin means a slow ripening, leading to more flavour and aroma in the grapes.

8876

KERSHAW ELGIN CHARDONNAY, CLONAL SELECTION, ELGIN, 2014 Chardonnay $42.17

$253.00

Intense and mellow, Kershaw Elgin Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2014 has toasty brioche notes, vanilla yogurt and pineapple fruit. The palate is soft with good mid-palate weight and ripe fruit flavours. This is both concentrated and elegant with persistence and depth. Richard has used three Dijon clones of Chardonnay – CY96, CY95 and CY76 - grown on five small parcels. All the grapes were hand-picked in the early mornings between February 26th and March 8th, and the bunches gently pressed. Juice flowed from the press directly to barrel through gravity, with no use of pumps, and was left to undergo spontaneous natural fermentation.

It was subsequently matured for 10 months in barrel using only French oak with 35% new. A total of 9340 bottles were produced in 2014, each one is individually numbered.

Anyone that likes fine white Burgundy will love this wine.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Intense, mellow, toasty fruit

6°C

Ripe fruits, vanilla, persistent, [01] Roasted Cornish game hens with toasted bread crumbs

photo — Richard Kershaw’s hands-on approach ensures only the best vineyards and grapes are selected.

ELGIN SYRAH, CLONAL 8877 KERSHAW SELECTION, ELGIN, 2013 Syrah $42.17

$253.00

A wine that will need some patience to achieve its optimum drinking, Kershaw Elgin Syrah Clonal Selection 2013 was restrained and closed on the nose at the time of tasting. On the palate, it reveals its full strength with great concentration and structure. This is a wine with backbone, yet it is fine in texture with good tannins and great

depth. Produced from five selected parcels, the grapes were hand-picked between March 27th and April 4th, 2013. This was a particularly cool vintage with temperatures below the long term average, but conditions allowed for uniform bud break, flowering and fruit set with a long, slow development of flavour in the grapes. Fermented in open-top fermenters, with gentle pigeage, the grapes stayed on skins for 21 to 29 days. It was matured in French oak barrels for 17 months with 55% new.

2017-2030, M5 D7 Restrained dark fruits, spice

18°C

Firm structure, fine texture Sirloin strip roast with Roquefort mushrooms

— SOUTH AFRICA RICHARD KERSHAW WINES

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CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

La Chapelle-de-Guinchay

Paul Sapin

Thierry Coulon, Chief Oenologist and Chairman of Paul Sapin, has made it his business to source great value wines around the world. In 2009, he introduced a range of 500 ml bottles in a new program created for Opimian members named Wine for 2. Here Opimian offers you a taste of our favorite grape varieties, produced in the regions where their character shines through, in both full bottle cases and in 500 ml bottle cases, the perfect size just for two.

photo —The Western Cape is home to the country’s two most famous wine regions, Stellenbosch and Paarl.

— SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PAUL SAPIN

23

SOUTH AFRICA KLOOF-EN-BERG SOUTH AFRICAN CHENIN BLANC, WESTERN CAPE, 2016

KLOOF-EN-BERG SOUTH AFRICAN SHIRAZ, WESTERN CAPE, 2016

Chenin Blanc $9.75

8878

$117.00 $9.67

WINE FOR 2

8879

$58.00

8880 WINE FOR 2

8881

$9.75 $117.00 $9.83 $59.00

Pale in colour with intense aromas of passion fruit, pears and lime, this is a refreshingly light wine with great flavour.

A light and fruity Shiraz produced in the Western Cape of South Africa; it has flavours of chocolate and spice with a cherry finish.

Vineyards are planted with 2,200 vines per hectare on alluvial sands and decomposed granite slopes.

2017-2019, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

Passion fruit, pears, lime

24

Shiraz

6°C

Fruity

16° C

Passion fruit, [00]

Chocolate, spice

Grilled fish tacos

Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with sour cherry sauce

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

Order December 16, 2016 to January 13, 2017

AUSTRALIA ON THE BILLABONG SEMILLON CHARDONNAY, SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA, 2016

ON THE BILLABONG, SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA, 2016 Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon

Semillon, Chardonnay

8882 WINE FOR 2

8883

$10.58 $127.00 $10.00 $60.00

BABINGTON BROOK SHIRAZ, SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA, 2016

8884 WINE FOR 2

8885

Shiraz $10.50 $126.00 $10.33 $62.00

$10.42

8886

$125.00 $10.17

WINE FOR 2

8887

$61.00

This Semillon Chardonnay is pale in colour with white fruits, pears and melon flavours, a savoury edge and just a touch of residual sweetness. The vines are an average age of 15 years and harvesting is mechanical.

After pressing, the juice was fermented at 15°C with no use of oak.

Vibrant in colour, On the Billabong Shiraz Cabernet has spicy, linty notes. It is medium-bodied with flavours of sour red cherries, blackberries and firm acidity. The grapes were grown on fertile sandy soils in New South Wales.

Shiraz is the most widely planted black grape in Australia.

Babington Brook Shiraz has intense spicy, brambly aromas. It is medium to full-bodied with some chewy tannin and a firm finish.

2017-2018, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

Melon

6°C

Spices, lint

16°C

Brambly fruits, spices

Pears, white fruit, [01]

Blackberries, sour cherries

Medium to full-bodied

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Bavette steak with beurre rouge and roasted potatoes

Tourtière

photo — Thierry Coulon, Chief Oenologist and Chairman of Paul Sapin, born and bred in Burgundy.

