Just a few minutes southwest of the great estates at Vacqueyras and Chateauneuf du Pape lies Costieres de Nîmes. The Greeks planted one of France's very first vineyards here milenia ago. Julius Caesar's Egypt campaign veterans took up the viticulture some centuries later, labelling their stocks of locally made wine with the stamp of a crocodile. Today's Costieres de Nîmes makes Shiraz Grenache of such elegance and style, so akin to her famous siblings to the east, that they have been conscripted under the Origine Contrôlee of Cotes du Rhône.
Le Domaine de Perilliere make two wines, an appellation Cotes du Rhône Villages and Costieres de Nîmes. Winemaker/ vigneron Frederic Vincent exploits the endowments of unique soils and stimulating Mediterranean winds to construct a wine which speaks eloquently of it's provenance. Two thirds Shiraz and the balance in Grenache are harvested off fully mature vines planted to southeast facing slopes in the commune of Sernhac, grown to round pebble galette clays over sandy alluvial deposit shales, very similar to those of Châteauneuf du Pape. Fruit is treated to limited extractions and three weeks vinification at 20C before bottling unfiltered.
Dark purple red hue. Pleasantly aromatic with notes of violet over chocolates, coffee and cupboard spice. Powerful and rich palate expressing ample black fruit flavours, blueberries and bramble seasoned by a touch of licorice spice and supported by smooth tannins. An easy to appreciate wine that's very pleasant to drink alongside Mediterranean cuisine, French influenced recipes and Tuscan faire.
