02

on 

cellar 266 

Order between 

March 29 

and 

May 3, 2019 

Spain, 

Portugal 

and Mâcon

Ordering Made Easy 

Legend 

Grape variety 

Red 

White 

Rosé 

Sparkling 

Bottle size 

Number of bottles in case 

Aroma 

Taste 

Serving temperature 

1. Select Your Wines 

Let yourself be inspired by our detailed descriptions 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 what to order? Opimian’s Member Service team is always available 

to help you make an informed choice. Call us at 1-800-361-9421 or e-mail 

MemberService@Opimian.ca. 

2. Place Your Order 

There are five ways to order 

• Online: Go to Opimian.ca, sign in and select Order Now. 

• Email MemberService@Opimian.ca with your selection. 

• Call 1-800-361-9421 

• Fax your order to 514-481-9699 

• Mail your order* 

3. Let Us Handle the Rest 

The wines featured on this Cellar Offering are still at the producers’ wineries when you 

order them so it is normal that the process takes a bit of time and effort on our side. 

Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry 

to liquor board and processing time required by each liquor board. For this cellar 

offering, the expected release date is mid-September 2019. 

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 Opimian.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 membership card is required to order and pick up. 

• Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum required. 

• Last day to order from this Cellar Offering: May 3, 2019. Important: no orders will be processed after this 

deadline. 

* Deadline for mailing orders: April 23, 2019. 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 

M—Degree of Maturity (1-10) 

M1 = lay down 

M10 = fully mature 

Members’ Choice 

Most ordered by Opimian 

members 

Opimian Suggests 

Starting a cellar 

Medal Winner 

Discovery 

Opimian Discovery 2018 

C257 

Select Plus 

Opimian Select Plus 2018 

C257 

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 

2 

Cellar 266 — 

ontario 

cover — At Spanish Palate’s Casa do Sol, the traditional pergola 

system of grape growing keeps the grapes well aired , far from the 

ground and healthy in this humid, challenging climate.

Portugal 

Spain 

Cellar 266 

Spain, Portugal and Mâcon 

Spain currently has some of the most interesting restaurants in the world, at the 

same time Spanish wines are living a moment of creativity. Not only does Spain have 

the largest surface area planted to vines, it is probably the country that cultivates 

the largest acreage of vines aged 50 to over 100 years old. For years these were 

undervalued, and incentives in E.U. subsidies even led to some being uprooted. 

Fortunately, not all. Old vines are now highly sought after as an important factor in 

producing high quality wines — this is a recurring theme in the wines featured. 

Spain’s neighbour Portugal is known for the large number of indigenous grape 

varieties planted, coming second only to Italy. Its older vineyards are often field 

blends with a mix of grapes planted in one plot. More recent plantings are mono 

varietal, the most renowned being Touriga Nacional. Portuguese varieties produce 

distinctive wines with personality and vibrancy. Iberian wines are complemented 

with white wines from southern Burgundy’s Mâconnais region. 2018 saw a good 

crop of grapes for the second year in a row, with no frost or hail. Both 2017 and 2018 

vintage wines are showing well. 

Opimian’s Wine Consultant Jane Masters MW, tastes, selects and writes the 

commentary for each of the wines in the cellar offerings. Celebrating her 21st 

year as a Master of Wine this year (one of 378 globally), Jane held the position 

of Chairman of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine 2016-2018. Having 

trained as a winemaker at the Institut d’Oenologie in Bordeaux after a degree 

in Biological Chemistry, Jane worked for UK retailer Marks & Spencer running 

the Wine & Drinks Category for many years. As an independent consultant 

Jane is constantly on the look out for exclusive wines from around the world 

for Opimian members. She regularly visits wine regions and meets producers 

and loves to share her passion and knowledge. 

Featured 

Axial Vinos------------------------------4 

Spanish Palate--------------------------8 

Vinoselección------------------------- 16 

Bodegas Concavins ------------------- 22 

JAPG Vitivinicultura e Serviços, LDA--- 28 

Paul Sapin---------------------------- 36 

— Cellar 266 

ontario 

3

“We push ourselves to 

create unique wines, 

involving the local 

community in the process.” 

4 


ontario 

photo — Virginia, oenologist from La Casa de Lúculo, 

checking barrels of organic wines

spain 

Zaragoza 

Axial Vinos 

Dutchman Louis Geirnaerdt arrived in Spain more than thirty 

years ago as a geologist and completed his PhD in the foothills of 

Somontano. Since then, Louis has worked for and with a number 

of wine producers, developed a passion for Garnacha, and built his 

own winery, Bodem, in Cariñena. 

1246 

La Mirada al Sur, Blanco, DO 

Calatayud, Bodega Virgen de 

la Sierra, 2018 

Macabeo 

$ 15.33 $ 92.00 

La Mirada al Sur Blanco is produced from 

grapes grown on old Macabeo vines 50 to 

100 years in age, planted in the mountains of 

Calatayud in northern Spain. Pale in colour, 

it has an intense aroma of fresh pears which 

jumps out of the glass. It is soft and easydrinking 

with more stone fruit flavours, 

apples and pears combined with some 

minerality on the finish. 

2019-2020, 

M8 D9 

Intense fruit, fresh 

pears 

6°C 

Stone fruit, mineral, [00] 

Thai green mango salad 

— spain 

axial vinos 

5

1247 

La Mirada al Sur, Tinto, DO 

Calatayud, Bodega Virgen de 

la Sierra, 2018 

1248 

Garnacha Tinta 

$ 15.33 $ 92.00 

Esperanza organic Verdejo, 

do Rueda, Bodegas avelino 

Vegas, 2018 

Verdejo 

$ 20.33 $ 122.00 1249 

While a number of 

grape varieties are 

permitted within the 

Calatayud DO, red 

varieties dominate, 

representing 

approximately 83% of 

plantings, Garnacha 

Tinta being the most typical of the region. 

The ancient low bush vines are planted on 

south facing slopes. La Mirada al Sur Tinto 

is a mellow wine with red apple aromas. It is 

smooth with some depth and good youthful 

acidity, finishing with red cherry flavours. 

Red apples 16°C 

Smooth, mellow, red cherries 

Roasted pork tenderloin with cherry 

Garnacha sauce 


M8 D9 

Family-owned Bodegas 

Avelino Vegas, in Santiuste 

de San Juan Bautista, 

is Axial’s partner in 

Rueda. Verdejo grapes for 

Esperanza were grown on 

50-year-old vines on small 

plots around the village. 

Esperanza 2018 is a light to 

medium bodied white with 

intense lemon, lime and flinty aromas. Flavours 

of pears, passionfruit and green apple dance 

and linger on the palate. A short 24-hour skin 

contact preceded fermentation in tank, then the 

wine was matured on lees for two months. 

