Don't Miss Out On This Gorgeous Overlooked Appellation

Today's wine topic is the Costieres de Nîmes appellation in Southern France. In case this region hasn't made your radar yet, we thought we'd offer a little primer and then bust out a GORGEOUS and THRILLING bombshell (not our words!) to prove our point. Grin.

Costieres de Nîmes is a gem of a value-priced appellation in the southernmost portion of the Southern Rhône Valley. It used to be considered part of the Languedoc, but that changed when the wines were identified to be much closer in climate, soil and topography to those of the Rhône Valley. Appellations are kind of fun like that, in an anti-static, fluid kind of way.

Grenache is king here and it must represent at least 25% of any red produced in the appellation (we like that). Other grapes you'll commonly find in red blends here include Carignan, Syrah and Mourvedre. At one time Costieres de Nîmes was considered to be a zone for bulk wine production, but you can now find wines produced here with depth, quality and texture if you know where to look. Local wine geeks to the rescue!!!

Michel Gassier Nostre Pais Rouge 2012

Here's what the importer, Eric Solomon's European Cellars, has to say about this remarkable producer:

"With encyclopedic knowledge of the wines and terroirs of the Rhône Valley as well as his native Costieres de Nîmes, Michel Gassier is a restless and innovative vigneron. Usually inquisitive personalities like Michel start as outsiders, enfants terribles, iconoclasts. Such is not the case with Michel, whose family has been growing grapes and making wine in the Costieres de Nîmes for four generations. Together with his wife Tina, they are helping to establish a new level of quality for Costieres de Nîmes without forsaking the uniqueness of their terroir.

They have achieved this through nurturing their land, farming organically, promoting biodiversity, and respecting their employees as much as their vines. They are proponents of indigenous varieties and taking advantage of the diversity of climates to make wines that are dense and pure but elegantly balanced."

And now a few thoughts on the wine itself from the powerhouse reviewer Wine Advocate:

"My favorite vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2012 Nostre Pais Costieres de Nimes comes from the southern, cooler part of the appellation and was bottled in June of this year. A blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and the balance Carignan and Cinsault, it was fermented with 25-50% whole clusters and aged half in 1-2 year old demi-muids and half in concrete tanks.

Gorgeous black raspberry, cassis, licorice, wild herbs and crushed flowers all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, seamless and thrillingly pure 2012. Possessing fantastic complexity, freshness and textured, it's an incredible wine from this often overlooked appellation. Drink it over the coming 3-5 years." (Wine Advocate)

Wine Advocate: 93 - 94 points

Superstar Winemaker Michel Gassier (with your favorite wine merchants)

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