Winemaker Notes
This cuvee represents Michel Gassier's search for elegance, purity and mineral/terroir expression. Grape ripeness is not pushed to the outer limits, sorting is drastic, oak aging is kept to a minimum, and blending includes varietals of the appellation. Michel Gassier's winemaking style is as non interventionist as possible, resulting in this elegant, pure wine.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 15% Roussanne, 5% Viognier
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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.
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.