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2022 Cassis Blanc
Clos Ste MagdeleineClos Sainte Magdeleine
Kermit Lynch, François Sack, Jonathan Sack, and Anthony Lynch
It exists because once upon a time long ago the population of Cassis, a simple fishing village, needed something to drink with their catch, or seafood as we call it.
Wow! We sold out of our Catch of the Day Cassis Blanc quicker than we thought. We want to ensure everyone has an opportunity to stock up on the incredible wines of Clos Sainte Magdeleine, so with our apologies we are offering 25% OFF the delectably versatile Côtes de Provence Rosé. It is just as delightful with seafood as the Cassis, and will make a wonderful match with Chris Lee’s grilled whole fish recipe from the newsletter insert! Click here and use promo code CASSIS25 at checkout.
Sometimes I feel underappreciated because some people think my life is one big vacation. They don’t realize the effort it can take to obtain a decent bottle of wine. Yesterday, for example, I had to spend practically the entire day at Cassis. It is not like I can just taste the wine, agree on a price, and go home. No, I had to drive down to the harbor with the winemaker, jump from the pier onto his bobbing boat and motor out onto the Mediterranean, scene of countless shipwrecks. The sun’s heat was blazing. I tried not to think of ozone depletion, sunburn, skin cancer... we had no choice but to jump into the cooling sea. Luckily I had on a bathing suit. Just as I was about to dive in, I noticed a school of inch-long jellyfish floating by. Their sting can momentarily paralyze you and leave you in pain for days. I wondered, is it really worth it? We motored out to safer waters and, finally, almost faint from heat prostration, I plunged into the cool blue water, a blue so beautiful I could barely stand it.
But still it was not over. Back at the domaine with its panoramic view of the cliffs and beaches of Cassis, I had to shelter myself under a tree and wait until the fire was ready for grilling a few local fish. Once grilled, we washed it down with some Cassis. (Of course. What do you think, a winemaker is going to serve me any wine other than his or her own? I told you this job is no vacation.) But sitting there I finally got something accomplished. I was working it out in my mind: fish, Cassis, wine, Cassis wine, fish, fishing, etc., and all of a sudden it came to me. The white wine of Cassis was not invented to be shipped all over the world. It exists because once upon a time long ago the population of Cassis, a simple fishing village, needed something to drink with their catch, or seafood as we call it. I thought to myself, why not recommend to my clientele that the next time they eat seafood, they drink a wine created to drink with it, Cassis. It works. —Kermit Lynch, on the 1996 Cassis Blanc from Clos Sainte Magdeleine
—Kermit Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 40% Marsanne, 30% Ugni blanc, 25% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc |
Appellation: | Cassis |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence |
Producer: | Clos Sainte Magdeleine |
Winemaker: | Jonathan Sack |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1972-2009 (40 years average), 9 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Aged in stainless steel tanks and two 500-L demi-muids on fine lees until spring or early summer bottling |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
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About The Producer
Clos Sainte Magdeleine
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
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2020 Bandol Rouge “Saint Ferréol”
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2020 Côtes de Provence Rouge
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2018 Bandol Rouge
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2019 Bandol Rouge Magnum
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2015 Bandol Rouge
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2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé MAGNUM
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174
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