18°C

— SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PAUL SAPIN

25

NEW ZEALAND MOUNT VERNON SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc

8888 WINE FOR 2

8889

Two bottle sizes to choose from because sometimes a full bottle is just too much.

$12.33 $74.00

2017-2018, M8 D9

Sour limes, [00] Jumbo Lump Crab cakes

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

$168.00

This is a more intense style of Sauvignon Blanc with mellow gooseberry aromas complemented by an inky earthiness. Smooth on the palate, it develops a fresh sour lime flavour which persists. New Zealand is renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc due to the abundant sunshine and cool climate.

Floral, gooseberry

26

$14.00

6°C

CHILE PAULITA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC, CENTRAL VALLEY, 2016

PAULITA RESERVA MERLOT, CENTRAL VALLEY, 2016

Sauvignon Blanc

Merlot $10.25

8890

$123.00 $10.00

WINE FOR 2

8891

$60.00

8892 WINE FOR 2

8893

$10.25 $123.00 $10.17 $61.00

Intense gooseberry and lime aromas lead to a soft and round palate with lots of limey flavours and a long finish. This is excellent value for money.

With ripe dark fruits, cassis and an herbal leafy characteristic, Chile’s Central Valley produces some of the best value Merlot in the world. Vineyards extend along the Teno River around Curicó. The grapes were picked early March through to late April.

2017-2018, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

Gooseberry, lime

6°C

Dark fruits, green leaves

16°C

Citrus, smooth, [00]

Cassis

Sautéed shrimp over lemon Quinoa

Burgers with sautéed mushrooms, arugula and Dijon aioli

photo — Chile’s Central Valley is one of the most significant wine-producing regions in South America.

— SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PAUL SAPIN

27

28

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

ALSACE ALSACE

Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr Alsace, in northeast France, is one of the sunniest and driest regions in the country. Like Burgundy, it has a complex patchwork of slopes with vineyards planted at 160 to 360 metres high on differing soils and exposures, with the best facing east or southeast. It has the potential to produce some of France’s finest wines for cellaring and has a long history of winemaking.

Unlike Burgundy, until recently there was little focus on terroir and a range of white grape varieties are planted producing aromatic wines with varying degrees of sweetness.

Vineyards are planted on the flanks of the Vosges Mountains which run parallel to the Rhine River and the border with Germany. Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr lies on the outskirts of the village of Hunawihr, right in the heart of the region with vineyards to the north and south.

2015 was a good vintage in Alsace. High daytime temperatures in July led to an early harvest with naturally very sweet, healthy grapes.

“Our philosophy is to vinify our production in compliance with the rich diversity of the Alsatian soils.”

photo —The pinkish Gewurztraminer grapes and the church of St. Jacques le Majeur in the background.

— ALSACE CAVE VINICOLE DE HUNAWIHR

29

PETER WEBER BRUT, MÉTHODE

8894 TRADITIONNELLE, AOC CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV

Chardonnay $16.33

8895

SYLVANER, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOC ALSACE, 2015 Sylvaner

$98.00

$14.50

Pinot Blanc $87.00

A fresh crisp bottle of bubbly, Crémant d’Alsace is produced using the traditional method for sparkling wine used in Champagne. This Cuvée, produced from 100% Chardonnay, has some nice stone fruit and nectarine. The palate is refreshing with green apple acidity on the finish.

Pale in colour with mineral and slate aromas, concentrated with good depth and structure, this wine is bone dry; in fact, one of only two in this line up. The concentration and lingering flavours are a direct result of the old vines and the variety has an ability to retain its natural acidity, so important in a warm year such as 2015.

2017-2019, M8 D9

2017-2019, M8 D9

Stone fruits

6°C

White fruit, slate

BLANC, VIEILLES VIGNES, 8896 PINOT AOC ALSACE, 2015

$15.00

$90.00

6°C

Nectarines, peaches, fresh apples, [02]

Soft with some structure, [00]

Tarte Flambée – Alsatian bacon and onion tart

Smoked trout canapés with crème fraîche and herb sauce

Aromas of fresh apples, with a mineral nutty side, introduce a soft attack and firm, tangy acidity with nectarines, lemon and mandarins on the palate. The second bone dry wine in the range presented by Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr, the Pinot Blanc has more fruit aromas and flavours than the Sylvaner. It is a versatile food wine with great vibrancy. Winemaker Philippe Gery picks and vinifies individual parcels separately.

The grapes were crushed, pressed and fermented at low temperature.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Fresh apples, nutty

6°C

Mineral, mandarin, lemons, [00] Quiche Lorraine

30

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — A flowering vine – in Alsace, blossoming occurs at the beginning of June.

MUSCAT RÉSERVE, AOC ALSACE, 8897 2015

Gewurztraminer

Muscat $15.33

$92.00

Muscat has been cultivated in Alsace since the beginning of the 16th century, but it represents just 1% of Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr’s production. The Réserve 2015 is elegant with deliciously appealing grapey flavours, a light structure, and a lemony finish with an almost imperceptible touch of residual sweetness.

