2011 Nostre Pais by Michel Gassier, Costieres de Nimes Blanc, Rhone Style White, France.
This Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier cuvee is a fantastic and mineral laced wine that way over delivers in terms of quality and pleasure. Gassier’s lineup is one of the best out there for true terroir and hedonism with loads of richness and character in each of his wines, especially good is this 2011 Nostrepais Blanc from Costieres de Nimes, which is a historic town famous for it’s Roman theater and Rhone style wines from rocky vineyards with old vines. The 2011 is a bit fresher and slight bit more alive than the last two vintages and it still has plenty of depth and mouth filling fruit that includes apricot, apple, tangerine and passionfruit. The wet stones and steely minerals are a joy in this racy and seductive white, and the wine opens to a lush texture with air that is rewarding and in no way flabby or dull. The finish is saline crisp leaving you wanting more and the stone fruit and citrus linger with hints of smoke and spice.
($20 Est.) 93+ Points, grapelive