Lemon, lime, flint 6°C 

Passionfruit, fresh apples, [01] 


M8 D9 

Manchego cheese served on a bed of grilled 

courgette and artichoke salad with toasted 

almonds and citrus dressing 

new 

Jardín de Lúculo Los 

Bohemios, Garnacha 

Atlánticas, DO Navarra, 

la Casa de Lúculo, 2018 

Garnacha 

$ 17.67 $ 106.00 

This wine is dedicated to Lucius Licinius 

Lucullus, a great Roman military leader from 

the first century BC who became so famous 

for his banqueting that the word “Lucullan”, 

meaning lavish or luxurious, is derived 

from his name. Remains of ancient Roman 

wineries can still be seen in the Navarre 

region in northern Spain. Old bush vines are 

cultivated in the lower slopes of the Pyrénées 

Mountains. Grenache grapes were picked in 

October to produce a medium bodied, easydrinking 

wine with good balance and flavours 

of red cherries and red apples. 


M8 D9 

Red berries, red 

apples 

16°C 

Supple, medium bodied 

Pulpo Gallego: Galician grilled octopus 

dressed with olive oil and smoked paprika 

6 


ontario 

photo — Louis Geirnaerdt and Eugenie van Ekeris, 

Axial Vinos and Bodem Bodegas owners

1251 

Javier San Pedro Rández, 

TempraniLLo, DOCa Rioja, 2018, 

Bodegas VaLLobera 

1250 

new 

Oxte The Silence, Red 

Blend, DOP Cariñena, Bodem 

Bodegas, 2017 

Tempranillo 

$ 19.33 $ 116.00 

Tempranillo, Syrah, Garnacha, 

Cabernet Sauvignon 

$ 18.17 $ 109.00 

It was Dutchman Louis Geirnaerdt’s dream 

to build a winery, and after 30 years living 

and working with Spanish wines, that dream 

came to fruition. The winery is located in 

Cariñena, a region which Louis and his wife 

immediately felt connected to, and is named 

Bodem, meaning “soil” in Dutch. Their 

shared passion is for the Garnacha grape, 

which likely originated in what is now the 

Cariñena DO. Louis and co-owner Eugenie 

van Ekeris own seven hectares of vines and 

works with other local families on another 

100 hectares. Oxte combines 25% Garnacha 

with 40% Tempranillo, 25% Syrah and 10% 

Cabernet Sauvignon. It has sweet succulent 

fruit characters with a supple palate and a 

silky texture, finishing with flavours of black 

cherries and a hint of coffee. Each grape 

variety was fermented separately and after 

malolactic fermentation, the wines were 

matured in French and American oak barrels 

for three months. 

Sweet dark fruits 18°C 


M8 D9 

Succulent black cherries, hint of coffee 

Spanish tapas: squid in oil, grilled scallops, 

tomato bread with anchovies, Jamón 

Serrano 

The 2018 Javier San Pedro 

Rández Tempranillo has 

intense plum and red berry 

aromas and is light to 

medium bodied. It has a fine 

smooth texture with a good 

acidity, providing balance 

and a flavoursome finish. 

The San Pedro family have a 

centuries-long heritage of vine growing around 

the medieval village of Laguardia in Rioja 

Alavesa. Javier joined his father’s bulk wine 

business at the age of 14 and always dreamed 

of producing elegant and concentrated wines 

under his own name. Produced from 100% 

Tempranillo, 80% of the grapes were wholebunch 

fermented in open tanks. 

Intense plums, red 

berries 


M8 D9 

18°C 

Fine texture, light to medium bodied 

Buttery roasted chicken with roasted 

vegetables 

photo — Bodem Bodegas, the new winery at 

Almonacid de la Sierra, Aragón, in the Cariñena DOP 

— spain 

axial vinos 

7

8 Cellar 266 — 

ontario

spain 

Toro, Zamora 

Spanish Palate 

Nicola Thornton and Alvaro Martin share a common 

confidence in Spain and its many hectares of 

ancient vines. Together, they set up Spanish Palate 

several years ago with wines produced from small, 

independently-owned wineries that have character 

and give a sense of place. 

“Behind every wine there 

is a remarkable story of 

remarkable people and 

remarkable vineyards. 

There are still so many hidden 

gems in Spain—the world 

should discover them!” 

photo — Spanish Palate gives life to abandoned or 

struggling vineyards and voice to independentlyowned 

wineries that have a unique sense of place. 

— spain 

SPAnish palate 

9

Leonor de Carrera Brut, Traditional 

Method, DO Cava 

Xarel-lo, Macabeo, 

Parellada 

1253 

1254 

$ 22.17 

$ 133.00 

$ 13.17 

$ 158.00 

Winemaker Josep Maria Suriol named 

his Cava after the previous vineyard 

owner. Leonor was born on the estate and 

lived there all her life. Her grandfather 

began making Cava for his family’s own 

consumption in the late 1800s and Leonor 

continued the tradition. She entrusted Josep 

with her legacy. In return, he promised that 

one day he would produce a special Cava 

named after her from grapes grown on 

the 35 hectares of vineyard. Pale in colour, 

Leonor de Carrera Brut is intensely fruity in 

aroma with apples and pears complemented 

by a soft, creamy palate. It is less mineral 

in style than the Clos Montblanc Cava, with 

more focus on fruit and a crisp finish. 

Fresh apples, pears 6°C 


M8 D9 

Creamy texture, pears, crisp finish, [08] 

Escargots à la provençale 

1255 

new 

Mi Tractor Azul, Garnacha 

Tintorera, DO Almansa, 2017 

Garnacha Tintorera 

$ 16.50 $ 99.00 

Dark fruits, spice 18°C 

Savoury, bitter cherry twist 

Roast pork with sweet plantains 


M8 D9 

The Mi Tractor Azul 

range of wines is made 

to express the fruit 

flavours inherent to 

each grape variety and 

the region in which it is 

grown. In this case, it is 

the Garnacha Tintorera 

grape from the Almansa 

region in south-eastern 

Spain. The region has 

always produced intensely coloured wines, 

which in the past were supplied to other 

wine regions and used as a blender to boost 

colour. Mi Tractor Azul Almansa 2017 is an 

intense purple colour. It has ripe dark fruits 

and spices on the nose with a more savoury 

character on the palate. It is medium to fullbodied 

with a lingering bitter cherry flavour. 

There was no use of oak. 

10 


ontario 

photo — Leonor de Carrera´s vineyards bear centuries 

of tradition, slowly adapting to the world around them.

new 

new 

new 

1256 

Alsón MaLBec, DO La Mancha, 

Hacienda aLBae, 2015 

1257 

Doña Juana, Garnacha/ 

Monastrell/Syrah, 

do Jumilla, 2017 

1258 

Cueva del Chamán, RoBLe, 

Garnacha Tintorera, 

do aLMansa, 2017 

Malbec 

Garnacha, Monastrell, Syrah 


$ 18.00 $ 108.00 

$ 18.17 $ 109.00 

$ 18.50 $ 111.00 

I don’t recall ever having tasted a Spanish 

Malbec before. Quick research confirms that 

it is a rare occurrence, with a total of only 

120 hectares planted in the country. Bodegas 

Hacienda Albae is one of only two producers 

to bottle a 100% Malbec wine. Alsón 2015 

has intense aromas of forest fruits, herbs, 

raspberries and fresh grass. It is mellow 

and supple, with red fruit and damson jam 

flavours. The Carpintero family chose to 

plant Malbec in La Mancha due to its ability 

to retain acidity in hot climates and planted 

approximately 10 hectares to Malbec in 2012. 