2017-2018, M8 D9 Grapey

RÉSERVE, 8898 GEWURZTRAMINER AOC ALSACE, 2015

6°C

$16.67

Phyllo-wrapped asparagus

Riesling $100.00

Like Riesling, Gewurztraminer is one of Alsace’s noble and distinctive grape varieties, producing deeply coloured (the ripe grapes have a pinkish hue to them) and highly aromatic wines. The 2015 Réserve is bright yellow in colour. Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr’s Réserve Gewurztraminer has intense aromas of peaches, honey and rose petals. Soft and round in the mouth, it has a savoury, spicy flavour with a long bitter marmalade finish which demands another sip. Sweetness is perfectly offset by the natural tangy acidity.

Light, fruity, lemon finish, [01]

2017-2019, M8 D9 Honey, peaches, rose petal

CUVÉE PRESTIGE, AOC 8899 RIESLING ALSACE, 2015

6°C

$14.67

$88.00

Riesling is Alsace’s most noble white variety, the best wines of which can be matured for decades. Even this uncomplicated wine can surprise with a bit of bottle age. Cuvée Prestige Riesling is restrained with aromas of fresh limes and Granny Smith apples.

Well-balanced, the palate is off-dry with good mid-palate fruit.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Granny Smith apples, fresh lime

6°C

Off-dry, fresh, well-balanced, [03] Stuffed pork tenderloin with bacon and apple Riesling sauce

Spicy, bitter marmalade finish, [04] Vietnamese-style jumbo shrimp with Nuoc Cham dipping sauce

photo —The fortified church of St. Jacques le Majeur was built in the 14th century.

— ALSACE CAVE VINICOLE DE HUNAWIHR

31

SILBERBERG, 8900 RIESLING RORSCHWIHR, AOC ALSACE, 2015 Riesling $16.67

Pinot Gris $100.00

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

$17.50

$105.00

As Alsatian wine producers have become more interested in matching specific grapes to a given terroir, so wine labels have started to indicate where grapes were grown, so-called “lieux-dits”. Alsace has a complex array of soils and terroir due to lying on two parallel fault lines. The Silberberg Vineyard lies above the village of Rorschwihr, ten kilometres from Hunawihr. Silberberg, meaning Silver Mountain, has Muschelkalk, deep, chalky, siliceous soils which retain moisture and provide vines with just enough water in this dry climate. Medium yellow in colour, Riesling Silberberg 2015 has intense aromas of lime, apples, mineral and slate. The palate is soft and sweet with a sharp, tangy, citrus and mineral finish, and good depth.

Muehlforst Pinot Gris is soft and smooth with good structure, some residual sweetness, and flavours of apricot, peaches and a lingering bitter orange flavour. This is most definitely Alsatian Pinot Gris rather than a lighter, refreshing Pinot Grigio. The vineyard sits at over 300 metres on chalky soils and is close to the Grand Cru Rosacker and the famous Clos Sainte Hune.

2017-2020, M7 D9

2017-2020, M7 D9

Lime, apples, slate

32

GRIS MUEHLFORST, 8901 PINOT HUNAWIHR, AOC ALSACE, 2015

6°C

White fruits, peaches

Tangy acidity, mineral finish, [04]

Soft, round, bitter orange, [04]

Vegetarian red curry noodles

French onion soup

6°C

photo — Riesling is one of Alsace’s noble grape varieties.

RIESLING, GRAND CRU

MUEHLFORST, 8902 GEWURZTRAMINER 8903 OSTERBERG, AOC ALSACE GRAND HUNAWIHR, AOC ALSACE, 2015 CRU, 2015

Riesling

Gewurztraminer $18.50

$111.00

“Honey and spice and all things nice”, just about sums up the 2015 Muehlforst Gewurztraminer. Deep yellow in colour, it has intense honey and spicy aromas. Sweet and round on the palate, it has good balance and persistent flavours of mango and peaches.

This is a wine with structure.

$20.00

GEWURZTRAMINER GRAND CRU

8904 ROSACKER, AOC ALSACE GRAND CRU, 2015

Gewurztraminer $120.00

Just four percent of Alsace’s wine production comes from the Grand Cru sites; those with the highest quality potential.

Osterberg lies close to the medieval town of Ribeauvillé and is comprised of just 24.6 hectares. The slope runs 250 to 350 metres and faces east-southeast. The stony clay top soil lies above Muschelkalk and marl and seems particularly suited to producing high quality Riesling grapes. The 2015 is pale lime in colour, currently restrained on the nose with wet stone and nutty aromas. Flavours of green apples and tangy limes persist on the palate. This wine has great restraint and the potential to cellar.

$23.17

The Rosacker vineyard is just outside the village of Hunawihr and has a complex mixture of soil types, Ceratiteslimestone (ammonites), various colour marls and Dolomite Pebbles.

The vineyard is planted between 260 and 330 metres high and faces east-southeast. Medium yellow in colour, with aromas of orange, it offers a soft, rich palate, good structure, great depth and an everlasting long finish. This is one of my highest scoring wines in the tasting.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Oranges

2017-2022, M6 D8 Restrained, nuts, wet stone

6°C

$139.00

6°C

Rich, structured, bitter orange, apricot, [05] Salmon tartare

Green apples, tangy lime acidity, [04] Bratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut

2017-2020, M7 D9 Honey, spice

6°C

Sweet, smooth, [05] Seared duck breast with honey glaze served with steamed vegetables

photo — Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr’s main office and tasting room.

— ALSACE CAVE VINICOLE DE HUNAWIHR

33

34

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — Vaison-la-Romaine, near Rasteau, is a beautiful GalloRoman city where the streets lead to archeological sites.

