Costières de Nîmes "Terre d'Argence" Rouge

2018
France
Rhône

This wine is predominantly (70%) Syrah based from vines that are over 45 years old, complemented by old-vine Grenache (15%) and 15% Mourvedre. The vineyard has a perfectly full southern exposure, with a subsoil of marl and calcareous limestone and a substantial surface layer of galet stones provides exceptional ripening conditions for these vines year in and year out.

After a gentle maceration for 3-5 weeks, the wine is aged in concrete vats (65%), wooden vats (35%), and, for the fruit from the most-structured plots, barrel (5%). No yeasts or sulfur are used during vinification or aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

90 points
"The​ ​Terres d’Argence bottling from Château Mourgues de Grès is their old vine cuvée, with all of the vineyards that go into this blend at least forty-five years of age. The blend in 2018 is seventy percent syrah and fifteen percent each of grenache and mourvèdre. The vineyards are planted on marl and limestone soils, with a surface strata of galets roules just like in Châteauneuf du Pape. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and raised in a combination of cement, foudres and five percent small barrels. The 2018 version is again ripe in this warm summer, tipping the scales at 14.5 percent alcohol and offering up a fine bouquet of cassis, woodsmoke, hung game, stony soil tones, lovely spice tones and just a whisper of oak from the small barrels. On the palate the wine is deep, focused and full-bodied, with a superb core of fruit, excellent mineral undertow, ripe tannins and fine balance on the long and complex finish. The old vines here really give the wine fine mid-palate stuffing. This is most impressive and also a touch cooler in the mouth than the 2020 Galets Rouges bottling. 2028-2045."
View from the Cellar

SKU/Code: 
DB1900-18
Product Line: 
National Portfolio
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Syrah
Farming Type: 
Organic