Winemaker Notes
Deep red with violet highlights. Pure and complex, the black fruit, cherry, and hot stones, are released with a bit of aeration. The dense & velvety body fills the palate and reveals notes of cacao, dried herbs and pencil lead. The fresh and fruity finish is heightened by mineral notes and fine tannins.
Blend: 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Carignan, 5% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2017 Costières De Nîmes Nostre Païs, and I think it’s a step up over the 2018. Based on 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Carignan, from the cooler, southern part of the appellation, it offers complex notes of sweet red and black fruits, ground herbs, incense, and peppery spice. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and layered, with sweet tannins, it would easily stand beside wines running 2-3 times the price in a blind tasting.
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Wine Enthusiast
This perfumed blend of Grenache (55%) and Syrah (25%) is accented by smaller proportions of Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault. Voluptuous black-plum and preserved-strawberry flavors are swathed by layers of wild thyme, mint and earth. Concentrated yet freshened by redcherry acidity, this softly tannic sip should drink at peak through 2026.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh and direct, with cherry and raspberry coulis notes that stretch out with red licorice and a flash of apple wood through the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault. Drink now.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Gently rolling hills covered by large, round stones on south-facing slopes, Costieres de Nimes is a substantial IGP zone that was formerly considered part of the Languedoc. Today it is included as a section of the southern Rhone; its climate, topography and wines put it more in line with that appellation. Grenache is its most important red variety, along with Mourvedre, Syrah and Carignan. Half of the production here is rosé.