Clos St. Joseph Villars-sur-Var
Bright ruby to crimson in color. The nose leans toward red cherry, raspberry, violet, dried herbs, white pepper, and subtle earthy-mineral notes. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, and fresh, with delicate red-fruit profile, floral character. Clos Saint-Joseph is a tiny estate in Villars-sur-Var. The domaine occupies a small, isolated mountain region, notable for being the only Côtes de Provence estate in the Alpes-Maritimes. The property has long been family-owned, and today its wines emphasize traditional vineyard character, gentle extraction, and increasingly low-intervention cellar work.
Classification: AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)
Grape Varietal: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Feature: Organic, Sustainable
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Appellation: Provence
Grape Profile: Grenache adds bright red berry and strawberry notes with supple fruitiness. Syrah contributes deeper berry tones, spice nuance and fullness of palate. Mourvèdre adds earthy and herbal notes with dark fruits.
Region Profile: Villars-sur-Var sits well north of the Mediterranean coastline in the foothills of the Maritime Alps, making this a very different environment from the warmer coastal sectors typically associated with Provence. The vineyards are surrounded by mountains and planted on limestone-rich, gravelly, and clay-limestone soils. That altitude and inland setting give the wines greater freshness and restraint, while Provence's sunlight still provides sufficient ripeness.
Pair with: Grilled lamb. Barbecued pork. Beef stew. Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as vegetable ratatouille, couscous, and herb-roasted poultry. Aromatic cheeses like feta and blue cheeses.
