2023 Kir-Yianni - Assyrtiko Florina The North

I went out of my way last year to visit this beautiful property located right in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers between the Garonne and the Dordogne, not far from Saint-Émilion. A very beautiful terroir, and their Merlot based red is easy-drinking yet has some very fine complexity. WSJ columnist Lettie Teague wrote up the Chateau after we sent her a bottle to try for one of her columns. Perfect burger on the grill wine! -Phil

"...an under-the-radar favorite among KLWM staff but also was named winemaker of the year by multiple French magazines in recent years. So it follows that such a talented vigneron is able to find finesse where many others find power.
     Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d’Aupilhac does so by blending organically grown Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, and a splash of Alicante Bouchet, and aging half the blend in foudre and the other half in stainless steel for six months. He uses a light vinification and these aging vessels to preserve fresh, juicy fruit characteristics without extracting too much tannic structure. The result is simultaneously elegant and full of the aromas and flavors we associate with this slice of France..."

-Importer notes (Kermit Lynch)

Chateau de Saint Martin is one of the most premium producers in the appellation of Provence. Its vineyards are overlooked by a large Chateau built in 1740. The original site was a priory of the monks of Lerins, with the old cellars underneath still intact and dating from the 12th century. The vineyards of Chateau de Saint Martin sit at an altitude of up to 130 metres, and lie at the junction of two distinct geological zones, offering an unique terroir. Classified as a "Cru Classe," Saint Martin produces some of the finest Provencal Rose in the world, as well as other reds and whites in smaller amounts.