The vines, located at 700 metres on gravelly, 

sandy and limestone soils are trellised and 

farmed organically. Grapes were harvested 

at night, fermented and then matured for six 

months with new French oak. 

This wine is produced 

from grapes grown on 

old bush vines farmed 

organically with an 

average age of 45 years. 

Doña Juana is a blend 

of Garnacha, Monastrell 

and Syrah in equal 

measure. Each variety 

was harvested and fermented separately. 

The wines were then blended and matured 

in American oak barrels for eight months, 

giving the wine a pronounced spicy, pencil 

lead nose. It is rich and structured, medium 

to full-bodied with a grippy finish. 


M8 D9 

Deep purple 

in colour, ripe 

blackberry and 

blueberry aromas 

mingle with vanilla 

spice and smoky 

notes from four months’ aging with French 

oak. Cueva del Chamán is medium to fullbodied 

with savoury flavours and nutmeg 

and a fine grainy texture, finishing on woody 

notes with lingering bitter cherries. 

Ripe blackberries, 

blueberries, smoky 

bacon 


M8 D9 

18°C 

Vanilla spice, nutmeg, bitter cherries 

Pencil shavings 18°C 

Traditional French Cassoulet 

Oaky, red fruits 

Spanish spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with 

garlic shrimp 


M8 D9 

Forest fruits, 

raspberries, herbs 

18°C 

Red fruit jam, damson 

Shiitake, onion, pepper, and Manchego 

tartlets 

photo — The wonderful underground barrel cellar 

at Hacienda Albae, where a unique range of single 

varietal wines are perfectly aged. 

— spain 


11

1259 

Botas de Barro, Old Vine 

Tempranillo, DO Ribera del 

Duero, 2017 

Tempranillo 

$ 20.00 $ 120.00 

The Duero is one of the 

major rivers of the Iberian 

Peninsula, flowing 897 

kilometres from northern 

central Spain, westwards 

across to Portugal where 

it is known as the Douro, 

out to the Ocean in Porto. 

The Ribera del Duero 

DO is located along the banks of the River 

Duero around the town of Aranda de Duero 

in the province of Burgos. The river plays a 

major factor in the region’s microclimate, 

characterized by large swings between 

day and night-time temperatures. Bright 

in colour, Botas de Barro 2017 Ribera del 

Duero has red fruits, violets and coffee 

aromas. It is relatively light in body with a 

firm acidity developing on the palate and 

finishes with ripe blueberry flavours. Grapes 

came from 100-year-old vines planted on 

sand and gravelly limestone soils. 

Violets, red fruits, 

coffee 

Blueberries 


M8 D9 

18°C 

Lechon (roast suckling pig) with braised red 

cabbage and apples with mashed potatoes 

1260 

Botas de Barro, Tinta de Toro, 

do Toro, 2017 

1261 

Tinta de Toro 

$ 20.00 $ 120.00 

Botas de Barro, Old Vine 

Garnacha, DO Almansa, 2017 


The Toro DO lies downstream from Ribera del 

Duero as the river continues its meandering 

path towards Portugal. Wine has been made 

in Toro since the end of the 1st century BC by 

the ancient Greeks. The town of Toro is also 

famous for founding Spain’s first university 

(which subsequently moved to Salamanca in 

the 13th century). The Toro DO has some of the 

world’s oldest vines at over a hundred years 

old, due mainly to the region’s very sandy 

soils which protected against Phylloxera. 

Botas de Barro Toro 2017 is intensely spicy 

with oak, incense and clove aromas leading 

to a supple palate. Oaky notes are laid over a 

dark succulent fruit background and sweet 

mid palate. Grapes were fermented and 

macerated on skins for seven days followed by 

five months maturation with American oak. 

$ 20.00 $ 120.00 

A fruit salad of aromas 

with blueberries and 

mulberries precedes a 

soft and smooth palate 

brimming with plummy 

fruits, ripe blackberries, 

vanilla and spice. It 

has a grainy texture 

with bitter cherry and 

lingering flavours of 

raspberries and vanilla cream. Grapes were 

picked by hand and underwent a traditional 

fermentation at 30°C with 12 days of 

maceration on skins. It was matured for four 

months in French oak barrels with 15% new. 


M8 D8 


M8 D9 

Spices, oak, incense 18°C 

Mulberries, 

blueberries 

18°C 

Dark fruits, cloves 

Plums, vanilla, blackberries 

Rabo de Toro (Spanish-style oxtail braised in 

tomatoes, red wine and sherry) 

Creamy corn and chorizo-stuffed 

mushrooms 

12 


ontario 

photo — Jesus Fernandez, owner and creator of Rosas 

Negras, takes over from past generations to continue 

to nurture his century-old vines in Toro.

To taste a rare 

Spanish wine, 

order this 

Graciano today. 

1262 

new 

IN, Insolente Graciano, DOCa 

Rioja, Bodegas d. Mateos SL., 

2017 

Graciano 

$ 23.00 $ 138.00 

Graciano is one of five grape varieties 

permitted to produce red Rioja wines (although 

Tempranillo alone accounts for 75% of the 

region’s plantings). The variety is held in high 

esteem, even if it only represents a small 

proportion of vineyards and very few wineries 

produce a single varietal wine such as this. 

This is because Graciano is difficult to grow 

and produces very low yields. Insolente 2017 

has meaty and herbal aromas with woodlands, 

musky spice and dark fruits behind. It is 

medium bodied with more dark fruits on the 

palate leading to a tart blackberry finish with 

some green notes. This is a wine with massive 

personality and depth. The 20-year-old 

vineyard is at Aldeanueva de Ebro in Rioja Baja. 


M7 D8 

Woodlands, musk, 

dark fruit 

18°C 

Blackberries, herbal notes 

Chorizo and lentil stew with Morcilla 

(Spanish blood sausage) 

photo — Urban art project in Toro, a medieval town 

surrounded by some of the world´s oldest vineyards 

— spain 


13

1263 

8 Rosas Negras, Ancient 

Vines, DO Toro, 2016 

1264 

Tinta de Toro 

$ 25.17 $ 151.00 

8 Rosas Negras is a medium to full-bodied 

wine with grippy chewy tannins. It has ripe 

blackcurrant and earthy aromas with more 

savoury flavours on the palate, and bitter 

chocolate and black liquorice lingering 

on the tongue. Tinta de Toro grapes were 

grown on centenarian vines which are widely 

spaced and non-trellised. All the grapes 

were picked by hand between October 7 and 

12, 2016 and underwent a cool maceration 

for four days prior to fermentation. It was 

matured for six months in 50% French and 

50% American oak. 

Casa Do Sol Albariño, DO Rias 

Baixas, El Conde de Castelo, 

2016 

Albariño 

new 

$ 32.50 $ 195.00 

This white wine from 

Rias Baixas in Galicia 

in the north western 

corner of Spain is 

deliciously fresh with 

aromas of stone fruits, 

nectarines and honey. 

