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It's a New Year, which means it's once again time for the Renegade Top 21 Wines.
2019 was a great year to taste wine (aren't they all). It was also the year we held more wine dinners than we did in the previous three years combined. While we love to taste, it's always a pleasure to get to know the wine when paired with the perfect plate. Our chefs around town really excelled for us in 2019.
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These 21 wines represent bottles of great quality, value, and discovery.
Selecting the wines was a challenge given that we tasted over 1200 wines last year. Going through our notes and thinking back to some of their stories and surprises we came up with these 21 for you.
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We look forward to sipping with everyone in 2020. Our event calander will begin to fill out in the days to come (we just booked Bibi Graetz from Tuscany for October 5).
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In the meantime enjoy our Top 21 of 2019.
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2018 Antonelli San Marco Trebbiano Spoleto (Italy, Umbria) $22
Legendary Umbrian winemaker Filippo Antonelli visited us in September to pour his entire line-up. We chose this white because it had such great texture and balance. And on day three the wine was only getting better.
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Domaine Macle Ouille (France, Jura) $44
Since 1850 the Macle family has been making wine in Cotes du Jura. We selected this wine not because of the mere 1000 bottles that were produced, but because this wine with a bite of Comte cheese is a heavenly match. |
2016 Amorotti Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italy, Abuzzi) $45
The star winemaker at Raw Wine last year. We didn't go but as luck would have it we were able to taste with the importer.
It's a wickedly good red with silky smooth tannins, complex earth and dark fruit notes, shinning minerality, and a stellar finish. And as this wine was at Raw Wine, it is, as they say in the Mosel, "Nichts rein, nichts raus".
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2018 Domaine des Grillemonts Rose (France, Loire Valley, Saumur) $18.50
This was a no brainer and our biggest selling Rose of 2019. Wildly savory, a hint of spice, gorgeous flavors and a finish that keeps the bottle flowing.
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Villa Sandi Prosecco Vigna La Rivetta (Italy, Veneto) $46.50
More cases of this wine went out the door at Renegade than at Eataly LA last year. I think we know something they do not.
Superb quality in this single vineyard Prosecco.
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2017 Luna Hart Cabernet Franc (Santa Barbara County ) $30
Gretchen Voelcker began this label a couple years back and upon tasting we knew this was something special. We are excited about the tremendous quality that goes into the bottle.
If you are looking for an exceptional Cab Franc then look no further.
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2016 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer (France, Alsace) $28
The gold medal of Gewurzt! It's always been consistantly good. 2016 was stunning. We love this wine with Dim Sum at China Pavillion and are always incredibly happy when we have a glass of this no matter where we are.
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2016 Domaine Jean Fournier Es Chezots (France, Burgundy, Marsannay) $48.50
Domaine Jean Fournier is seen as one of the best producers of Marsannay and winemaker Laurent Fournier is certainly at the forefront of elevating Marsannay as a wine region. We visited him last February and what a funny, animated man this guy is. And this was before the 3 hour lunch! From vines plated betweem 1921 & 1945 on Marl “oestra acuminata” (fossilized oysters). Brilliant clean juice, a bold streak of minerality, a healthy finish makes this Pinot one of our favorites.
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2016 Max Richter Riesling Graacher Domprobst Alte Reben (Germany, Mosel) $32
Let's begin with this fact: 11 generations of winemaking - founded in 1680. That's going a long way back.
As for this particular bottle: Scents of grapefruit peel, walnut and black currant set the stage for a grippingly piquant palate performance and finish that boast both ample fresh fruit juiciness and mouthwatering salinity. Lingering texture of wet stone accompanies the experience from nose to tail.
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2018 Bruno Giacosa Arneis (Italy, Piedmont, Roero) $30
This wine could be in out Top 21 every single year. It's always are best selling Italian white. It's the wine we choose to enjoy with butter noodles & pesto, roast chicken, grilled salmon, everything really. It versatile and addicting. |
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2016 Francois Crochet Rouge (France, Loire Valley, Sancerre) $38.50
We've had decent Pinot Noir from the Loire. And a few that were even pretty darn good. The first sip of this beauty and we knew there was something very special in the bottle.
"Tempting aromas of wine fill the nose" goes one pretty silly review. Ours is a little more precise: Gorgeous layers of red and dark berry fruit. A precise balance from start to finish. Hints of forest floor and a deeply brilliant finish.
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