# Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge Selected by Kermit Lynch (2024)

- **Producer:** Kermit Lynch (Selected by)
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €18
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, black pepper, lavender, herbaceous, smoke

## About this wine

This Côtes du Rhône Villages is a custom cuvée curated by legendary US importer Kermit Lynch. Sourced from high-quality vineyards in the Southern Rhône Valley, this wine represents a collaboration with local growers who practice traditional, sustainable viticulture. Kermit Lynch's selection process emphasizes terroir expression, minimal intervention, and classic regional character, offering an authentic taste of the Rhône's sun-drenched hillsides without excessive oak or extraction.

## Interesting facts

- Kermit Lynch was one of the first American importers to champion unfiltered, minimally sulfur-treated wines from the Rhône Valley.
- This custom blend is specifically curated to showcase the rustic elegance and value of the Southern Rhône's village-level terroirs.
- The wine is aged in concrete vats rather than small oak barrels to preserve its bright, primary fruit and stony minerality.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-to-full body, moderate tannins, and bright acidity make it an exceptionally versatile partner for savory, herb-infused dishes. The rustic, earthy undertones of the Grenache-Syrah blend complement roasted meats, game, and dishes seasoned with Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, and lavender.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed before fermentation. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel or concrete vats to preserve the vibrant fruit character. The wine is aged primarily in concrete tanks or large neutral oak foudres to avoid dominant wood flavors, maintaining the purity of the Southern Rhône terroir. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered, in line with Kermit Lynch's importing philosophy.