Halos de Jupiter, Costières de Nîmes 2018, Rhone, France

Tasting Note: A Southern-Rhone red blend to repeat.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has a medium-plus-intensity nose of black plum, dark cherry, cassis, blueberry and black currant.

On the palate the dry, full-bodied Costières de Nîmes has medium-plus-intensity flavors suggested on the nose supported by slightly-grippy, ripe, medium-plus tannin and completing with a medium-plus finish.

There are notes of black-fruit complexity on the midpalate that sing as a whole rather than as individual flavors.

A solid pickup.

Bottle Note: For Philippe Cambie and Michel Gassier, the “raison d’etre” of these wines is to explore the variety of grenache expressions unique to the southern Rhone Valley. Where the Rhone River meets the Mediterranean, Costières de Nîmes proximity to the sea confers freshness & elegance. Enjoy this crowd pleaser with spicy Mediterranean or Asian fare as well as grilled veggies. 70% grenache, 20% mourvedre & 10% syrah.