12 Costières de Nîmes recommendations

Château Mourgues du Grès, Capitelles blanc, Beaucaire 2018 91 points

£20 Caves de Pyrènes

Grenache blanc 75%, Roussanne 15%, Viognier 5%. Fermented then matured in demi- muids for 12 months. Some depth of straw colour to the wine with a subtle flintiness to the aromas, very fresh. Medium-bodied, rounded but not heavy, lively, remarkably detailed and mineral - this has a long finish and really buzzes with life. Not overtly aromatic, just a touch of satsuma, but this has great intensity and impact, an electric white wine. Drink 2021-2023 Alc 14%

Château de Valcombe, Pastel, Generac 2020 91 points

£14 York Wines, Red Nose Wines & Inverarity Morton

Syrah 95%, Viognier 5%. An estate with roots that date back to 1740, this is an elegant pale pink rosé with a cherry red tint. Very attractive aromatic display, smells like fine, washed fabrics, it is silky on the palate too, with redcurrant acidity and a tapered finish, finishing fresh and gently mineral. A very graceful wine, beautifully packaged. Drink 2021-2021 Alc 12%

Château Vessière, Château Vessière, Saint Gilles 2019 90 points

£13 Alliance Wine

Roussanne 70%, Grenache blanc 30%. A very attractive, lifted, perfumed style. Light- to medium- bodied, this is a fresh, precise and drinkable aperitif style with lime pastille and mojito- like aromatics and sea spray on the tapered finish.

Well balanced and would make a good pairing with goat’s cheese, Asian salads. Drink 2021-2022 Alc 12.5%

Château Beaubois, Elégance, Franquevaux 2020 90 points

£15 Champagne Warehouse Ltd

Syrah 60%, Cinsault 20%, Grenache noir 20%. A touch of peach to the pale pink colour. Honeydew melon aromas, a touch of spiciness, gently piquant. Rounded on the palate but not fat, this still has a good sense of freshness, it is soft but well- balanced. This is a graceful and satisfying wine, not a simple rosé. Would work with fairly sophisticated starters, lighter dishes and charcuterie. Drink 2021-2022 Alc 13%

Château L’Ermite d’Auzan, Auzan, Saint Gilles 2020 89 points

£12 Boutinot Ltd

Cinsault 50%, Grenache noir 50%. Pale salmon pink. This is fresh and lively with some raspberry and redcurrant to the aromas, Dry and light bodied, with a bright acid beam, this has a good sense of energy and drinkability. Would work well as an aperitif, with green salads, and would be particularly delicious with a seafood platter and freshly made mayonnaise. Drink 2021-2022 Alc 12.5%

Château d’Or et de Gueules,

La Bolida, Saint Gilles 2017 92 points £25 The Real Wine Company

Old Mourvèdre 90%, old Grenache 10%. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. What a nose! Pure Mourvèdre, all liquorice, violets and fresh soil. This is lifted and floral, juicy and medium- bodied, but very fluid on the palate, with good supporting acidity. The 2017 is just becoming ready to drink now, and taking on some gently leathery aromas to the fruit. Plenty of grip, remarkable acidity and compelling perfume. Drink 2021-2025 Alc 14.5%

M. Chapoutier, Costières de Nîmes Collection Bio, Tain L’Hermitage

2018 89 points

£10-£13 Hatch Mansfield

Grenache noir, Marselan, Mourvèdre, Syrah. Very classic Costières de Nîmes aromatic display, with fresh berry fruits and a handful of freshly- picked Provençal herbs. Light- bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with subtle tannins, balanced acidity and a good grip on the finish. A very harmonious, drinkable style that would be delicious by itself or with lighter dishes. Drink 2021 Alc 13.5%

Château de Montfrin, “à mon seul désir”, Montfrin 2018 91 points

£18 Jeroboams

Syrah 50%, Grenache noir 30%, Mourvèdre 20%. From the imposing château and estate owned by actor and film producer Jean-René de Fleurieu. This has a sage, seaweed and plum nose, very classic Costières de Nîmes aromatics, alongside a touch of cocoa. Full- bodied, flowing and richly warming with gentle tannins and a little touch of saltiness on the finish. Ripe and enveloping, very authentic. Drink 2021-2021 Alc 14%

Domaine Galus, G., Meynes 2018 89 points

£15 Wine Society

Syrah, Grenache, Carignan. A lovely sense of finesse to the aromas and the palate here. This is fresh, well balanced, fulsome and generous with very fine tannins and a good sense of purity. A beautifully packaged, ripe, ample and charming style of Costières de Nîmes that would work well with a roast shoulder of lamb. Drink 2021-2023 Alc 14%

Domaine Gassier, Nostre Païs, Caissargues 2018 92 points

£15 Waud Wine Club

Grenache noir 55%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 10%, Carignan 5%, Cinsault 5%. Old vines, 1/3 vinified with whole bunches, bottled unfiltered. This has beautifully fresh and defined berry fruits on the nose followed on the palate by flowing, rich forest berries, a touch of liquorice and Provençal herbs in the background. Very fresh and juicy really upright and so drinkable, with real intensity and personality. Drink 2021-2024 Alc 15%

Château Bellefontaine, Les Fables de Bellefontaine, Beauvoisin 2017 90 points

£20 Department 33 Wines

Syrah 60%, Grenache 40%. Bright, spicy and floral, with aromatic but firmly fruity Syrah notes at the fore. Fresh, not overly heavy or extracted with lovely acidity. This is really upright and focussed with concentrated blackberry and a touch of blackcurrant on the finish - so vibrant and bright. A light touch in the cellar helps to accentuate the freshness.

Drink 2021-2023 Alc 14%

Mas des Bressades, Cuvée Excellence, Manduel 2018 89 points

£11 Thomas Peatling Fine Wines

Syrah 98%, Grenache noir 2%. Deep, brooding aromatics, with a touch of smoky bacon - this is a full- bodied and powerful style. It has an intense, shining acidity underneath plenty of very ripe berry and plum fruits and ample muscular tannins. This would team well with roast beef now, or even better, tuck it away for a few years to see it build further complexity.

Drink 2023-2026 Alc 14.5%