It is round and smooth with a firm crisp 

finish. The winery is located in the Ribeira do 

Ulla subzone on a historic estate built in the 

15th century. Produced from 100% Albarino 

grapes, these were left to macerate for a short 

time on skins prior to pressing. Fermentation 

was carried out by natural yeasts and the wine 

aged on lees for ten months. 


M7 D8 


M8 D9 

Blackcurrants, earthy 

spice 

18°C 

Stone fruits, 

nectarines, honey 

6°C 

Savoury, bitter chocolate, liquorice 

Smooth with firm acidity, [00] 

Rib-eye steak with liquorice sauce and 

smoked rutabaga purée 

Grilled lamb loin chops with fig spread and 

portobello mushrooms 

14 


ontario 

photo — At Hacienda Albae´s vineyards, the result of 

over 30 years of careful experimentation has led to 

the planting of unique varietals.

1265 

LoeSS Blanco, DO Rueda, 2018, 

Bodegas Miguel y Ruano 

1266 

LoeSS Inspiration, 

Tempranillo, DO Ribera del 

Duero, 2017, Bodegas Miguel y 

Ruano 

Verdejo 

Tempranillo 

$ 23.67 $ 142.00 

$ 23.83 $ 143.00 

Tasted as a tank sample, the 

wine had not been filtered or 

fined yet. It has aromas of fresh 

apples and a soft creamy texture, 

as well as good mid palate fruit 

with melon, lemon and lime 

flavours. Loess Blanco is 100% 

Verdejo, produced from grapes 

from a selected plot of vines 

planted in Rueda in 1998. The 

four-hectare plot is located on a 

Quaternary terrace overlooking 

the Duero river with vines trained 

along a low vertical trellis and 

drip irrigated. 

A succulent wine, supple with lots of 

blueberry and blackberry flavours. It is 

slightly restrained in aroma but more than 

makes up for it on the palate which is mellow 

and smooth with a long bitter cherry and 

chocolate finish. It is produced from 100% 

Tempranillo with grapes harvested by hand 

in October 2017. It was matured for nine 

months in premium French oak barrels 

using a variety of toasts. Loess is named 

after the soil, a sedimentary soil laid down 

by wind action. The 27.6 hectares of Loess 

vineyards planted in 1998 are located in 

Roa on six distinct plots, each with its own 

characteristics and classified as “excellent” 

for vine growing by the University of Madrid. 


M8 D9 


M7 D8 

Green apples 6°C 

Dark fruits 18°C 

Melon, lemon, lime, [00] 

Succulent blueberries, blackberries, bitter 

cherry, chocolate finish 

Fish tacos with mango salsa 

Cajun Jambalaya 

— spain 


15

16 Cellar 266 — 

ontario

spain 

Madrid 

Vinoselección 

Vinoselección works with wineries large and 

small in many regions across Spain. Here 

are some of my current top picks. 

“We select outstanding 

wines that tell a story and 

come from traditional 

winegrowing regions, but 

also wines from many areas 

yet to be discovered.” 

photo — The Emina Winery in Ribera del Duero is part 

of the famous Matarromera Bodegas Familiares Group 

and represents the modern production line. 

— spain 

VinoSELECCión 

17

new 

1268 

Cyan de Matarromera, DO 

Toro, Bodega Cyan, 2014 

1269 

Emina Prestigio, D.O. Ribera 

del Duero, Bodega Emina, 2016 

Tinta de Toro 

Tempranillo 

$ 19.83 $ 119.00 

$ 23.83 $ 143.00 

Winemaker Carlos Moro has 53 hectares 

of vines on the Valdefinjas farm, located 12 

kilometres from the centre of the town of 

Toro. The farm also grows olives and has 

a pine forest. Soils are low in fertility with 

clay and calcareous components. Produced 

from 100% Tinta de Toro, the Cyan de 

Matarromera 2014 was matured for 

16 months in oak with 60% American and 

40% French barrels and has a distinctly 

woody character with nutmeg and cooked 

fruit aromas. It is supple with blueberries 

and blackberry flavours and a grippy finish. 

Cooked fruits, nutmeg 18°C 


M8 D9 

A succulent and smooth 

wine, it has blackberry 

and blackcurrant fruit 

flavours with a floral 

element. It was matured 

for twelve months in a 

combination of French 

and American oak casks 

with the oak completely integrated with the 

fruit, giving the wine a fine texture. A good 

vintage in Ribera del Duero, 2016 was witness 

to a mild winter followed by a cool and wet 

spring with summer arriving late. When it did 

finally arrive, it was hot and dry but tempered 

by the cool nights. 


M8 D9 

Blueberries, blackberries, toast 

Floral, blackcurrant, 

blackberries 

18°C 

Garden tomato pasta with wine and basil 

Cherries 

Pork lentil soup 

18 


ontario 

photo — Bodegas Valdelacierva is located in the heart 

of Rioja Alta and has 200 hectares of vineyards. Some 

of their vines are 130 years old.

1270 

Sonsierra Crianza, DOCa 

Rioja, Bodegas Sonsierra, 

2015 

Tempranillo 

$ 21.17 $ 127.00 

Located in the old fortified village of San 

Vicente de la Sonsierra on the left bank 

of the Ebro River with splendid views 

across Rioja Alta, Bodegas Sonsierra 

groups together 240 vine growers with 

430 hectares of vines in the foothills of the 

Sierra de Cantabria. 2015 was a very good 

quality vintage and the earliest harvest on 

record in Rioja. This Crianza has mellow 

aromas of cola with black cherries in the 

background. It is medium bodied with fresh 

red cherry fruit flavours. Grapes were 

harvested by hand, macerated for 24 hours 

then fermented. It was matured for twelve 

months in small oak barrels, although the 

oak is not obvious. It is smooth and elegant 

with a long sour cherry and cranberry finish. 


M8 D9 

Cola, black cherry 18°C 

Red cherries, cranberry, redcurrants 

Braised rabbit pappardelle 

photo — These Tempranillo vineyards in Rioja are 

most representative of the region. Tempranillo is the 

dominant grape of Spain’s most famous wine. 

— spain 


19

1271 

Viña Eizaga Crianza, DOCa 

Rioja, Vinos Eizaga, 2016 

Tempranillo 

$ 24.50 $ 147.00 

Coconut, spicy, red 

fruit 

Red berries, liquorice 


M7 D8 

18°C 

Bacalao a la Vizcaína – Biscayan style cod 

Brothers Carlos and Javier 

farm their 40 hectares of family 

vineyards around Laguardia 

and Labastida in Rioja Alavesa. 

The winery, established in 2006, 

produces a small number of 

cases each year. Their Crianza 

2016 has a dominant oak 

character with spicy coconut 

aromas laid over a red fruit 

and floral background. It is 

light on the palate with more 

red fruit and bitter liquorice 

flavours emerging, ending with 

a rustic chewy finish. Produced 

from 100% Tempranillo, it was 

matured in oak for 14 months. 

