Château de Nages Vieilles Vignes Costières de Nîmes 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic red wine from Rhône that returned to LCBO VINTAGES on October 3. I had the pleasure of visiting Château de Nages back in Spring 2018 and still recall fond memories of the visit. I have also tasted this previous vintages of this wine and have always loved it.

Château de Nages is now owned by the highly-acclaimed winemaker Michel Gassier, the 4th generation of the Gassier family to work this property in Costières de Nîmes, within the Southern Rhône Valley. The vineyards of Château de Nages are organically farmed and situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone - an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union. Being family-owned, Michel and the team are committed to protecting the ecosystem and using resources wisely.

Their vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals. Syrah is a grape variety that excels in their terroirs, while Grenache is reserved for the leaner soils that temper its natural exuberance. The last red grape variety is Mourvèdre that confers a striking spicy complexity. For white wine grapes, certain parcels of their terroir have a predilection for Roussanne that offers great aromatic richness, while Grenache Blanc rounds out the blends with its crystalline mineral imprint. I had the privilege of enjoying a pair of top wines from Château de Nages over the last few months, one of which is still available at the LCBO. To order Château de Nages wines that are not available at the LCBO, please contact their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

Michel swore that the 2016 vintage was the best of his career, but his sense is that the 2017 may be even better even though it was a tiny harvest. For 2017, the blend consists of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, which translates to no Carignan and less Syrah compared to the '16. The grapes were certified organically farmed with particular attention to soil health on grès (sandstone) with rolled pebbles from the Rhône river over iron‐rich red clay soils. All of the grapes were manually harvested and sorted, and fermented using native yeasts. One-quarter of the wine was aged in French oak barrels, with the remaining in cement tank for 12 months. Let's see how this organic red wine that is available in LCBO VINTAGES now is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2017 - AP, Rhône, France (#40964) (XD) - $19.95
This organic red wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah that was aged mainly in cement tanks for 12 months. The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is open, complex, and well-knit with lovely ripe and spicy black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, kirsch, black pepper, and smoky mineral aromas with touches of black plum and violet. It is medium-full bodied on the slightly warming, but balanced palate, with black cherry, raspberry, smoky mineral, pepper spice, and herbal flavours. Succulent acids are juicy and while smooth tannins are somewhat chalky textured. Smoky mineral and black cherry notes linger on the long, mineral-textured finish. Highly recommended. Score: 90+ pts