Kermit Lynch was raised in San Luis Obispo, but his name has become synonymous with French and Italian wines. In 1972, with a $5,000 loan and maybe a bit of gumption, this writer/musician opened Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant with thirty-five cases of wine stacked on the floor. Attracted by the Old World wine cultures of Europe, Kermit became a retailer, distributor, and national importer for authentic wines that express their terroir. Much like his close friends, the late food writer Richard Olney and Chez Panisse’s founder Alice Waters, Kermit’s influence has been enduring. He has had so much success shining the spotlight on small, artisan producers that he has won two James Beard awards and was knighted by the French government with their prestigious “Legion d’Honneur.”
Kermit’s creative nature continues to extend beyond the two doors of his Berkeley storefront. In 1998, he purchased the historic Domaine Les Pallières in Gigondas in partnership with his friends, the Brunier brothers of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. In addition to having three books published, Adventures on the Wine Route (1988, Veuve Cliquot Wine Book of the Year), Inspiring Thirst (2004), and the 25th Anniversary Edition: Adventures on the Wine Route (2013), his passion for roots music has driven him to record five CDs so far. Kermit and his wife, photographer Gail Skoff, divide their time between Berkeley, California and Provence, France—where Kermit says he is “near enough to Domaine Tempier that I can fill up the trunk of my car whenever I need to.”
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Kermit Lynch import, Northern Rhone Syrah
Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah:
• Grapes are 80% de-stemmed
• 10 day maceration in temperature-controlled cuves
• Daily pump-overs and punch-downs
• Malolactic fermentation in demi-muids
• Aged for 6 months in 3 to 10 year old demi–muids
• Vineyards are located on plateaus at higher altitude than Saint Joseph
Savoie white wine Chignin Mondeuse “Vieilles Vignes”:
• Hand harvested
• Grapes are not crushed and some whole bunches are added to the cuve
• Maceration lasts 12 to 15 days
• Wine is aged in foudre for one year before bottling
• Neither fined nor filtered
The Savoie is a picture of fairy-tale perfection: snow-capped peaks, green rolling hills, wildflowers, and cold, sparkling mountain streams. This idyllic region hugs the western Alps, where Michel Quenard farms twenty-two hectares of vineyards along the steep, terraced slopes of the Coteau de Torméry around Chignin. The limestone scree that dominates this vineyard land has…
The Savoie is a picture of fairy-tale perfection: snow-capped peaks, green rolling hills, wildflowers, and cold, sparkling mountain streams. This idyllic region hugs the western Alps, where Michel Quenard farms twenty-two hectares of vineyards along the steep, terraced slopes of the Coteau de Torméry around Chignin. The limestone scree that dominates this vineyard land has…
Castagnoli is a small estate in Castellina in Chianti on the western edge of the Chianti Classico DOCG. This estate possesses a striking terroir, one of Chianti’s most beautiful. Steep terraces are carved out of a western facing amphitheatre below the winery. The soil is highly decomposed and flaky galestro schist. The Sangiovese vines are pruned…
Les Charmes is a tease; however enticing the nose and playful the palate, a firm finish suggests even more generosity to come. But why wait when it’s winking at you now?
Deep in the southwest of France, amidst dramatic rock formations and cliffs, the Lot River slowly snakes its way along the valley floor, coiling covetously around the charming town of Cahors. The diversity in architecture serves as a proud historical mark left by many previous generations of inhabitants. Once a former Roman town, Cahors was…
A rich, full, aromatic mid-palate to complement the clean finish. These are the perfect go-to whites that pair well with anything from fish to poultry, picnic fare to Indian curries.
Blend : Malbec, Merlot. Traditional vinification. Grapes are sorted and de-stemmed after the harvest. Each vineyard parcel is vinified separately. Wine is fermented in stainless steel with daily punch-downs. Fermentation lasts anywhere from 15 to 18 days. Wine is blended in January and aged in foudre and 1-2 years old barrels from Bordeaux grand cru…
Thierry Germain made the move away from the Gironde to the Loire Valley in 1991, taking possession of Domaine des Roches Neuves in Varrains, just on the outskirts of Saumur. Shortly afterwards he was followed by his father, Bernard, although in his case it might be more appropriate to say he came up to the…
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