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Domaine de Rapatel, Costières de Nîmes, Vin de Pays
Gérard Eynaud
Gerard and Christine Eynaud have fifteen hectares of vines to the south west of Nîmes. The vines were inherited from his family, but his father had always sold grapes to the co-operative, and Gerard wanted to do his own thing. He is the only grower in the Costières who is not even a member of the Syndicat, and has a very independent and individualist philosophy of winemaking. Only the vintages which really excite him are bottled as Grand Signature; the next best vintages may go into Petite Signature, and the rest will either be sold as Bag in Box, or as simple Vin de Pays du Gard.Yields are low, at around 25 to 30 hectolitres per hectare for the white, and 35 to 40 for the red. Wines are unfiltered and unfined, and are kept in cuve for a couple of years before bottling. The 2000 red will only be bottled this year, and will only be sold from next year.
The Grande Signature Red is from old vine Grenache and Syrah grown on his most stony soil, and the 1997 is delicious now, with smoky peppery fruit, and supple smooth tannins. The
Grande Signature White is from a blend of Roussanne and Bourboulenc, and the 2000 is rich, floral and perfumed, with good balancing acidity. It is surprising how few vintages have excited him enough to be bottled, and that he still has some stocks of older vintages available.
The 2001 Vin de Pays du Gard is a delicious soft young quaffing red.
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