2017

Southern Rhône: The Elegant and lively 2015s and heavenly 2016s


Located in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, Château de Nages is the family estate of Michel Gassier. This is unquestionably the leading estate in the appellation and shows what’s possible with this terroir. These are beautiful wines readers shouldn’t miss.

2015 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes JT                94 pts
Bottled but not released yet, the 2015 Costières de Nîmes JT is 95% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, always from the same plot, that was fermented with 40% whole clusters. It offers gorgeous notes of blackberries, violets, hints of olive and even a touch of bacon fat, medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish. Reminding me of a top Crozes-Hermitage, it’s seriously good.

2015 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes Vieilles Vignes         92 pts
The 2015 Costières de Nîmes Vieilles Vignes reminds me of a top Côtes du Rhône from the likes of Janasse with its currants, black raspberry, spice, and licorice aromas and flavors. Rich, weighty, layered and even sexy on the palate, it has classic Grenache character, loads of fruit and a great finish. It’s just another incredible wine – and value – from this estate.

2016 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes Blanc JT                 95 pts
An absolutely sensational wine that reminds me of a Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc from Beaucastel, the 2016 Costières de Nîmes Blanc JT is unquestionably the finest white from this estate to date. Honeysuckle, white flowers, white peach, and citrus oil notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s rich, textured and unctuous on the palate, with full-bodied richness and depth. Layered, multi-dimensional and long, hats off to the team for this smoking effort! This cuvée is 60% Roussanne and 20% each of Grenache Blanc and Viognier, aged on lees in 500-liter barrels.

2016 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes Blanc Vieilles Vignes          91 pts
More classic southern Rhône in style, with notes of buttered peach, citrus blossom and hints of tangerine all emerge from the 2016 Costières de Nîmes Blanc Vieilles Vignes, and it’s rich, balanced and layered on the palate. Made from mostly Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, it’s another terrific white from this team that over delivers.

2016 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes Blanc ButiNages             90 pts
Sporting a light gold color, the 2016 Costières de Nîmes Blanc ButiNages offers lots of lychee, flower oil, and white grapefruit (reminds me of an Alsatian Riesling) in a deliciously fresh, clean style. Made from 609% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne, drink this exotic, perfumed white over the coming year or three.

2016 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes JT             (92-94 pts)
Another monster of a wine, the 2016 Costières de Nîmes JT (95% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, fermented with plenty of stems and aged in equal parts barrel and concrete tank) gives up incredible notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, peppery spice, and chocolate. Rich, full-bodied, unctuous and concentrated on the palate, with ripe tannin, it’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate, yet also evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade.

2016 Château de Nages Costières de Nîmes Vieilles Vignes           (91-93 pts)
A blend of 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Carignan, the inky colored 2016 Costières de Nîmes Vieilles Vignes gives up terrific notes of blackberries, plums, crushed rock-like minerality and ample roasted herbs. Big, fat and opulent, with beautiful purity of fruit, it’s a serious wine as well as a stunning value. It has enough ripe tannin to evolve gracefully through 2026.

– October 2017

  • Chemin des Canaux
  • 30132 Caissargues
  • France
  • Tel: +33 4 66 38 44 30
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