Notify me
2017 Méditerranée Rouge “Cuvée Spéciale”
Clos Saint-JosephRoch Sassi and Constance Malengé
In 2017, a hailstorm destroyed all but a barrel’s worth of Roch Sassi’s red wine production. An association of reputable local vignerons called Rouge Provence came to his aid by donating fruit from appellations like Bandol, Les Baux, and Côtes de Provence. The resulting wine is more sudiste than alpiniste as compared to Roch’s signature, cooler-climate reds from Villars, but it’s nonetheless très provençal; ruddy and plump, it has loads of black fruit and garrigue-y rusticity.
—Jane Berg
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 50% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% varied |
Appellation: | IGP Méditerranée |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence |
Producer: | Clos Saint-Joseph |
Vineyard: | N/A |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Biodynamic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Alpes-Maritimes Grassenc “Les Planches de Lunel”
France | Provence
A single barrel was produced of this delicate, peppery, low-alcohol red from a forgotten grape variety. Serve chilled.
2020 Côtes de Provence Rouge
France | Provence
Contrary to the usual rough and tannic reds of the far-reaching Côtes de Provence appellation, this is fresh and lively! A gem hidden in the hills.
2021 Côtes de Provence “Blanc de Blancs”
France | Provence
This gorgeous blend of Vermentino, Ugni Blanc, Sémillon, and Clairette is both fleshy and mineral-driven.
2020 Bandol Rouge “Saint Ferréol”
France | Provence
Soulful and slightly wild, but beautifully balanced, this rouge has an irresistible notes of garrigue.
2016 Les Baux de Provence Rouge “Cornaline”
France | Provence
After seven years, the 2016 is in its sweet spot, evoking sumptuous fruits like sour plum and fig, which make this cuvée distinctly Provençal.
2020 Bandol Rouge
France | Provence
The 2020 Tour du Bon rouge, with its juicy nose and bright, crunchy fruit, its mouthwatering acidity and peppery verve, is particularly elegant.
2018 Côtes de Provence Rouge
France | Provence
Contrary to the usual rough and tannic reds of the far-reaching Côtes de Provence appellation, this is fresh and lively! A gem hidden in the hills.
2020 Côtes de Provence Syrah “Les Planches de la Garedivole”
France | Provence
If Hermitage were grown in the Provençal Alps...
2022 Bandol Rosé HALF BOTTLE
France | Provence
Peach-scented Bandol rosé is the bee’s knees on a warm summer afternoon.
2019 Bandol Rouge Magnum
France | Provence
With the chewy, fragrant cuvée, something garlicky cooked over coals will do just fine.
About The Region
Provence
Perhaps there is no region more closely aligned with the history to Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant than Provence. Provence is where Richard Olney, an American ex-pat and friend of Alice Waters, lived, and introduced Kermit to the great producers of Provence, most importantly Domaine Tempier of Bandol. Kermit also spends upwards of half his year at his home in a small town just outside of Bandol.
Vitis vinifera first arrived in France via Provence, landing in the modern day port city of Marseille in the 6th century BC. The influence of terroir on Provençal wines goes well beyond soil types. The herbs from the pervasive scrubland, often referred to as garrigue, as well as the mistral—a cold, drying wind from the northwest that helps keep the vines free of disease—play a significant role in the final quality of the grapes. Two more elements—the seemingly ever-present sun and cooling saline breezes from the Mediterranean—lend their hand in creating a long growing season that result in grapes that are ripe but with good acidity.
Rosé is arguably the most well known type of wine from Provence, but the red wines, particularly from Bandol, possess a great depth of character and ability to age. The white wines of Cassis and Bandol offer complexity and ideal pairings for the sea-influenced cuisine. Mourvèdre reigns king for red grapes, and similar to the Languedoc and Rhône, Grenache, Cinsault, Marsanne, Clairette, Rolle, Ugni Blanc among many other grape varieties are planted.
More from Provence or France
2019 Bandol Rouge Magnum
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2020 Côtes de Provence Rouge
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé MAGNUM
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2021 Côtes de Provence “Blanc de Blancs”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2020 Côtes de Provence Syrah “Les Planches de la Garedivole”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Tourtine”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2018 Bandol Rouge MAGNUM
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2019 Bandol Rouge Magnum
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2020 Côtes de Provence Rouge
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé MAGNUM
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2021 Côtes de Provence “Blanc de Blancs”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2020 Côtes de Provence Syrah “Les Planches de la Garedivole”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Tourtine”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2018 Bandol Rouge MAGNUM
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171