20 


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top photo — The barrel cellar at Bodegas 

Valdelacierva, where Alfar Vendimia 

Seleccionada is produced in good vintages.

1272 

Alfar Vendimia Seleccionada, 

doca Rioja, 2016, Bodegas 

Valdelacierva 

1273 

Braó, DO Montsant, 2016, 

Acústic Celler 

Tempranillo 

Cariñena, Garnacha 

$ 45.83 $ 275.00 

$ 47.33 $ 284.00 

Alfar Vendimia Seleccionada 

2016 is an intense wine with good 

depth and elegance, requiring 

some cellaring before it reaches 

its optimum for drinking. On the 

nose, black fruits, vanilla, nutmeg 

and cloves give a warm and rich 

impression. On the palate, it is 

medium bodied with some grippy 

tannins, red berry fruits and sour 

cranberry flavours. Bodegas 

Valdelacierva lies in the heart 

of Rioja Alta at Navarette and 

has 200 hectares of vineyards in small plots 

between 25 and 130 years old. In this case, 

grapes were cultivated on 40-year-old bush 

vines cultivated around Briones and Baños de 

Ebro. After maceration for three days, wines 

were fermented then racked into new French 

oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 

spent 12 months maturing in barrel. 

Black fruits, vanilla, 

nutmeg 

Cloves, red berries, grippy finish 

Roast leg of lamb 

Looking for 

an elegant wine? 

Any of these from 

Vinoselección 

2020-2026, 

M6 D7 

18°C 

A medium to full-bodied wine, dense in 

colour with mellow fruit aromas, Braó 2016 

combines aromas of fresh blueberries, vanilla 

and strawberry leaf. On the palate, flavours of 

sour cherries and blackberries show through 

and the wine has a powdery texture with a 

dry finish. Albert Jané is passionate about 

old vines, and for Braó he works with 60 to 

80-year-old vines around Montsant cultivated 

at between 300 and 700 metres in altitude. 

The stony terroir is harsh and barren, and 

so the ancient twisted vines have had to toil 

to extract the nutrients and water required 

to survive – hence the name Braó, meaning 

courage and strength. Grapes were harvested 

by hand with a strict selection in the vineyard 

and picked into small 20-kilo cases. Grapes 

were macerated and fermented with punching 

down of the skins each day. It was matured 

for thirteen months in new and one-year old 

lightly toasted French oak barrels. 

will impress! 

2020-2024, 

M6 D8 

Mellow, blueberries, 

strawberry leaf, 

vanilla 

Sour cherry, blackberries 

18°C 

Peppery Catalan sausage (salchichón de Vic) 

with ratatouille 

— spain 


21

22 Cellar 266 — 

ontario

spain 

Montblanc, Barberà 

de la Conca, Catalonia 

Bodegas 

Concavins 

Bodegas Concavins is based in Barberà de la Conca 

in northern Catalonia, close to the fortified town 

of Montblanc. The area around Montblanc shows 

evidence of habitation in cave dwellings dating back 

to Palaeolithic times. Wine production was probably 

introduced to the region by ancient Romans but 

disappeared with the Moors. The family-owned winery 

is also close to Poblet Monastery, which was founded 

by Cistercian monks from France in 1151 and was 

hugely significant in the region. It is where many kings 

and queens from Aragon were buried over centuries. 

“We support clean 

technologies and respect the 

environment, so 100% of the 

water we use is rainwater.” 

photo — Aerial view of the vineyards of Mas Vidal 

farmhouse. The Prades Mountains stand in the 

background. 

— spain 

bodegas conCAVins 

23

1274 

Montblanc 362, Brut Cava 

Reserva, Mètode Tradicional, 

DO Cava 

Macabeu, Xarel-lo, Parellada 

$ 20.00 $ 120.00 

As sparkling wine sales around the world 

continue to be buoyant, Spain’s most famous 

bubbly, Cava, represents great value. The 

Penedès region has a history of sparkling wine 

production dating back to the 1870s, and uses 

the same method as in Champagne. Indeed, 

it was Catalan winemakers who invented the 

gyropalette – a mechanized way to gather 

fermentation lees in the neck of the bottle – 

which is now widely used in the French region. 

Montblanc 362 has aromas of sherbet, lime 

and fresh apples with a crisp fresh acidity. It 

was produced from a blend of 50% Macabeu, 

30% Xarel-lo and 20% Parellada. 


M8 D9 

Lime, sherbet 6°C 

Fresh green apples, crisp, [02] 

Revuelto de langosta: lobster and asparagus 

soft-cooked eggs with oyster Cava cream 

24 


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top photo — “Masia Les Comes”, the Carbonell family 

country house, dates back to the 18th century. It is 

where the family’s wine tradition originated.

1276 

MontBLanc 362 Rosat, DO 

Catalunya, 2018 

Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Trepat 

$ 15.83 $ 95.00 

message 

Bright raspberry pink in colour, Montblanc 

362 Rosat is made from a combination of 

Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Trepat grapes. It 

has aromas of strawberries and raspberries 

and other red berry fruits leading to a soft 

round palate with an herbal edge. A wine with 

good depth and persistent cherry flavour. 

1275 

Montblanc 362 Macabeu/ 

Chardonnay, DO Catalunya, 

2018 

Macabeu, Chardonnay 

$ 15.83 $ 95.00 

Tasted as a tank 

sample before fining 

and filtration, the 2018 

has lots of appeal with 

aromas of fresh lime 

and lemon fruits. On 

the palate it displays 

more citrus character 

with a crisp green apple finish. It is a blend 

of Macabeu and Chardonnay which was 

fermented in stainless steel tanks to create 

a dry wine. 

Lemon, lime 6°C 


M8 D9 

Raspberries, 

strawberries 


M8 D9 

6°C 

Green apples, citrus, [01] 

Red fruits, cherries, [00] 

Grilled shrimp tostadas with apple and 

mango salsa 

Seared tuna loin with avocado, soy, ginger 

and lime salsa and fresh cilantro leaves 

bottom photo — Josep Vadrí, winemaker of 

Clos Montblanc, has been working in the 

cellar for more than 30 years. 

— spain 


25

1277 

MontBLanc 362 TempraniLLo/ 

Cabernet, DO Catalunya, 2018 

1278 

Tempranillo, Cabernet 

Sauvignon 

$ 15.67 $ 94.00 

new 

MontBLanc 362 Selecció, DO 

Catalunya, 2016 

Merlot, Garnacha, Cabernet 

Sauvignon, Cariñena 

$ 18.17 $ 109.00 

Predominantly 

Tempranillo with 15% 

Cabernet Sauvignon, 

this wine is deep in 

colour with aromas of 

dark and juicy fruits. It 

is medium bodied with 

a floral finish. Grapes 

came from vines approximately fifteen years 

old and were harvested in September for the 

Tempranillo, and mid-October for the Cabernet 

Sauvignon. It was aged in old oak barrels for a 

couple of months prior to bottling. 

