Chateau Lamargue Costieres de Nimes Blanc 2004
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The color is a pale lemon with green reflections. The bouquet displays mineral notes combined with intense aromas of exotic fruit and white flowers. It's round Taste Round and fresh, with a good balance of fruit, acidity and alcohol.
Located in France's southern Rhône Valley, Château Lamargue (Lah-Marg) comprises 210 acres of vineyard in the up-and-coming Costières de Nîmes appellation. The estate boasts a showcase winery equipped with the most advanced winemaking technology as well as new French and American oak barriques. Investment to date stands at over $12 million dollars. Their Costières de Nîmes AOC wines come from vineyards where yields are approximately one bottle of wine per vine.
Chateau Lamargue in this up-and-coming appellation in France's southern Rhône Valley was established in 1999. The property, which was purchased in 2001 by Campari, includes 85 hectares (210 acres) of vineyards planted in an array of grape varieties, notably Syrah.
Chateau Lamargue boasts a new showcase winery equipped with the most advanced winemaking technology. The estate's vineyards have undergone a similarly thorough rehabilitation, as have Lamargue's aging cellars (chais), which are now replete with all-new French and American oak barriques.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.