Kermit Lynch Blends - Southern Rhône
Over forty years of doing business in France and Italy have given Kermit Lynch a level of expertise that few in the wine industry can boast. Countless hours with growers in some of the most famous vineyards and cellars of Europe have offered more than just a casual look at what it takes to be a great grower, let alone a great winemaker. Kermit Lynch was the first to champion the benefits of unfined and unfiltered wines, long before they had become fashionable. This belief is really a matter of taste, and the proof has always been in the glass, offering a purer expression of fruit and an unadulterated reflection of the terroir. Kermit’s conviction has been so strong over the years that he has been able to persuade even the most hard-headed vignerons to test his theories.
Long-term relationships with vignerons in every major wine growing region offer a tremendous array of opportunities. Every year, Kermit enjoys a creative collaboration with some growers to find the best of their selections. Together, they work towards creating a final blend that showcases the region in all its glory at a price point that is difficult to match.
VIN DE PAYS DE VAUCLUSE
Sourced from the terroirs around Domaine de Durban (click here for more information), the grapes for this red Rhône are sourced from parcels next to the village of Beaumes-de-Venise. These vineyards were traditionally used for the family’s personal consumption, and many of the unused grapes were sold off in bulk. As none of this was for commercial bottling, the Leydier family made no effort to have these parcels included in the A.O.C. Côtes du Rhône when the boundaries were first established in 1937. Upon hearing that the family had been selling these grapes to the local cave cooperative in Vacqueyras, Kermit presented the Leydiers the idea of creating a value-driven second label. The plan soon evolved into a collaboration between the family and Kermit. Together, they bottle both a Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge and Blanc.
CÔTES DU RHÔNE
The growing success we have enjoyed over the last three vintages is proof enough that the KL Côtes du Rhône fits both the taste profile and quality standards that our customers have come to expect. Since 1929, this winery has been bringing local vignerons together from the outlying areas of Avignon in the Southern Rhône to produce delicious wines that epitomize the region’s complex terroirs. Kermit works closely with winemaker Jean-François Pasturel to develop the blend. Pasturel is thrilled to be able to have the chance to produce a Côtes du Rhône he does not have to filter to death. It is his tête de cuvée, his pride and joy.
Over forty years of doing business in France and Italy have given Kermit Lynch a level of expertise that few in the wine industry can boast. Countless hours with growers in some of the most famous vineyards and cellars of Europe have offered more than just a casual look at what it takes to be a great grower, let alone a great winemaker. Kermit Lynch was the first to champion the benefits of unfined and unfiltered wines, long before they had become fashionable. This belief is really a matter of taste, and the proof has always been in the glass, offering a purer expression of fruit and an unadulterated reflection of the terroir. Kermit’s conviction has been so strong over the years that he has been able to persuade even the most hard-headed vignerons to test his theories.
Long-term relationships with vignerons in every major wine growing region offer a tremendous array of opportunities. Every year, Kermit enjoys a creative collaboration with some growers to find the best of their selections. Together, they work towards creating a final blend that showcases the region in all its glory at a price point that is difficult to match.
VIN DE PAYS DE VAUCLUSE
Sourced from the terroirs around Domaine de Durban (click here for more information), the grapes for this red Rhône are sourced from parcels next to the village of Beaumes-de-Venise. These vineyards were traditionally used for the family’s personal consumption, and many of the unused grapes were sold off in bulk. As none of this was for commercial bottling, the Leydier family made no effort to have these parcels included in the A.O.C. Côtes du Rhône when the boundaries were first established in 1937. Upon hearing that the family had been selling these grapes to the local cave cooperative in Vacqueyras, Kermit presented the Leydiers the idea of creating a value-driven second label. The plan soon evolved into a collaboration between the family and Kermit. Together, they bottle both a Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge and Blanc.
CÔTES DU RHÔNE
The growing success we have enjoyed over the last three vintages is proof enough that the KL Côtes du Rhône fits both the taste profile and quality standards that our customers have come to expect. Since 1929, this winery has been bringing local vignerons together from the outlying areas of Avignon in the Southern Rhône to produce delicious wines that epitomize the region’s complex terroirs. Kermit works closely with winemaker Jean-François Pasturel to develop the blend. Pasturel is thrilled to be able to have the chance to produce a Côtes du Rhône he does not have to filter to death. It is his tête de cuvée, his pride and joy.
Technical Information
| Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Blanc |
50% Viognier, 50% Chardonnay | 18 years | Clay, Limestone | 2.5 ha |
| Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge |
55% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot, 10% Marselan | 18 years | Clay, Limestone | 3.5 ha |
| Côtes du Rhône Rouge |
Varies: Primarily Grenache, with Syrah, Cinsault, and Carignan | 40 years average | Alluvial with galets roulés (rounded riverbed stones) | 36 ha |
| Côtes du Rhône Rouge “Cypress Cuvée” |
Varies : Primarily Grenache, with Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre | 40 years average | Marl, Limestone | 36 ha |
| * "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres | ||||
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• All blends are subject to change, vintage to vintage. See specific wines below for details by vintage.
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Blanc : • Made for Kermit by Domaine de Durban
• Harvested by hand
• Grapes ferment by carbonic maceration in temperature-controlled, stainless steel cuves
• Grapes pressed gently by pneumatic press
• Wine ages for 6 months in cuves before bottling
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge : • Made by Domaine de Durban • Harvested by hand
• Grapes are 100% de-stemmed
• Grapes ferment by carbonic maceration in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks for approximately 20 days• Wine ages for 4 months in stainless steel before being bottled unfiltered
Côtes du Rhône Rouge :
• Grapes sourced from the commune of Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, a village eligible for the Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC with alluvial soils of galets roulés similar to those of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Wine is made by Jean-François Pasturel at Terres d’Avignon
• Vinification is traditional, with only natural yeasts, in temperature-controlled, cement cuves
• Maceration lasts approximately 25 days
• Wine is aged in cement tank before bottling• Bottled unfined and unfiltered
• 2021 blend: 48% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 1% Marselan, 1% Cinsault
• 2020 blend: 64% Grenache, 21% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 6% Carignan, 1% Marselan
• 2019 blend: 62% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre, 9% Carignan
Côtes du Rhône Rouge “Cypress Cuvée” :
• Proprietary blend purchased from Terres d’Avignon
• Natural fermentation, vinified and aged in cement tanks
• Bottled unfined and unfiltered
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Southern Rhône
- Appellation(s)
- Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Côtes du Rhône
- Producer
- Various
- Farming
- Lutte Raisonnée