THE RHÔNE THE RHÔNE

Ternand

There are many passionate winemakers throughout France that are unknown outside of their own territories. Many would not have the opportunity to bring their wines to wine lovers outside France without the help of people such as Blandine and Bernard Perrin, who bring them together and act on their behalves. For this cellar offering, we have selected wines from eleven Domaines in the Rhône that reflect respect for their terroir and that are mainly from the 2015 vintage, described as a great vintage of exceptional quality.

Bernard Perrin Négociant en vins

8906

CLOS DE LA GRANGE DES MOINES ROSÉ, AOP COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES, 2016

The estate is named after the Cistercian monks who, in the 13th century, discovered this terroir and its rolled “galet” stones. The monks built the Abbaye de Franquevaux at this location which neighbours the Camargue. The Boyer family has owned the property since the beginning of the 20th century, with Fanny and her brother François representing the fourth generation.

The 51 hectares of vines have been farmed organically since 2009. Situated on the southern side of Costières de Nîmes, the vineyards overlook the lakes of the PetiteCamargue. Syrah grapes came from the Clos La Gache with Grenache grown on Clos de la Roche. A traditional vinification has produced a light to medium-bodied wine with gamey, rustic flavours.

Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache $13.00

$156.00

Brimming with fresh red fruits, crushed raspberries, loganberries and strawberries, this is an easy-drinking flavoursome rosé.

All the grapes were farmed organically, half were directly pressed, and half underwent some skin contact to produce the pink colour.

2017-2018, M8 D9 Freshly crushed raspberries

8907

CLOS DE LA GRANGE DES MOINES, AOP COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES, 2015

5°C

2017-2019, M8 D9 Chocolate, gamey

Loganberries, red fruits, [00]

Syrah, Grenache

Grilled vegetable pizza

$13.00

16°C

Sour, bitter cherries, dark chocolate

$156.00

Lamb moussaka

— THE RHÔNE BERNARD PERRIN

35

NEW

NEW

DURIEU TRADITION, 8908 DOMAINE AOC VENTOUX, 2015

Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre

Grenache, Syrah $16.83

DES ROMARINS, AOC 8909 DOMAINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE, 2015

$101.00

$16.17

$97.00

8910

DOMAINE DES ROMARINS, « C », AOC CÔTES DU RHÔNE, 2015 Carignan $17.33

$104.00

A family estate in the village of Domazan, Domaine des Romarins is run

by Xavier Favre. His Côtes du Rhône 2015 has won no less than three Gold Medals at various shows in France. Traditional in style, it is medium ruby in colour with aromas of leather, liquorice and earthy fruits. The palate is supple with juicy black fruits and a rustic finish. The grapes were all harvested by hand, destemmed and fermented at 26°C to 28°C with twice-daily pump-overs. The wine was aged for six months in concrete tanks then bottled.

Just 3000 bottles of this wine were produced from 40-year-old Carignan vines. Old bush vines are spur-pruned and buds removed to reduce the natural vigour of Carignan and produce low yields.

Whole bunches were picked by hand on September 21st and manually put into concrete tanks to undergo a carbonic maceration, then fermentation. Typically, it is deep in colour and has mellow aromas of dark fruits and coffee. In the mouth, succulent fruits give the wine good mid-palate weight and a long, smooth, bitter cherry finish.

2017-2020, M8 D9

2017-2020, M7 D9

Leather, liquorice

16°C

Mellow dark fruits, coffee

18°C

Black cherries, bitter liquorice

Succulent, bitter cherries

Beef, red wine and black olive stew

Venison back strap medallions with roasted fennel and sweet potato salad

Seven hectares of Domaine Durieu are classified as Ventoux. The vineyards are on clay marl soils over a bed of gypsum and limestone. The colour of the 2015 Tradition shows some development with aromas of grassy herbs and smoke. It is medium-bodied with a supple mid-palate and long, spicy flavours. This wine is smooth and round with a grippy finish and bitter chocolate characteristic.

2017-2021, M7 D9 Herbs, smoke

16°C

Smooth, spicy, bitter chocolate Meatloaf with creamy onion gravy

36

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — The Fabre family of Domaine des Romarins - left to right: Francis, Xavier, Benoît, Georges and Xavier’s son Vincent.

8911

VINCENT ROCHETTE SÉLECTION, AOC CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES, VISAN, 2015

8912

DOMAINE BERTHET-RAYNE, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOC CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES, CAIRANNE, 2015 Grenache, Syrah, Carignan

Grenache, Syrah

8913

DOMAINE DU VAL DES ROIS, AOC CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES, VALRÉAS, 2015 Grenache, Syrah $120.00

$20.00

Located to the west of the village of Visan, Vincent Rochette has 7.5 hectares of 60-year-old vines and is the fifth generation to farm this land. Vincent has been farming biodynamically since 2006 and his wines have a definite vibrancy to them. His 2015 is warm and spicy with aromas of lavender, black cherries, red fruits and chocolate. The palate is marked by youthful, tangy acidity and a red cherry finish.

Sixty-year-old vines are planted on well-drained stony soils around the village of Cairanne, producing a rich wine with a full-bodied, firm structure and a chewy rustic finish. It is deeply coloured with aromas and flavours of raspberries, balsamic and leather. Fermented in concrete tanks, the grapes were destemmed and left to macerate for three weeks during and after the fermentation. It was matured in tank for a year prior to bottling.

