We’ve long been obsessed with Domaine Gassier’s gorgeous Rhône wines for their outrageous combination of quality and value, and we’re not alone. Jeb Dunnuck called the 2015 Domaine Gassier Lou Coucardié Costières de Nîmes Rouge a “sexy beast of a wine,” and tasted blind, this opulent bottle would fool the best palate into believing it’s a beautifully aged Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Deep ruby, with a hint of garnet at the rim. The glass overflows with aromas of fresh and dried raspberries and blackberries, smoke, charcuterie, cracked pepper, dried lavender, thyme, leather, and licorice. Broad-shouldered and weighty, it’s got a lovely, resolved plushness to the tannins from time in bottle. Jammy flavors of black fruits are complemented by cracked pepper, wild herbs, and tertiary hints of saddle leather, dried flowers, and a hint of five-spice. Long and very complex, this is a dead ringer for a well-aged Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and an incredible value. Drink now–2026.