Clos Ste. Magdeleine Côtes de Provence Rosé 2022
$38.00
Vines planted in 1979-1999. Grapes are sourced from the commune of La Ciotat, in a vineyard near the coast roughly halfway between Cassis and Bandol. Grapes are de-stemmed and lightly crushed before pressing. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Does not undergo malolactic fermentation. No fining. Aged in stainless steel tanks on fine lees until spring bottling.
"Blanc has always been the focus since we began importing Clos Sainte Magdeleine's wines in the late 1970s, with their fennel- and sea-salt-inflected Cassis setting the standard for Mediterranean whites. But vigneron Jonathan Sack also bottles a Cassis rosé each year, a delicate expression of mainly Grenache and Cinsault that is, sadly, made in tiny quantities. And now, there is a brand new rosé in the Clos Sainte Magdeleine lineup. The Côtes de Provence is sourced from a vineyard in La Ciotat, about halfway between Cassis and Bandol and not far from the Mediterranean coast. Using a similar blend to the Cassis rosé, Sack has crafted what is perhaps the quintessential Provençal refresher—an uplifting nectar of bright citrus, fresh berry fruit, wild herbs, and salty sea air—that is a far cry from the countless technological, mass-marketed examples in production throughout the region. No, Sack's bears a distinct sense of place, and it's someplace we all want to be: under the sun, by the sea, glass in hand, a bowl of briny olives within reach. Monsieur, a refill, s'il vous plaît!" - Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