The vineyards of Domaine du Val des Rois lie on slopes facing southsoutheast on clay soils containing some stones. They are farmed organically and natural sheep manure compost is used as fertilizer.

The 2015 Cuvée Signature is a deep plum colour and has intense ripe aromas of fruit and chocolate reminiscent of black forest cake. Soft and smooth on the palate, it was matured in tank, developing supple tannins, and is medium to full-bodied. All grapes were picked by hand, destemmed, with the Grenache left for a short period on skins, Syrah for longer.

2017-2022, M6 D9

2017-2021, M7 D8

2017-2022, M6 D8

$16.50

Lavender, black cherries, chocolate

$99.00

18°C

$19.17

Raspberries, balsamic, leather

$115.00

18°C

Ripe dark fruits, chocolate

18°C

Red cherries, spice, vibrant acidity

Rich, round, chewy

Bitter cherries, supple

Grilled lamb ribs with Moroccan-spiced eggplant

Wild mushroom and sausage lasagna

Wild boar chili

photo — The Syrah vines at Domaine des Romarins under a beautiful summer sky.

— THE RHÔNE BERNARD PERRIN

37

8915

DOMAINE DU MURINAIS, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOC CROZES-HERMITAGE, 2015 Syrah $23.17

Vines were planted between 25 and 30 years ago on limestone clay soils on slopes facing south-southwest in the Rasteau appellation. I actually preferred the Cuvée Prestige to their more expensive Labartalas wine this year.

Smelling of the countryside, it has aromas of wild herbs, dill, and basil, and lavender combined with black cherries. Concentrated and smooth with great depth, more flavours of black cherry and liquorice emerge on the palate. Most of the grapes were destemmed with 10% left as whole bunches. The wine was vinified and matured in concrete tanks for 11 months.

This is everything a Crozes-Hermitage from the Northern Rhône should be; fruity and savoury with spicy notes.

Luc Tardy has produced a 2015 deep in colour, with ripe black cherries and meaty flavours which linger on the palate.

Produced from 39 to 45-year-old vines, this wine has huge concentration. Cultivated in the commune of Beaumont-Monteux, which is considered to be the best in the appellation, it sits on a stony limestone clay plateau. The grapes were picked by hand on September 20th and 21st. Pre-harvest passage through the vines, several days before, dropped any over or under ripe grapes. A sorting table at the entrance of the winery carried out another selection, ensuring only the best, healthy grapes were used. The grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and left to macerate on skins at low temperature for four days. Natural yeast slowly fermented the juice at 29°C with daily pump-overs, morning and evening, and some punching down of the cap towards the end of fermentation. The wine was matured for 12 months in two, three and four-year-old, 600 litres casks.

2017-2021, M7 D8

2017-2025, M6 D8

8914

DOMAINE DES CÔTEAUX DES TRAVERS, CUVÉE PRESTIGE, AOC RASTEAU, 2015 Grenache, Syrah $19.33

Lavender, dill, black cherries

38

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

$139.00

$116.00

18°C

Savoury, black cherries, spice

18°C

Liquorice, black cherries, smooth

Succulent, savoury, meaty

Roast prime rib with thyme au jus

Lamb stew with Cipollini onions and potatoes

photo — The “galets” stones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

8918

STÉPHANE MONTEZ, LES GRANDES CHAILLÉES, VIGNOBLES DU MONTEILLET, AOC CONDRIEU, 2015 Viognier $46.17

8916

GILLES FLACHER, LES REINES, AOC SAINT-JOSEPH, 2015

8917

DOMAINE DES CIGALONS, AOC CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE, 2015 Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah

Syrah $27.50

$165.00

$30.33

$182.00

In contrast to Luc Tardy’s CrozesHermitage, Gilles Flacher’s SaintJoseph shows all the characteristics of Syrah grown on granite soils. Equally powerful, less flamboyant, more discrete and linear in style, Les Reines 2015 has a bouquet of intense red cherries complemented by spicy aromas and sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with pure acidity providing length and a sour cherry finish. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks, remaining on skins for 23 days. The wine was matured for 12 months in oak barrels.

Up to fourteen different grape varieties can be used to produce Châteauneuf-duPape. Cultivated on the stoney “galet” limestone soils around the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Courthézon and north of Orange, Domaine des Cigalons has seven hectares, all farmed organically. The 2015 has complex aromas of tar, liquorice, raisins, fruit cake and plums. The palate is soft, round and smooth, with flavours of bitter liquorice and raisins, and medium in length.

2017-2025, M6 D8

2017-2022, M6 D8

Red cherries, sandalwood, spices

$277.00

18°C

Raisins, liquorice, tar

18°C

A deliciously intense and spicy Condrieu, this wine is a real treat. Intense aromas of ripe fruits, cooked pineapple, toast and vanilla precede a soft, smooth palate with a savoury fruit edge, and lots of oaky vanilla flavours with great acidity and depth. Viognier grapes from eight parcels in Chavanay, SaintMichel-sur-Rhône, Condrieu and Vérin were used. Each parcel is a terrace on the steep slopes with granite soils supported by old dry stone walls. The grapes were picked by hand, destemmed and left to macerate on skins for nine hours. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and demi-muids and was subsequently matured 11 months.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Intense, toasty, ripe fruits, vanilla

6°C

Sour cherries, spicy

Plums, bitter liquorice

Cooked pineapple, savoury, [00]

Herb-rubbed duck with cherries and sage

Indian-spiced pumpkin-stuffed ravioli with garlic-tomato-herb sauce

Seared foie gras with caramelized onions, pineapple brulée and blueberry sauce

photo —The old tower of Tournon, on the shores of the Rhône,

acts as a sentinel over the gorgeous Cru of Crozes-Hermitage.

