2017 Clos Saint-Joseph, Mediterranee Rouge, Cuvee Speciale

Following a severe 2017 hailstorm that devastated the estate’s own harvest, Roch Sassi of Clos Saint-Joseph demonstrated producer integrity by sourcing fruit from a coalition of esteemed Provençal vignerons to assemble this *Cuvee Speciale*. While the origin of the grapes shifted from the domaine’s high-altitude, limestone-rich Villars-sur-Var enclave to a broader selection of top-tier southern sites, the winemaking remains rooted in Sassi’s low-intervention philosophy: natural fermentation, avoidance of fining, and minimal filtration. The resulting blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon reflects a warmer, more robust expression of the region, manifesting as a wine of notable density and structural presence. Despite these challenging vintage conditions, the composition maintains a balanced architecture, with a grounding, rustic depth and a persistent, fine-grained tannic structure that favors concentration over artifice.