Chateau Saint Cyrgues, Salamandre Orange, Nimes, Rhone Valley, France

Chateau Saint Cyrgues is based in the village of Saint-Gilles in the Costieres de Nimes appellation of the Cotes-du-Rhone and is run along organic lines by Jean-Pierre Lefaud and son Loic who took over from previous owner Guy de Mercurio in 2015. There are 40 hectares in all and everything is carried out strictly according to organic principles. The Costieres de Nimes region received full appellation status in 1986 and although notionally in the eastern Languedoc it shares the same terroir as the southern Rhone, i.e. galet stones and sandstone. 

Bright, lively, and oh-so-aromatic, this wine greets you with a sunny bouquet of orange blossom, juicy peach, and zesty citrus. Take a sip and your taste buds will dance through a parade of white peach and apricot, with a cheeky wink of orange peel and just enough tannin from its 10-day skin contact to keep things interesting. Smooth and textured without being bossy, it finishes dry with a gentle savory hug—and a mouthwatering little edge that’ll have you reaching for another glass.