I’m not super comfortable talking about French or European wine picks. Or really any wine except the California favorites I know and love. But I do know who to trust to source those European bottles, and that will always be Kermit Lynch.
A distributor and retailer, Kermit Lynch imports wine from small, artisan French and Italian producers. He’s won two James Beard awards and been knighted by the French Government with the Legion d’Honneur. I first learned about “Kermit” and his wines from my father-in-law. He usually has some of Kermit’s signature Bandol from Domaine Tempier tucked away. On warm Southern California afternoons, he’ll graciously uncork a bottle and pour everyone a cool and refreshing glass of Bandol. Sitting under shady umbrellas around an outdoor table with a glass of Bandol might be one of life’s great escapes. It’s also a great way to keep a house full of visiting family mollified. But I digress…
So, when I walked into Houston Wine Merchant looking for the perfect inexpensive bottle for our Easter dinner menu, I gravitated towards this 2015 Chateau Graville-Lacoste simply because it had a Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant sticker on the front. The seal of approval! I was pleasantly surprised when I took it home for a taste test — it’s just as good for sipping as it is for food.
A blend of mostly Semillon from Bordeaux and some Sauvignon Blanc, this graves blanc is a classic crisp and mineral white. My friends at Houston Wine Merchant recommend pairing it with my jezebel crusted Easter ham, but said it would be just as good with roasted halibut or grilled chicken. The best part is you can take it home for only $22.99, which is a total steal.
Available at Houston Wine Merchant.
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