— THE RHÔNE BERNARD PERRIN

39

“Our House vinifies approximately 50,000 bottles annually. Every step in production and vinification is executed in a traditional way.”

40

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE

Vertus

Champagne Doyard-Mahé The majority of Champagnes on the market come from the large Champagne Houses, but there is an increasing number of good grower Champagnes. I first came across Carole Doyard at ProWein in Dusseldorf. Her bubbly personality and elegant style are reflected in the Champagne she produces.

She is based in Vertus at the southern end of the Côte des Blancs, the 20-kilometre ridge that runs southwards from south of Épernay down to Vertus. This is where the best Chardonnay grapes are grown. When I visited the region in September, the slopes were dotted with white pickers’ vans.

Harvest was in full swing. Carole has around six hectares of Chardonnay, all on Premier Cru land around the village of Vertus, and only uses the best juice from her grapes to produce Doyard-Mahé Champagne. The more astringent second press “tailles” are sent to the cooperative. Her great grandfather Maurice established the house in 1927 and was also a co-founder of the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne) in 1941. Representing the fourth generation, Carole started working with her father in the cellar in 2008 and the following year took on the vineyards.

photo — Bottles on pupitres for the remuage before the disgorging

— CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE DOYARD-MAHÉ

41

NEW

8920

DM EMPREINTE, DOYARD-MAHÉ CHAMPAGNE, 100% CHARDONNAY, VERTUS-CÔTE DES BLANCS Chardonnay $34.67

It’s always a good time for Champagne!

42

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

$208.00

Based on the 2013 vintage with 40% of 2012 reserve wines, Empreinte is elegant, pale in colour with white fruits and lime custard aromas. It is well-balanced with a long finish. The Champagne process is a lengthy and complex one with several more stages than producing still wine, each of which can have an impact on the style and quality of the Champagne. Crucially, Champagne undergoes a second alcoholic fermentation in bottle, the same bottle you have in front of you. As the yeasts ferment sugar into alcohol they produce carbon dioxide gas which is trapped, creating the fizz. Once the yeasts have done their job, they continue to impart flavour so the length of time that they remain in the bottle has an impact on style.

The removal of the yeast, or lees, is called disgorgement and the length of time between disgorgement and drinking also has an effect on flavour. Carole marks the disgorgement dates on all her corks.

2017-2020, M7 D9 White fruits, lime custard

6°C

Elegant, creamy texture, persistent finish, [02] Sushi

photo — The Côte des Blancs is named after its vineyards, which consist almost exclusively of Chardonnay vines.

NEW

8922

NEW

8921

DM ROSÉ, DOYARD-MAHÉ CHAMPAGNE, VERTUS

EB CUVÉE DESIR, DOYARD-MAHÉ CHAMPAGNE, 100% CHARDONNAY, VERTUS-CÔTE DES BLANCS Chardonnay $40.33

$242.00

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Pale salmon in colour, with a fine stream of bubbles and subtle red fruit flavours, the Pinot Noir is fermented in oak barrels and then blended with the Chardonnay base-wine fermented in stainless steel tanks.

EB usually stands for Extra Brut, but Carole prefers to think of it as Extra Beautiful. The low sugar dosage means there really is nowhere to hide. The quality of the grapes and the terroir are completely unmasked.

This non-vintage Cuvée is a blend and is based on 2012 base-wine with 30% reserve wine from 2011. The still wine blend was bottled in 2013 and then slowly fermented.

Aromas of peaches and stone fruits are followed by more fresh, ripe white fruit in the mouth, with a smooth, creamy texture and a long, crisp finish.

2017-2019, M8 D9

2017-2020, M7 D9

$38.33

Restrained red fruits

$230.00

6°C

White stone fruits

Red fruits, fine texture, [02]

Smooth, dry, crisp acidity, [01]

Salmon carpaccio

Vegetable tempura

photo — Église Saint-Martin in Vertus dates back to 1854 and can

be seen from the House of Champagne Doyard-Mahé’s gardens.

6°C

— CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE DOYARD-MAHÉ

43

44

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE

Chigny-les-Roses

Champagne Gardet The Champagne House of Gardet, based in the Montagne de Reims, is located in the small village of Chigny-les-Roses.

Established in 1895 by Charles Gardet, the company is owned and run by Christophe Prieux and Champagne is made by Stéphanie Sucheyre.

“We created an exceptional rose, La Perla® de Gardet; its aesthetic and sensory characteristics are a perfect reflection of our Champagnes.”

photo — La Perla® de Gardet is the embodiment of the

relationship between the House and the Queen of flowers.

— CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE GARDET

45

NEW

8923

ORIGINE 1895 BY CHAMPAGNE GARDET, CHIGNY-LES-ROSES, AOC CHAMPAGNE Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay $33.33

Champagne should be present at all special occasions.

$200.00

Origine is a new cuvée with 90% of the blend from black grapes combined with 10% Chardonnay. The grapes were sourced from across the Champagne region.

