Mas des Bressades blanc & rouge, Rhone

Costieres de Nimes, the quality of the reds here can be startlingly good, with an authoritative stamp of character to them, and some of the soft beefy flesh and power of better than ordinary Chateauneuf…In terroir terms, Costieres de Nimes is not dissimilar to the sands and gravel sectors of Chateauneuf… ANDREW JEFFORD    

Mas des Bressades has been a staple in my house for more than a decade. JOE CZERWINSKI

These wines from Costières de Nîmes-based Mas des Bressades are made by Cyril Marès. While the reds are all rock solid, he makes a crazy good white based on Roussanne and Viognier that punches well above its price point. JEB DUNNUCK

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In the southern outpost of the Rhone valley you’ll find the region Cositieres des Nimes. It’s on the way to the Languedoc and in fact, used to be part of the region, but the Rhone reclaimed it and rightly so as the soils, climate and topography are more in sync with Rhone. Andrew Jefford talks about how the sand and gravel reflect Chateauneuf and compares the red ‘soft beefy flesh and power’ to a Chateauneuf. Now we’re not saying these are CNDPs, but that’s high praise for the region.

One of the stars down here is Mas des Bressades. It’s a favourite bona fide banker for many wine critics, the wine they buy year in and year out for a house pour, as the quality is so great and always delivers on value. Today we’re offering a blanc and rouge for $26 each in a 6-pack buy.

The white is roussanne dominant accompanied by grenache blanc, viognier and marsanne. It offers a pretty burst of honeysuckle, nectarines and confit citrus. The palate glides and reaches across the palate with just the right amount of presence, curtailed by a lilting line of acidity. To finish grapefruit phenolics add a pleasing bitter punctuation. It’s heavenly, like being wrapped in cashmere.

The red is a blend of grenache and syrah with velvety rich tannins cusping a core of violets, boysenberries and dark chocolate accents. It’s got just the right amount of flesh-to-structure ratio thanks to sand and gravel soils and offers joy right now, or you can tuck it away for a year or two.

For me, these are perfect hamburger wines. They’re rich enough to handle the grease factor from the burger and cheese combo and they both have tannins and freshness to cut through, leaving the palate cleansed. And they’re perfectly priced for a hamburger night - $26 each in a straight 6 pack buy.

These are the wines you need to drink to protect your more special bottles without feeling like you’ve had to downgrade. 

 

Cheers

Gabrielle