Château Guiot — Mas Cornut MagnaNimes Red Costières de Nîmes, France

Château Guiot, also known by the family name Mas Cornut, is always one of my favorite stops on the AWM buying trips to Europe. You’ll find this small Château near the town of Saint-Gilles, 15 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, and just west of the Rhône River. The Château or “Mas” is owned by Silvia Cornut and managed by her twin sons Numa and Alexis, representing the 9th generation of vignerons in the Cornut family.

The twin brothers are meticulous in their viticultural practices and are true believers in sustainable agriculture, using no synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers on any of their vineyards. The rocky soil here will make you think of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the fruit is always picked late, ensuring intense, profound wines, with amazingly soft tannins.

The vineyards are planted primarily to Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon with a smattering of Chardonnay and other white varietals. Over the last 20 years, the wines made at the Mas have become reference points for the appellation.

MagnaNimes is an absolute tour de force of Mouvedre and Syrah. This big, bold red opens with tones of blue and black fruits on the nose along with pepper spice and garrigue. The long, lengthy palate explodes with juicy, thick, and dense dark fruit, finishing with sweet and sour cherry, layered with coffee and roasted hazelnut. It’s big and broad; however, it’s beautifully balanced by ample acidity and lift.

Are you looking to take a break from Cab? Try this one with your next steak dinner!