Dark fruits 18°C 


M8 D9 

This is a medium bodied, well-structured 

wine with some complex aromas of ripe 

cooked fruits, blackberry jam, vanilla 

and spices. It is smooth with nice mellow 

fruits mid palate and lingering flavours of 

succulent cherries and other juicy fruits. It is 

a blend of four grape varieties grown in four 

distinct vineyards. Grapes were fermented in 

stainless steel tanks followed by maturation 

for four months in old American and French 

oak barrels. 

Ripe cooked fruits, 

blackberry jam, 

vanilla 

Cherries 


M8 D9 

18°C 

Floral, juicy fruit 

Sirloin skewers with sherry vinegar steak 

sauce and grilled scallions 

Albondigas in smoky red pepper and tomato 

sauce (Spanish meatballs) 

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photo — Barrel room in the Clos Montblanc winery 

where there are more than 1000 barrels in total, 

made of French and American oak.

1279 

MontBLanc 362 Syrah/Samsó, 

do Conca de Barberà, 2016 

1280 

Samsó, Syrah 

$ 19.17 $ 115.00 

MontBLanc 362 Trepat, D.O. 

Conca de Barberà, 2015 

Trepat 

new 

$ 23.67 $ 142.00 

Syrah and samsó 

(aka Carignan) were 

cultivated on black 

slate and quartz soils 

known as Llicorella, 

producing a savoury 

wine. It is restrained 

on the nose with a firm 

palate with dark fruits, dried herbs and bitter 

treacle flavours. Tannins and acidity come 

together to produce a grippy finish which 

should mellow with some keeping. It spent 

12 months in new and used oak barrels. 

Trepat is an indigenous variety to the 

Conca de Barberà region. It produces large 

compact bunches of thick-skinned grapes 

and is mainly used for rosé or light red 

wine production. In this instance, a much 

more ambitious wine has been produced, 

with good mid palate weight, cooked forest 

fruit characters and grippy tannins. It was 

produced from a single 1.5-hectare vineyard 

of 50-year-old vines and has aromas of 

sour blackberries and cola. Grapes were 

harvested by hand and the wine matured in 

French and American oak barrels. 


M8 D8 


M8 D9 

Savoury, some fruit 18°C 

Woody, vanilla, cooked 

forest fruits 

18°C 

Dried herbs, dark fruits, treacle 

Blackberries, cola 

Venison loin with beet and garlic purée, 

Brussels sprouts, roasted beets and oyster 

mushrooms 

Duck breast with spelt, potatoes and 

smoked blueberry coulis 

— spain 


27

28 Cellar 266 — 

ontario

Portugal 

Carvoeira 

JAPG 

Vitivinicultura 

e Serviços, LDA 

José Gaspar is a winemaker and consultant who has 

worked in most regions in Portugal. Having spent 

many years based in the Douro making port, he 

returned to Lisbon. Many of the wines offered are 

made from indigenous Portuguese varieties which 

are not found or planted anywhere else in the world 

and which make distinctive wines with personality. 

“To make a good wine, 

we must love wine. But 

experience, know-how, 

dedication and sensibility 

also need to be part of the 

equation.” 

– José Gaspar 

photo — The Douro Valley is the home of port. A wide 

range of terroirs are enclosed in the mountainous 

landscape. 

— portugal 

JAPG VitiviniCULtura e Serviços, LDA 

29

1281 

1283 

new 

Miranda Branco, DOC Vinho 

Verde, 2018, Caves Campelo 

Talentus, Vinho Regional 

1282 LiSBoa, JAPG Lda, 2017 

Loureiro, Trajadura, Arinto 

Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, 

Touriga Nacional 

$ 15.50 $ 93.00 

$ 17.33 $ 104.00 

Quinta da Giesta, DOC Dão, 

Boas Quintas, 2016 

Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Tinta 

Roriz 

$ 23.17 $ 139.00 

The Dão region is where it all started for 

winemaker Nuno Cancela de Abreu. His 

family had been farming land in Dão and 

making wines there for over 130 years. 

The region is surrounded by mountains 

and generally protected from the extreme 

continental climate as well as the influence of 

the Ocean. Quinta da Giesta, in Mortágua in 

the Dão region, is surrounded by 12 hectares 

of vineyards. This blend of three indigenous 

varieties is vibrant in colour with aromas of 

blackberry, raspberries, coffee and herbs. 

It is light to medium bodied with some firm 

tannins and a long bitter cherry herbal finish. 

Vinho Verde is a light white 

with a bit of spritz. Coming 

from the northern region of 

Portugal, it is a blend of three 

indigenous white varieties – 

40% Loureiro, 30% Trajadura 

and 30% Arinto. The 2018 has a 

lemon sherbet character with 

a hint of green leaves. It has 

a marked acidity with a crisp 

sour lemon finish. 

The hot dry summer 

of 2017 shows through 

in Dona Carlota with 

some dried fruits, dates 

and raisin flavours. It is 

intense in colour with 

some red fruit and treacle 

aromas which lead to a 

light-bodied wine. It was 

aged for three months in oak barrels. 


M8 D9 


M8 D9 


M7 D9 

Green leaves 6°C 

Red fruit, treacle 16°C 

Blackberries, 

raspberries, coffee 

18°C 

Lemon sherbet, crisp, [02] 

Dates, raisins 

Bitter cherries, herbs 

Korean chicken japchae 

Slow-grilled rack of lamb with mustard, 

herbs and apricots 

Lamb pie with mint 

30 


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1284 

Cabeço da Pedra, Vinho 

Regional Tejo, Encosta do 

Sobral, 2016 

1285 

Aragonez, Castelão 

$ 18.33 $ 110.00 

new 

Encosta do Sobral, Touriga 

Nacional, Vinho Regional 

Tejo, 2015 


$ 30.00 $ 180.00 

Tejo is one of the oldest wine regions in the 

country and for the Portuguese conjures 

up images of vineyards, olive groves, cork 

forests and Pure Blood Lusitano horses. 

Encosta do Sobral is located in the far 

north of the region, close to Tomar. Dark 

fruit aromas are complemented with those 

of coffee and milk chocolate. This is a rich 

supple wine, medium bodied with ripe fruits, 

spices and tobacco. It is a blend of Aragonez 

(Tempranillo) and Castelão – a very old red 

Portuguese variety that is almost exclusively 

cultivated in the country. It was matured with 

oak for eight months. 

Coffee, milk 

chocolate, dark fruit 

Succulent fruits, tobacco 


M8 D9 

18°C 

Pasta with tomatoes and braised beef 

Of all the indigenous 

grape varieties in 

Portugal, Touriga 

Nacional is the one 

consistently winning 

acclaim. Winemaker 

Pedro Sereno’s 2015 

Touriga Nacional has 

produced a fragrant, 

rich and tannic wine. Aromas of coffee and 

lavender with a slightly savoury edge lead 

to a palate brimming with dark fruits, fresh 

blackcurrants and blackberries. The wine 

has a firm chewiness to it which is perfectly 

balanced by the dark fruit. It ends with a 

grippy finish and dark chocolate flavours and 

will repay some keeping. Matured for twelve 

months in French oak barrels. 

