Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Costières de Nîmes Lou Coucardié checks in 49% Mourvèdre, 35% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, with the Mourvèdre and Syrah brought up in barrels and the full blend aged in demi-muids for a year. It's still ruby, almost purple-hued and has a beautifully fresh, lively perfume of darker berries, ground pepper, sandalwood, and crushed violets. It reminds me of an old school Côte Rôtie with its meaty, spicy, complex profile, and it’s medium-bodied on the palate, with solid tannins and the fresher, focused, austere style of the vintage.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Seeing just under two years in barrel, the 2013 Costières de Nîmes Lou Coucardie is 50% Mourvèdre, with the balance Grenache and Syrah. It was fermented with 40% whole clusters and aged all in 500-liter barrels and demi-muids. Tight, structured and tannic, with medium to full-bodied richness, it offers notions of liquid blackberries, leather, chocolate, graphite and crushed rock. It’s good, but it needs 2-3 years of cellar, at which point I suspect it will merit an even higher rating. It will have 10-15 years of longevity. Rating: 93+ Points.
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.