Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles - Nimalaya 2023
Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles was born in Montpeyroux, in the heart of Languedoc, from the friendship between Matthieu Rollin and Nicolas Seffusatti and a project entirely focused on expressing the great terroirs of the South. Founded in 2015, the estate quickly distinguished itself by seeking balance, depth, and sincerity in its wines. Located in an area marked by Mediterranean influences and the freshness of the reliefs, it works plots where clay and limestone play an essential role in the structure of the reds. Nimalaya holds a unique place in the range, as this cuvée pays tribute to old Carignan, a historic Languedoc grape variety long underestimated but capable of producing wines of great nobility when coming from old vines. Produced in very small quantities, it embodies the estate's ambition to reveal an ancient viticultural heritage with a contemporary, precise, and elegant interpretation. The 2023 vintage fits into this dynamic, with a red wine of character, deep, Mediterranean, but always seeking freshness and finesse of tannins. Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles Nimalaya 2023 thus presents itself as a rare, expressive, and identity-driven cuvée, dedicated to the controlled power of Carignan.
The Nimalaya 2023 cuvée is made from 100% Carignan, coming from old vines located in the municipalities of Montpeyroux and Saint-Saturnin. These vines rest on clay-limestone soils and benefit from a full south exposure, favorable to complete ripening of the grapes while maintaining a beautiful freshness in the final balance. The estate specifies that the berries are meticulously selected and hand-harvested in early October, a sign of a precise ripeness and fruit quality pursuit. Carignan, when grown on old low-yielding vines, can offer dense matter, firm but noble tannins, as well as a deep aromatic expression around black fruits, spices, and garrigue. In Nimalaya, this grape variety takes on both a heritage and refined dimension, with a more serious structure than a simple sunny red from Languedoc. The 2023 vintage produces a wine both generous and tense, carried by a spicy framework, mineral freshness, and a persistent finish. This cuvée ideally requires aeration and can gain complexity after several years of aging.
On tasting, Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles Nimalaya 2023 shows a dark and intense robe with deep violet reflections. The nose opens on notes of small red fruits, blackberry, blueberry, violet, licorice, and sweet spices, with a touch of garrigue recalling its Languedoc origin. On the palate, the wine asserts the character of Carignan through dense, structured, and expressive matter, but the tannins remain fine and well-defined. The balance rests on an alliance between power, freshness, and minerality, which avoids any heaviness despite the fruit's intensity. The finish is long, spicy, and smooth, carried by notes of tangy red fruits, pepper, licorice, and warm earth. This red will ideally accompany grilled rib steak, herb-roasted lamb, lamb tagine, confit pork shoulder, Mediterranean cuisine with sweet spices, or a dish of vegetables roasted in olive oil. It is recommended to open it two to three hours before serving or to keep it for a few years to allow its structure to soften and its complexity to develop.
Grape variety: 100% Carignan
