Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone GSM 2023, Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, France

This wine has the elegance of Pinot Noir, but with a little more weight as Grenache (56%) lends (just a little) more alcohol, and more purple than red fruit that you naturally get from Grenache, plus all of those savory notes from the Syrah (25%), Carignan-Mourvedre-Cinsault (19%), that add light shades of lavender, pepper, savory tones, provencal herbs, and garrigue. 

This blend is sourced from gobelet-trained vines on the nearby plateau of Signargues, which features the same rocky alluvial soils as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, just across the Rhône. The endless expanse of galets roulés (polished riverbed stones) that litter the ground is the ideal terroir for producing wines of great character and typicity in this iconic sun-baked region, and is enhanced by aging in concrete tanks for 10-12 months. This wine aims for maximum drinkability, and accordingly, you’ll find plenty of hedonistic, purple-tinged fruit in this wine, along with a hint of wild herbs and lovely floral notes akin to lavender and violets. A touch of supple tannin and a stony finish provide texture and just enough grit to this smooth-flowing rouge. It is a plump, yet delightfully juicy Rhône red that can be sipped casually with a slight chill as an apéritif or on movie night, but has enough weight to stand up to more.

The label, designed by celebrated French artist Michel Tolmer, hints at the bottling’s playful balance, and travelers might recognize the likeness of the nearby Pont du Gard and Mont Ventoux.

PAIRING: Burgers, pizza, grilled meats, Mediterranean cuisine, spicy dishes.