Etikettarkiv: GSM

French red wines

Organic hit from the south of France

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Château de Nages Héritage Vieilles Vignes 2023 generally receives very positive reviews and is often described as an extremely affordable wine that ”delivers above its price range”.

The wine is made from the three classic grapes usually referred to as GSM: 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre.

The wine comes from the Costières de Nîmes area of ​​southern France, located in the southernmost part of the Rhône Valley. Château de Nages is run by Michel Gassier, who works according to organic and sustainable principles. The Vieilles Vignes designation means that the wine is made from grapes from ”old vines”, which gives a natural concentration and depth of fruit.

Aroma & Palate:

Big and nuanced with clear hints of dark berries such as wild raspberries and blackberries, interspersed with spicy notes of bay leaves, violets and a light touch of smoky meat and vanilla from the barrel aging.

A full-bodied and flavorful wine with a fresh fruity acidity. Here you are met with sun-ripened fruit, chewy but well-integrated tannins and a long, spicy aftertaste with hints of licorice and pepper.

Food pairing:

This is a classic barbecue and dinner wine. It goes well with:

Meat: Tasty dishes of lamb, beef or game, preferably with herbs such as thyme and rosemary.

Stews: A hearty French boeuf bourguignon or lamb ragu.

Accessories: Creamy gratins, roasted root vegetables or a strong red wine sauce.

Price at Systembolaget is 169 SEK, nr 9293701. We give this wine 93/100!

French red wines

Spicy full-bodied red from Rhône

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From the Rhône valley in France we try Domaine des Pasquiers Plan de Dieu, 2022, which is spicy and herbal with notes of blackberries and liquirice as well as some violet notes on the nose.

In the Rhône valley, and like this Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages in its southern part, red wines are often made from the so called GSM-blend meaning 3 grape varieties typical of this region. This specific wine is made of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre – GSM.

In southern Rhône, 20 villages have the right to add the village name. Plan de Dieu is one of them. Domaine des Pasquiers was founded in 1935 by Paul Lambert and is now run by Paul’s grandsons, brothers Jean-Claude and Philippe. Jean-Claude and Philippe replanted the vineyards in the 2000s, partially replacing the cultivation of Grenache with growing more of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The brothers have been farming organically since 2010.

Alcohol 14,5 %. Price in Sweden at Systembolaget 159 SEK, nr 2298. Serve at 16-18°C with dark meat dishes, like venison roast and grilled lamb with a creamy sauce.

We find this wine very well-balanced and a good representative from this region with its dark berry notes and spiciness. It has a long and pleasant finish and a full body. It gets 85/100 points, well worth its price and so easy to match with many food dishes!