Clos Sainte Magdeleine "Cassis Rosé" Provence, France 2025

FROM KERMIT LYNCH:

THE WINE: 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre. The Cassis rosé gets the award for vines with the best view. Situated in Provence, perched on a limestone promontory that reaches right out into the blue Mediterranean, the vineyard gives us an aromatic, supple, dry rosé. Serve it with a bowl of black olives for the blend of flavors and colors.

THE PRODUCER: Viticulture and vinification at Clos Sainte Magdeleine are under the direction of Jonathan Sack, who took the reins from his father, François, in 2008. The domaine bottles both whites and rosés, the latter of which are especially limited. Sack completed conversion to organic viticulture in 2012, a philosophic progression after years of sustainable farming. He has also introduced new ideas from concrete egg vinification to experimentation with Vermentino, exploring the immense potential of this striking maritime terroir with curiosity and precision. The seaside location and abundant limestone yield delicate, mineral wines perfumed of wild herbs and flowers, with a trademark saline finish. Clos Sainte Magdeleine’s success lies in an uncanny ability to capture a dichotomous nerve and sun-kissed unctuousness in their wines, making them both incredibly food-friendly and delicious entirely on their own.