eRobertParker Issue #210 from Dec 2013,
reviews by Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnucks’ summary statement about our estate :

The leading estate in the potential rich Costieres de Nimes region, these knockout wines are made by the talented Michel Gassier, who is leading the way in this appellation and showing what’s possible when you focus on quality. Both the 2011s (which are as good, if not better than his 2010s) and 2012s are incredibly strong here.

2011 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Lou Coucardie
* 93 pts

The richest and most concentrated cuvee, the 2011 Costieres De Nimes Lou Coucardie, which was bottled earlier in the year, offers up aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits, chocolate, graphite, licorice and hints of smoked herbs. A blend of 48% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 22% Syrah that spent 12-18 months in French oak, it is a serious, layered and textured effort that was hard to spit. While hard to resist now, it should have a broad drink window as well.

Importer: European Cellars, Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

2012 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Lou Coucardie
* (92-94 pts)

A similar blend and elevage, the 2012 Costieres De Nimes Lou Coucardie is comparable in style to the 2011, with a layered, medium to full-bodied, concentrated profile. Offering up ample sweet blackberry, cassis, loamy soil and pepper, this beauty should also be hard to resist on release, yet evolve gracefully for upward of a decade.

Importer: European Cellars, Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

2012 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais
* (91-93 pts)

An 800 case blend of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre (there’s also some Cinsault and Syrah in there as well), the 2012 Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais is an old vine selection that spends 6 months in French oak prior to bottling. Perfumed and elegant, with medium to full-bodied richness and a layered, seamless feel on the palate, this beauty offers up notes of creme de cassis, lavender, while herbs and pepper. It should drink nicely for 5-8 years and is an incredible value.

Importer: European Cellars, Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

2011 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Syrah
* 90 pts

From tiny yields and a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier, the 2011 Costieres de Nimes Syrah is another effort that shares more than a passing resemblance to a high-quality northern Rhone Syrah. Offering up white pepper, currant bud, spice and gamy, even bacon-like aromas and flavors, this medium-bodied, pure, fresh and beautifully focused Syrah has loads of personality and charm. It sells for a song and will drink nicely over the coming 5-6 years.

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

2012 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Syrah
* (89-91 pts)

Similarly-styled, with classic Syrah dark fruit, ground pepper, game and hints of leather, the 2012 Costieres de Nimes Syrah is medium-bodied, supple and deliciously fruited on the palate. Clean, focused and already approachable, it should drink nicely on release and have a solid 5-8 years of overall evolution.

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

2011 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes JT
* 92 pts

The 2011 Costieres De Nimes JT is a beauty and taste more like a northern Rhone Syrah than something from the south. Violets, crushed flowers, black raspberry, pepper and peach pit are just some of the notions here, and it flows onto the palate with a seamless, medium to full-bodied profile that’s hard to resist. Serious on all account, it is a stunning value that readers should not miss.

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

2012 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes JT
* (91-93 pts)

Possibly even better, the 2012 Costieres De Nimes JT (same blend and elevage as the 2011) offers brilliant purity of fruit, with classic notions of wild herbs, pepper, liquid minerality and ample blackberry-styled fruit. Tight and compact on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness and excellent focus, it should flesh out nicely once bottled and have upward of a decade of total longevity (although there’s no reason to hold off that long).

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

2011 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes Vieilles Vignes
* 90pts

Starting out with his Chateau De Nages releases, the 2011 Costieres de Nimes Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 72% Grenache, 24% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre, fermented with a small amount of whole cluster, that was aged in a combination of barrels and concrete tanks. Classic in style, with lots of spice, dried underbrush, leather and copious red and black fruits, this medium to full-bodied, supple, pure and lively effort has plenty of texture and outstanding length through the finish. It’s also a joy to drink.

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

2012 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes Vieilles Vignes
* (88-90 pts)

In the same mold, the 2012 Costieres de Nimes Vieilles Vignes, which was tasted out of barrel, offers ample blackberry, raspberry, pepper and earthy notes as well as a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured feel in the mouth. Showing the upfront nature of the vintage nicely, it will drink well on release and over the following 5-7 years.

Importer: Total Wine & More, New York, NY

eRobertParker Issue #209 from Nov 2013,
review by Robert Parker

2012 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais
* 91 pts

Another white Chateauneuf du Pape look-alike, the 2012 Nostre Pais Blanc was produced by the brilliant Michel Gassier assisted by his equally talented oenologist, Philippe Cambie. Made from a blend of 53% Grenache Blanc, 38% Roussanne, 6% Viognier and 3% Bourboulenc, aged six months on its lees in French oak, it exhibits lots of buttered citrus along with caramelized pears and apricots, a medium to full-bodied texture, and a crisp, zesty, dry finish that is loaded with fruit. Consume it over the next year.

Importer: European Cellars, Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565; www.europeancellars.com