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Château Grande Cassagne, Costières de Nîmes
Benoît and Laurent Dardé
Benoît and Laurent Dardé took over the family domaine in the 1980s, and replaced the existing vineyards of table grapes with wine grapes. They started by selling part of the wine in bulk, but now all the wine is domaine bottled. They have now constructed a temperature controlled cellar and winery, and even a small barrel ageing cellar. Their
White is vinified in stainless steel, with 20% in barriques. From a blend of 60% Roussanne and 40% Grenache, it is fresh, clean, and lightly floral. There is also a small quantity of
Cuvée Hippolyte in white, named after their great grandfather. This is from 90% Roussanne and 10% Grenache, vinified and aged for six months in new oak barriques. It has rich floral smoky fruit, with good weight and richness. “New World” style at its best. The
Rosé has always been one of our favourite rosé wines. It is very fruity, soft, and quaffable, easy drinking on its own, or for any occasion. It is from a blend of around 60% syrah, 35% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre.
The 2001 Civette is from a blend of Syrah and Grenache. It is peppery, ripe and supple, with good colour, and ripe tannins. The
Rameaux, from 100% Syrah, is a more backward, and more serious, wine. The 2000 has firm spicy supple ripe fruit, elegant, smoky, and well balanced. The 2001 is a little more backward, but is starting to show good promise. The 2000
Hippolyte Red is from 100% Syrah, selected from their best parcelles, aged in new oak barriques for around 16 months. The wine has soft sweet ripe bramble fruit, with broad, spicy flavours and good backbone. Already attractive, and will improve further over the next couple of years. |