Costières de Nîmes Collection Bio Areca Rouge 2020

Expressive on the nose, releasing notes of red fruit and sweet spices. Delicious on the palate, dominated by the notes of red fruits and the finish shows a fine touch of spice and liquorice, along with delicate silky tannins.

Vineyards

The soil is made up of pebbles on a sandy-clay matrix allowing the soil to build up water reserves which help the growth of the vine in this sunny, Mediterranean climate. The grapes are picked mechanically and at night to limit the oxidation of the juices.

Vintage

The very mild winter was accompanied by heavy rainfall (+300mm accumulated in January). Spring continued with a rainy period, the likes of which are rarely seen in Roussillon (the equivalent of a whole year’s rainfall in a single month). These beneficial Roussillon rains came just when the vines were at their most sensitive, particularly to mildew but due to quick adaptation of viticultural practices its development was contained, but not without a notable loss of volume. But in the end, the rains made it possible to regulate the vines for the summer, avoiding hydric stress and producing a more bountiful vintage than in 2019. The arrival of the summer was perfectly timed for the continued development of the grape bunches and the beginning of ripening. Even though it was very hot and very dry, the accumulated water reserves brought the healthy harvest to optimum ripeness. The 2020 harvest was much more condensed than other years: all picked in four weeks, erasing the maturity discrepancies between the whites of Collioure and Latour de France, among others. The Collioure vines took advantage of this sunny climate, without water stress, to produce pure, elegant wines. On Latour de France and Lesquerde, the water and summer heat contributed to very well-balanced, structured wines. The biodynamic wine-making process revealed silky tannins and a beautiful aromatic complexity.

Winemaking

The fully destemmed grapes are vinified in concrete tanks. Fermentation temperature around 25°C. Daily, gentle pumping over and 3-4 weeks maceration. Following malolactic fermentation (natural de-acidification), the wine is aged in concrete vats for 6 months.

Enjoy with:

• Grilled and Roasted Red Meats
• Pizza/Pasta
• Casseroles/Stews
• Mild Creamy Cheeses
• Mature Strong Cheeses

Goes well with pesto beef carpaccio and parmesan.