Located in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, in the southwestern part of the Southern Rhône, Château de Nages is the family estate Michel Gassier, who also releases a number of cuvées under his Domaine Gassier label, which are also reviewed in this report. Under the Château de Nages lineup, there are two whites (Butinages and Vieilles Vignes) and three main reds (Butinages, Vieilles Vignes, and the cuvée JT). They’ve also produced a VOX cuvée starting in 2016 which is a cellar selection of the top lots in any given vintage. The Costières de Nîmes region is too often regulated to value wines but the reality is they’re producing outstanding, world class wines. Give them a try.
2017 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes VOX 93-95 pts
Still in barrel, the 2017 Costières De Nîmes Vox might be in the running for one of the greatest Costières de Nîmes ever produced. Made from 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre, 50% destemmed and brought up in 500-liter barrels, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as a monster nose of blackberries, spice, garrigue, crushed flowers, and melted licorice. This Châteauneuf Du Pape look-alike has full-bodied richness, terrific depth of fruit, and will keep for over a decade. Hats off to the Gassier family for continuing to show what’s possible from the Costières de Nîmes!
2017 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes JT Rouge 92+ pts
The top cuvée is the 2017 Costières De Nîmes JT, which is mostly Syrah blended with around 5% of Mourvèdre. It’s a more serious, concentrated, age-worthy wine that has a deep purple color, notes of black fruits, ground pepper, and meat, medium to full-bodied richness, and building tannins. It’s a beautiful wine, but 2-3 years of bottle age are warranted.
2017 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Vielles Vignes Rouge 91 pts
Coming from older vines and mostly Grenache (there’s 25% Syrah and 5% Carignan), the 2017 Costières De Nîmes Vieilles Vignes offers a beautifully pure, elegant, classic Southern Rhône Grenache profile that has plenty of red and blue fruits, violets, and cracked pepper aromas and flavors.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes JT Rouge 91-93 pts
The 2018 Costières De Nîmes JT is certainly in the same league as the 2017 yet shows a slightly more elegant profile. A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre that saw plenty of stems, it offers Northern Rhône-like notes of blue fruits, olive tapenade, ground pepper, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and silky, it has fine tannins and a great finish. It’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Vieilles Vignes Rouge 89-91 pts
The 2018 Costières De Nîmes Vieilles Vignes should also be outstanding. Medium to full-bodied and elegant, this classic Southern Rhône red has complex notes of dark fruits, violets, pepper, and an attractive, Herbes de Provence-like character. Made from 70% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, two-thirds destemmed and brought up mostly in concrete, it’s going to be another smoking value.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Butinages Rouge 88 pts
Moving to the reds, the 2018 Costières De Nîmes Butinages is always a good value and reveals a deep plum color as well as ripe dark fruits, rose petal, plum, and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Based on 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre, it would be a terrific house red to enjoy over the coming couple of years.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes JT Blanc 92-94 pts
On another level, the 2018 Costières De Nîmes Jt Blanc checks in as 70% Roussanne and 15% each of Viognier and Grenache Blanc, all brought up in 500-liter French oak. It has Montrachet-like notes of orchard fruits, brioche, orange blossom, and honeysuckle as well as a rich, medium to full-bodied style on the palate. It’s no light summer quaffer and is a serious, beautifully done white that’s going to shine on the dinner table.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Vieilles Vignes Blanc 90 pts
Brought up half in barrel and half in tank, the 2018 Costières De Nîmes Vieilles Vignes Blanc offers a more Northern Rhône-like vibe as well as richer notes of orange blossom, white flowers, and crushed rocks. It has notable acidity but is a richer, more layered, serious wine that’s going to keep for 2-3 years.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Butinages Blanc 89 pts
A bright, juicy white that offers plenty of character, the 2018 Costières De Nîmes Butinages Blanc has plenty of citrus, lime, and honeysuckle notes as well as medium body, good acidity, and a clean, crisp finish. It’s a terrific value and would make a great house white to enjoy over the coming year or two. The blend is 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Vieilles Vignes Rosé 91 pts
The flagship rosé of the estate is the 2018 Costières de Nîmes Vieilles Vignes, a blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault. Light salmon-colored, it has a Bandol rosé-like bouquet of salty seabreeze, fennel, citrus, and light cherry characteristics. It’s geared for the dinner table with its salinity and minerality as well as its focused texture. It’s a beautiful, serious rosé to drink any time over the coming 6-12 months.
2018 Château de Nages Costières de Nimes Butinages Rosé 90 pts
A rosé that always delivers, the 2018 Costières de Nîmes Butinages Rosé reveals a medium pink color as well as a juicy, fruit forward bouquet of ripe strawberries, cherries, and wild flowers. It’s rounded, nicely textured, yet has beautiful acidity and makes you salivate. I’m not sure what the retail price is, but I suspect it sells for a song. Drink it over the coming summer months.
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