Gardet produces Champagne that is richer in style, but not heavy. Origine has a mellow fruit nose with some quince and nutty aromas followed by a soft, smooth palate with good acidity.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Quince, mellow fruits, nutty

CHAMPAGNE GARDET, BRUT RESERVE, CHIGNY-LES-ROSES, AOC CHAMPAGNE

8°C

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier

Smooth, well-balanced, [02] Oysters on the half shell with grated horseradish

8924 8925 8926

$34.17 $205.00 $20.33 $244.00 $77.00 $231.00

Equal proportions of the three main Champagne grape varieties were blended together with 25% of wines aged in oak added. Ripe fruits with a hint of toast and matchstick lead to a crisp palate with medium length.

2017-2020, M7 D9 Ripe fruits, matchstick

6°C

Crisp, well-balanced, [02] Lobster crostini

46

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — Founded in 1895, the Belle Epoque house is nestled in the Premier Cru village of Chigny-les-Roses.

NEW

8928 8927

CHAMPAGNE GARDET, BRUT ROSÉ, CHIGNY-LES-ROSES, AOC CHAMPAGNE Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay $40.83

$245.00

Orange-pink in colour, with aromas of red apples and broad fruits, 15% of red wine is added to the base blend.

Vinous and structured, it has good depth with firm acidity and a pink grapefruit finish.

CHAMPAGNE PLOYEZJACQUEMART, EXTRA BRUT VINTAGE, BLANC DE BLANCS, 2010 Chardonnay $61.67

$370.00

This Champagne House is named after the founders, husband and wife team Marcel Ployez and Yvonne Jacquemart, who established Ployez-Jacquemart in 1930.

Their granddaughter Laurence has been winemaker since the early 2000s. PloyezJacquemart specializes in Chardonnay and sources grapes from Grands Crus vineyards around Cuis, Bisseuil, Grauves and Ludes.

Bright in colour, the 2010 has mellow quince aromas with ripe fruits and some brioche.

The palate is rich and smooth with flavours of peaches, good acidity and a long, lingering finish. Ployez-Jacquemart ages all their Champagnes for a minimum of six years, giving richness and depth.

2017-2019, M8 D9 Red apples

6°C

2017-2020, M7 D9 Mellow, brioche, peach, white fruits

6°C

Fresh, vinous, good acidity, [02]

Rich, smooth, good acidity, [01]

Deep-fried breaded mushrooms

Sea bass filet with vanilla beurre blanc

photo — Champagne bottles undergoing lees aging

— CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE GARDET

47

48

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo —The view from the headquarters of Pràban na Linne, looking out over the water of the Sound of Sleat.

SCOTLAND

WHISKY WHISKY Isle of Skye

Pràban na Linne The Master Blender at Pràban na Linne sources single malt whiskies from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to mature and create his blends. All the whiskies are unfiltered in order to retain maximum purity of flavour.

8929

CÙL NA CREAGAN 8-YEAR-OLD, BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY $42.00

$252.00

8931

CÙL NA CREAGAN 21-YEAR-OLD, BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY $77.00

$462.00

Blending Speyside fruitiness with Islay peatiness, this is a blend of three single malts which were aged in oak casks.

Pale amber in colour, it has a medium-sweet aroma with peaty overtones and a lingering smoky finish.

8930

CÙL NA CREAGAN 12-YEAR-OLD, BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY $45.83

$275.00

The 12-year-old is mellower with notes of liquorice and smoke. Less peaty, it has more citrus and is elegant with a long flavour.

Deeper in colour with a mellow, complex bouquet, this is a rich, smooth whisky with vanilla notes, smoke and sweet sherry oak. It is long and smooth on the finish.

— SCOTCH WHISKY PRÀBAN NA LINNE

49

50

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — A Calvados ageing storehouse on a typical 17th century Normandy farm.

FRANCE

WHISKY WHISKY Lorraine

Maison de la Mirabelle Rozelieures

Alsace-Lorraine is famous for wine, but the region also has a reputation for the quality of its mineral waters (Vittel) and crystal from Baccarat. Now it is making a name for itself in Whisky.

The Rozelieures distillery in Lorraine, established in 1860, has been producing spirits for 150 years. Owners, the Grallet family, were growers of Mirabelle plums and used these to produce eaux-de-vie. Descendent Hubert Grallet continues to produce high quality eaux de vie at Maison de la Mirabelle. Hubert and his son-in-law Christophe Dupic, a cereal grower, are both keen amateurs of Scotch Malt Whisky and regularly visit Scotland to indulge their passion. As a joke, Hubert one day, as they were harvesting barley, suggested to Christophe the idea of creating their own whisky. And so the story began…

All the whiskies produced at Rozelieures are Single Malt made from malted barley. As cereal farmers, they cultivate varieties of barley and produce their own malt, which is ground, soaked and extracted from fermentation. Traditional pot stills are used to double-distill and pure water is used directly from a source in the Vosges Mountains. The whiskies are matured in an array of casks from Kentucky, the Sherry region, Vosne-Romanée, Condrieu, Armagnac and Sauternes, giving the Cellar Master an infinite range of flavours for blending.