Lavender, coffee 18°C 


M7 D8 

Blackcurrants, blackberries, dark chocolate 

Shepherd’s pie 

photo — Boas Quintas in Dão has been sustainably 

developed since 2010. 

— portugal 


31

mixed case 

A mixed case with three vintages of Encosta 

do Sobral’s Vale Castelo Reserva. Each 

year, the wine is a blend of 40% Touriga 

Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca and 20% 

Trincadeira. The wine is matured in French 

oak barrels for approximately twelve 

months. 

Two bottles each 

2015, 2016 & 2017 

1286 

Vale do Castelo Reserva, 

Vinho Regional Tejo 

$ 30.00 $ 180.00 

Vale do Castelo Reserva, Vinho Regional 

Tejo, 2015 


Tejo, 2016 


Tejo, 2017 

Touriga Nacional, Touriga 

Franca, Trincadeira 





The 2015 has restrained 

floral aromas and 

raspberry jam, dried 

fruits, figs and a hint 

of smoke. It is light to 

medium bodied with 

a good acidity and 

flavours of juicy dark 

fruits, finishing with a 

long bitter cherry finish. A cool dry spring 

was followed by a hot summer allowing full 

maturation of grapes. 

Mellow fruit aromas 

and a weightier palate 

characterize the 2016 

and make it my favourite 

of the three vintages in 

the line-up. It is a juicy 

and succulent wine with 

good body and a bitter 

chocolate and cherry 

finish with some potential for cellaring. A 

warm summer in 2016 produced a belowaverage 

crop in terms of quantity. 

2017 was a very early 

vintage due to early 

budbreak in spring 

and good conditions 

throughout the growing 

season. Deep vibrant 

plum in colour, the 2017 

is muted for the moment 

with some fruits – red 

apples and red cherries – preceding a soft 

supple palate. It is lighter in structure than the 

2016 with a fine texture and a long fruity finish. 


M7 D9 


M7 D9 


M7 D8 

Floral, raspberry jam, 

smoke 

18°C 

Mellow fruits 18°C 

Restrained, red 

apples, red cherries 

18°C 

Dark fruits, figs, bitter cherry 

Succulent juicy fruits, bitter chocolate, bitter 

cherries 

Fine texture 

Portuguese-style beef stew 

Cuban-style pork with beans and plantains 

Beef tenderloin with blue cheese mashed 

potatoes 

32 


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1287 

Estopa Reserva Tinto, DOC 

Douro, Gesprove, 2015 

Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, 


$ 23.83 $ 143.00 1288 

Deep purple in colour, 

Estopa Reserva 2015 has 

mellow aromas of black 

cherries with a touch of 

smoke. It is smooth in 

texture with juicy fruits 

and good depth, finishing 

on bitter chocolate and 

cherry notes. Grapes were 

grown on vines planted 15 years ago on steep 

terraces in the Cima Corgo (Upper Corgo) 

sub-region of the Douro. Grapes were picked, 

de-stemmed and crushed. After fermentation 

at 22 to 23°C, the wine was matured in new 

French oak barrels for six months. 

Black cherries, smoky 18°C 

Bitter chocolate, black cherry 

Traditional Cornish pasty 


M8 D9 

Abastado Grande Reserva 

Tinto, DOC Douro, Gesprove, 

2013 

Touriga Nacional, Souzão, 

Touriga Franca 

$ 39.67 $ 238.00 

An immensely appealing wine with bags 

of personality. It is intense in colour with a 

warming mellow bouquet with dark fruits, a 

hint of fresh leather and warm puppy. It is soft 

and smooth, rich and full-bodied. Supple fruit 

and black cherry flavours are complemented 

by smoke and soot. It has a fine texture and 

is delicious to drink now with the potential 

for some cellaring. The majority of the blend 

is 80% Touriga Nacional with 19% Souzão 

and 1% Touriga Franca grown on terraced 

schist soils in the Douro Superior subregion. 

Grapes were destemmed, crushed 

and fermented at 22 to 25°C. The wine was 

matured in new French oak barrels for twelve 

months and was bottled in June 2015. 


M7 D9 

Mellow bouquet, dark 

fruits, hint of leather 

18°C 

Black cherries, smoke 

Spicy chickpea and spinach stew 

photo —José Gaspar started making wine 45 years 

ago in the Douro Valley. 

— portugal 


33

Soneto Porto, Reserva Especial, Gesprove 

Soneto Porto, Reserva Tawny, Gesprove 

Soneto Porto, Late Bottled Vintage, 2009, 

Gesprove 

Blend of traditional Douro 

grape varieties 





A good ruby port, dense plum in colour with 

ripe fruits, plums, apples, almonds and herbal 

aromas. The palate has more focus on fruit 

with a medium body and a long bitter marzipan 

finish. Grapes were crushed and fermented 

for two to three days, and the fermentation 

was arrested by the addition of wine brandy, 

producing a port with 19.5% alcohol and over 

100 grams of residual sweetness. It was aged 

in old casks for three years. 

Ripe fruits, plums, 

apples, almond, herbs 

Marzipan, [08] 

Ready to 

drink 

18°C 

Blue cheeses: Stilton, Roquefort, Gorgonzola 

and Fourme d’Ambert 

Tawny ports generally spend a much longer 

time aging in oak casks. Their colour 

becomes paler and more orangey in hue. 

Soneto Reserva Tawny spent eight years in 

old casks and has a translucent orange ruby 

colour. Nutty and apricot aromas are intense 

with more smoky treacle flavours coming 

through in the mouth. It is sweet with a good 

bitter finish and some grip. 

Ready to 

drink 

Nutty, apricot 18°C 

Smoky, treacle, [07] 

Chocolate lava cake 

This Late Bottled Vintage port has a bouquet 

with black cherries and marzipan with a 

leafy edge. There are raisins and a hint of 

earth. On the palate it is full-bodied with 

good depth. Juicy fruits are offset by a grippy 

finish. This wine has a more complex and 

weighty style with lingering bitter cherry 

flavours. 

Black cherries, 

marzipan, raisins, 

herbs, hint of earth 

Juicy fruits, bitter cherries, [08] 

Fresh fig and port sorbet 

Enjoy for 

the next 

decade 

18°C 

evolution 

aroma 16 °C 

taste 

ideal with 

34 


ontario

mixed case 

1289 Soneto Porto 

$ 35.33 $ 212.00 

Two bottles each 

Reserva Especial, 

Reserva Tawny, & 

Late Bottled Vintage 

2009 

1290 

Soneto Porto, Vintage 2016, 

Gesprove 



$ 60.33 $ 362.00 

Produced from the highest quality grapes 

from a single year and only released in the 

best years, Vintage Port is the pinnacle of 

quality and 2016 was a great year – rare in 

that all the top port houses declared a vintage. 

Dense with a solid purple colour, Soneto 2016 

has herbs, mint, black cherries, pipe tobacco 

and spicy aromas. It is rich and sweet, fullbodied 

with succulent fruits, chocolate and a 

fine-grained texture with a powdery finish. It 

should evolve for decades. A cold, wet spring 

was followed by a hot dry summer with some 

rain in September. The result was low yields 

but of very high-quality grapes. 

