The Gassier Nostre Païs is certainly worth $21.95. Grab it while you can!
2014 Michel Gassier “Nostre Païs Rouge” Costières De Nîmes, Rhône Valley, France (Alcohol 14.5%) LCBO Vintages $21.95
I’d go as far as saying that I feel this to be one of the best value reds on the LCBO shelves right now, as you get one hell of a lot of bang for your buck with this little Southern Rhône beauty.
The wine is a cabal of the usual regional suspects, with 35% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 20% Syrah and the remainder made up of Mourvèdre and Cinsault. This cuvée is then fermented in a 50/50 combination of both 500 litre barrels and concrete tanks.
The absence of any real oak influence ensures that this wine’s ultra-ripe and yet pristine and gorgeous pretty fruit is allowed to shine. You’ll discover a gaggle of black berry fruits coupled with wild rocky mountainside herbs, subtle and slinky pot pourri, fennel, and a touch of cracked white pepper. The wine is decidedly well-balanced, with assertive acid giving the wine a thrilling vibrancy, alongside delightfully smooth and ripe (but pleasingly firm) tannins. It’s amazingly well structured for a Costières De Nîmes. The wine ends on an extremely pleasant mineral note.
I paired this very successfully with 48-hour-marinated (soy sauce/honey/garlic/apple juice/sesame oil/star anise), and then slow-braised (cooked in marinade for two and half hours) beef ribs, served over a Cauliflower and Chive Purée.
Experience has taught me that a decant does this Nostre Païs wine many favours, as it tasted even better the following day. I’m most fond of this lovely stuff.
(Four and a half apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And this bottle really warmed the cockles of his heart.
Too flowery a description. None of us are truly going to recognise pot pourri Or tiny alpine flowers. Wine tastes like wine, and this one could be described as intense, true to form, bright, and long lasting. I would gladly pay $20 for it if well described relative to its peers.
“black berry fruits coupled with wild rocky mountainside herbs”
Too flowery?
“Wine tastes like wine”
Give me a break.