G. ROZELIEURES, SINGLE MALT WHISKY, ORIGINE COLLECTION

G. ROZELIEURES, SINGLE MALT WHISKY, RARE COLLECTION

MIXED CASE NEW

Medium amber in colour, Origine has a mellow aroma with smoky notes and flint. The palate is soft and smooth, quite light in weight with nice fruit.

Slightly darker in colour, the Rare Collection has more savoury, spicy aromas with smoke and liquorice notes. The palate is smooth and fully integrated with vanilla and smoky flavours.

8932

G. ROZELIEURES, SINGLE MALT WHISKY $55.83

$335.00

Three bottles each Origine Collection and Rare Collection

— FRENCH WHISKY MAISON DE LA MIRABELLE

51

Marquis de Saint-Loup is produced in a traditional distillery. Once the cider fermentation is complete, the spirit is aged in oak barrels for several years.

52

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

FRANCE

COGNAC & CALVADOS COGNAC & CALVADOS Virollet

Domaine Elisabeth and Château Bellevue Les Vignobles L & G Arrivé

Owned by the Arrivé family, Domaine Elisabeth and Château Bellevue, located in the west of the Cognac region, grow Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Folle Blanche grapes organically. The wine produced is doubledistilled in copper alembics and the spirits matured in Limousin oak barrels to produce fine Cognacs. The Limousin oak forest, to the east of Cognac, is home to Quercus Pedunculata. The wood has a looser grain and lower tannins than oak used for wine maturation and works perfectly for spirits.

8933

ELISABETH VS FINE COGNAC, AOC COGNAC FINS BOIS $58.67

$352.00

A blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes are used for the VS (Very Special).

After distillation, the spirit was matured for over three years in Limousin oak barrels giving it a golden colour. It has grapey fruit aromas with a light, fresh palate and a touch of vanilla.

photo — One of the three wine storehouses containing several types of casks, such as Sherry, Cognac and Sauternes.

— COGNAC & CALVADOS DOMAINE ELISABETH AND CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE, DROUIN

53

MIXED CASE Two bottles each VS, VSOP, XO

8934

ELISABETH FINE COGNAC $67.33

$404.00

ELISABETH VS FINE COGNAC, AOC COGNAC FINS BOIS

ELISABETH VSOP FINE COGNAC, AOC COGNAC FINS BOIS

ELISABETH XO FINE COGNAC, AOC COGNAC FINS BOIS

A blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes are used for the VS (Very Special). After distillation, the spirit was matured for over three years in Limousin oak barrels giving it a golden colour. It has grapey fruit aromas with a light, fresh palate and a touch of vanilla.

VSOP or Very Special Old Pale is golden amber in colour and has some more complex aromas. Mellow fruits with orange, almonds and cinnamon spice mingle behind a woody characteristic. VSOP was matured for more than six years in barrel.

XO or Extra Old was left for ten years in oak casks, developing a deeper amber colour with notes of caramel and vanilla over a grapey background. The palate is smooth and soft with fine fruit and a long vanilla spice flavour. This is elegant and fine, completely integrated and mellow with no jagged edges.

54

CELLAR 245 — ALBERTA

photo — The Elisabeth Cognacs are aged in Limousin oak barrels.

8935

COGNAC ELISABETH XO EXTRA, AOC COGNAC $139.75

$559.00

Domaine Elisabeth XO Extra is produced from 100% Colombard, the lower-yielding, more aromatic grape of the region. Matured for 12 years in Limousin casks, it has a complex bouquet with fresh fruits, dried apricots, nuts and vanilla. It is presented in a smart decanter-style bottle.

8936

COGNAC CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE, VIEILLE RÉSERVE NO 1, AOC COGNAC $162.25

$649.00

The 18th century Château Bellevue is surrounded by 108 hectares of grounds.

The vineyards are cultivated with traditional varieties such as Folle Blanche, Montils and Colombard, rather than the more common Ugni Blanc. All the wines are made, distilled and matured within the Château walls. Vieille Réserve was left undisturbed in barrels of 350 litres for 50 years. Amber in colour, it has a complex bouquet of vanilla and toffee. The palate is smooth and mellow with flavours of honey, chocolate and nuts.

The unique flavours that develop after 50 years in barrel revealed

CALVADOS 8937

MARQUIS DE SAINT-LOUP CALVADOS, SÉLECTION, AOC CALVADOS $37.50

$225.00

Marquis de SaintLoup is produced by Christian Drouin, one of the top producers of Calvados in Normandy. More than 200 varieties of apples are grown throughout the region and are fermented to produce cider which can be distilled for Calvados. The Marquis de SaintLoup Sélection is dominated by fresh fruit with early maturation and limited aging in oak casks. It has sweet appley flavours and a soft, light palate. Pears and apples are used from orchards grown on schist and granite soils.

— COGNAC & CALVADOS DOMAINE ELISABETH AND CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE, DROUIN

55

Our Programs Opimian offers three wine programs: Discovery, Select Plus and Founders’ Choice. All three showcase great value for money wines, yet they do suit somewhat different interests. Whether you decide to embark on an exploratory journey or want to enjoy a more premium selection, the process stays the same.

You don’t 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.

Members previously enlisted in the Select program will now automatically be converted to our Discovery program.

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.

A collector’s dream. Dedicated to the spirit of our Founders, this program presents only the finest wines our very own Master of Wine Jane Masters has handpicked and tasted over the past year. The wines featured here 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 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.

The Founders’ Choice supplier for this cellar offering is Bernard Perrin.

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