Enjoy over 

the next 2 

decades 

Herbs, mint, black 

cherries, spice 

18°C 

Rich, succulent, [08] 

Linzertorte 

photos— Gesprove has established partnerships with 

producers with raw materials that allow them to 

achieve great quality wines. 

— portugal 


35

36 


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photo — The vineyards of AOC Saint-Véran extend 

over eight villages in southern Burgundy.

FRAnce 

Mâcon 

Southern Burgundy 

Paul Sapin 

The Mâconnais region is the most Southern part of Burgundy. It starts at Tournus 

and runs approximately 50 kilometres southwards to the villages of Pouilly, Fuissé 

and Saint-Vérand just south of Mâcon. As with the rest of Burgundy, limestone 

soils predominate with layers of marl, silt and gravel. 2018 saw a good crop of 

grapes for the second year running with no frost or hail. Both 2017 and 2018 

vintage wines are showing well. 

Paul Sapin wines 

are known for their 

value & quality. 

1292 

Cœur des Lanciers Blanc, Vin 

de France 

1293 

Chardonnay, Colombard 

$ 11.33 $ 136.00 

White and pink grapefruit aromas give Coeur 

des Lanciers lots of appeal. It is crisp and 

tangy on the palate with gooseberry and 

lemon flavours. 

Cœur des Lanciers Rosé, Vin 

de France 

1294 

Grenache 

$ 11.33 $ 136.00 

Cœur des Lanciers 

Rosé is pale pink in 

colour with pears, 

strawberries and 

cream and sour 

cherry flavours 

with a good acidity. 

Grenache grapes were grown in the Côtes de 

Gascogne in south-west France. 

Cœur des Lanciers Rouge, Vin 

de France 

Merlot 

$ 11.33 $ 136.00 

Herbal leafy and 

floral aromas lead 

to more savoury 

flavours on the 

palate. This is a 

medium to fullbodied 

wine with 

firm tannins and a grippy bitter fruit finish. 

Pink grapefruit 6°C 


M8 D9 

Pears 6°C 


M8 D9 

Herbal, leaves, floral 18°C 


M8 D9 

Gooseberry, lemon, [01] 

Sour cherries, strawberries and cream, [01] 

Savoury 

Sea scallop persillade 

Pizza napolitana 

Beet salad with warm goat cheese 

— mâcon 

PAUL sapin 

37

new 

1295 

Paul Sapin Mâcon-Villages, 

La Collection, AOP, 2018 

1296 

Chardonnay 

$ 22.50 $ 135.00 

Paul Sapin Mâcon, La 

Collection, aop, 2018 

Gamay 

$ 20.67 $ 124.00 

1297 

Paul Sapin Saint-Véran, La 

Collection, aop, 2018 

Chardonnay 

$ 29.33 $ 176.00 

A light and refreshing 

white from the 

Mâconnais with 

aromas of hazelnuts 

and nectarines. It 

has fresh white fruits 

and lemony flavours 

with a crisp acidity 

and some citrus pith 

giving length. 

Nectarine, hazelnuts 6°C 


M8 D9 

This red Mâcon wine 

was made from 

Gamay grapes which 

underwent some 

carbonic fermentation 

and was fermented 

at low temperature 

then bottled early to 

maximise its fruity character. It is bright ruby 

in colour with soft red fruit aromas. A light 

to medium bodied wine, it is supple with fine 

tannins and a grippy acidity. 


M8 D9 

White fruits, lemon, [00] 

Soft red fruits 14°C 

Blanquette de veau (white veal stew) 

Supple 

Beef carpaccio with arugula and Parmesan 

cheese 

Quite restrained as a young wine, the 2018 

has some floral and pear aromas with 

mineral and wet earth notes. It is crisp 

with lingering lemon and lime flavours. 

The appellation takes its name after the 

village of Saint-Vérand in the far south of the 

Mâconnais region. Part of the grapes were 

vinified in barrels, and the balance in tank 

with some short skin contact. 


M8 D9 

Floral, wet earth 6°C 

Pears, lemons, [00] 

Seafood risotto 

38 


ontario 

photo — Thierry Coulon observes the grapes in the 

vineyard near Château de Pierreclos in the Mâconnais.

Domaine Mont- 

Saint-Gilbert 

Domaine Mont-Saint-Gilbert is 

located in the Mâconnais at Davayé 

and consists of approximately 40 

hectares of vineyards located in both 

the Mâconnais and Beaujolais regions. 

Sébastien Collonge manages the 

estate and makes the wines. 

new 

1298 

Domaine Mont Saint-Gilbert, 

aop Mâcon-Villages, Vin de 

Bourgogne, 2017 

Chardonnay 

$ 27.67 $ 166.00 

1299 

new 


aop Saint-Véran, Vin de 

Bourgogne, 2017 

Chardonnay 

1300 

new 


aop Pouilly-FuiSSé, Vin de 

Bourgogne 2017 

Ripe tropical fruit 

aromas of ripe 

nectarines and 

pineapple are 

complemented by 

a malted biscuit 

character adding 

complexity. It is smooth on the palate 

with more flavours of fresh stone fruits 

emerging and a limey finish. After pressing 

and clarification of the grape must, it was 

fermented at low temperature and then aged 

on lees for six months in tank. 

$ 34.33 $ 206.00 

Butterscotch 

aromas with yogurt 

and lemon make up 

a mellow bouquet 

followed by toffee 

and banana flavours 

on the palate. It 

has more mid palate richness than the 

Mâcon-Villages with a broader structure and 

persistent finish. Delicious for drinking now. 

Chardonnay 

$ 45.50 $ 273.00 

Ripe fruits, passionfruit and clementine with 

a bit of aniseed give immediate pleasure. 

This wine has good weight and mid palate 

with a firm sour citrus finish and flavours of 

clementine, orange and orange peel giving 

bitterness and length. A white wine with 

more potential for cellaring, it was matured 

in oak barrels for twelve months. 


M8 D9 


M8 D9 


M7 D9 

Ripe nectarines, 

pineapple, malted 

biscuit 

6°C 

Lemon, yogurt, 

butterscotch 

6°C 

Passionfruit, 

clementine, aniseed 

6°C 

Stone fruits, lime, [00] 

Banana, toffee, [00] 

Orange, clementine, orange peel, [00] 

Warm salmon with beurre blanc sauce 

Foie gras toasts with goat cheese and 

beetroot 

Orange lobster tail 

photo —The Rock of Solutré, emblematic of the 

Mâconnais, has been inhabited since Paleolithic times. 

— mâcon 

PAUL sapin 

39

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 opimian.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 Axial Vinos. 

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. 


The Select Plus supplier for this cellar offering is JAPG Vitivinicultura e Serviços, LDA. 

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. 


The Founders’ Choice supplier for this cellar offering is Spanish Palate. 

www.Opimian.ca 

MemberService@Opimian.ca 

#300 - 2170 René-Lévesque West, Montreal QC H3H 2T8 

T: 514-483-5551 or 800-361-9421 F: 514-481-9699

02

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