Located 25 miles west of Avignon in the small village of St. Gilles, is the area called ?Les Cassagnes?. The Dard? brothers, Laurent and Benoit, farm 80 acres of rocky bench land here, and produce by hand, terrific wines on their estate Grande Cassagne. Planted in their vineyards is very old Grenache of nearly 60 years, as well as 40 year old plantings of Syrah. Serious leaf-pulling and crop-thinning is practiced each vintage by the Dard? brothers to ensure maximum ripeness and deep, saturated wines.

Costieres de Nimes GS
2003 $8.99
"The 2003 Red is a delicious wine. A blend of 50-year old Grenache (44%) and 35-year old Syrah (56%) aged in tank, it is a complete, savory, unfiltered effort. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by a rich perfume of black cherry jam intermixed with hints of licorice as well as pepper. Revealing a fleshy texture, medium body, and a soft finish, it will drink well for 1-2 years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #153
"medium to full bodied with lip smacking flavors of blackberry and cassis and spicy notes on the finish. Drink now." The Wine Spectator 9/15/04

Costieres de Nimes GS les Triage
This years harvest benefited even more than usual from the brother?s meticulous methods. In 2002 a very severe selection of the best fruit resulted in this bottling of high class red wine, named Le Triage - which means selection and grape sorting. The Grenache is tank-fermented, with a portion of the Syrah cask-aged. Rich in color and flavor, this inexpensive wine will age gracefully over the next 2 ? 5 years.
2002 $8.99 available
"The 2002 is an unfiltered, primarily tank fermented (a small portion does see some oak cask ageing), successful offering for the vintage. It exhibits a deep ruby color with purple nuances as well as aromas of blueberries, cherries and earth. Moderately well endowed and richly fruity, it begs for consumption over the next 1-3 years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #147

Costieres de Nimes Cuvee Hippolyte
The 2001 Hippolyte Rouge is a wine of truly profound color and depth. Named after their great-grandfather, very small quantities of this prestige bottling are made, and only the finest selections are used. The Syrah in this cuvee is from two of the best sites on the property, Rameaux & Reculan. These vineyards are on old riverbed soil, laden with cailloux (small rocks), and the 40+ year-old vines produces tiny berries of great concentration. A small amount of Mourvedre (5%) is added. The wine spends 12 months in barrel before being bottled unfiltered. This rich wine can be enjoyed now, and over the next10 years as well.
2001 $14.99 limited
"90% Syrah and 10% Grenache and Mourvedre, the 2001 Hippolyte is excellent, possibly even outstanding. Deep ruby/purple colored with medium to full body, loads of cassis and blackberry fruit as well as a hint of background wood, this beauty is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years." Robert Parker, The Wine advocate #151

Costieres de Nimes Blanc Cuvee Hippolyte
The 2002 Hippolyte Blanc is made primarily from the Roussanne grape, with a tiny amount (20%) of very old-vine Grenache Blanc. Fermented in small new barrels, it is exotic and very perfumed. This delicious white is rare ? only 400 cases were made!
2003 $11.99
2002 $10.99 available
"Spiced melon and peaches are found in the nose of the 2001 Hippolyte Costieres de Nimes (white), a blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. It is a tightly wound wine, revealing appealing pear flavors intermingled with orange blossoms in its light to medium-bodied personality. Drink it over the next 2 years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #141

Costieres de Nimes Rose
The Dard? brothers are well known for their exemplary red wines of deep concentration. However, their best-kept secret may be their Ros?. A blend of 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre from 40 year old vines, this wine exudes red fruits and a strawberry perfume. Fermented a short time on its skins, it retains an electric pink color, soaring aromatics, and fully dry palate. Serve well chilled!
2003 $8.99
" While the 2003 Rose is off dry, what little residual sugar is present is masked by good acidity. A blend of 53% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 7% Mourvedre, it possesses a medium deep ruby color, loads of flavor, medium body, and a flamboyant finish. Drink it over the next 6-9 months." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #153