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We are over the moon at the new treasure trove of wines that just arrived from Lyra Wine, Italian Importer extraordinaire.
Their portfolio is top-notch and as the year progress we will certainly hold tastings and events with their wines.
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In the meantime please begin your Italian wine odyssey with these new Renegade Arrivals:
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Ronchi Di Cialla, meaning “hills of Cialla”, is located in a small valley surrounded by chestnut, oak and wild cherry woods in the DOC Friuli Colli Orientali. The story begins in 1970 when Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi bought a property here for the purpose of growing local grape varieties. At the time, they were making their living selling Olivetti typewriters, but they found a property for sale near the border with Yugoslavia, abandoned since the Iron Curtain had fallen twenty-five years earlier.
Paolo and Dina wanted to concentrate on local grapes exclusively.
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Their research suggested that Verduzzo, Picolit, Ribolla Gialla, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Schioppettino had traditionally been the most appreciated and popular vines.
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Schioppettino in particular was an interesting case: the only traces were in ancient manuscripts and in the memory of the elders, and it was officially considered extinct. Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi managed to find about 70 surviving vines in the valley and nearby, which enabled them to propagate a whole new vineyard and resuscitate Schioppettino from the brink of extinction.
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Today the winery produces world-class wines from these varietals.
These three just arrived:
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2015 Ronchi di Cialla Refosco
(Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali del Friuli)
On Sale at $18/bottle
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This is a fantastic introduction to the wines of Ronchi di Cialla and the Refosco grape.
Intense red in color, with fleeting purplish reflections, this wine offers aromas of licorice, blackberry and spices.
On the palate, it is dry and full-bodied, a gorgeous wine with great elegance.
Try it paired with grilled Tri-Tip, wine braised beef with mushrooms, lasagna with bechamel and porcini,
or even chili con carne.
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2010 Ronchi di Cialla Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
(Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali del Friuli)
$48
With 11 years of age this is just beginning to hit its stride. Compared to the Refosco grape above, this 'clone', Refosco dal Peduncolo, is known for its great aging potential, wide dimension, and glorious harmony. What a winner!
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1999 Ronchi di Cialla Collio Schioppettino Rosso
(Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio)
$78
And then there’s this beauty: a 22 year old wine from the nearly once extinct Schioppettino grape.
Another one of Italy's treasures. We've tasted this wine going back to the 1993 vintage only a few years ago and it was still bright, beguiling, and glowing. This 1999 captures the essence of what Italian wines can achieve.
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2017 Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo Fralu (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC) $34
We are so excited to bring this producer back to Renegade after all these years. Bruno Rocca is world class; in the top tier.
Here are the tasting notes:
In the glass, the wine pours a brilliant ruby color. The nose is resplendent with notes of fresh raspberries, black cherries and red flowers. On the palate, the wine is focused and energetic with soft tannins and lively acidity to frame the fresh fruit and floral flavors. Bruno's Fralu Nebbiolo is a charming example of the grape, sure to impress first time drinkers and seasoned connoisseurs.
Enjoy with mushroom pasta dishes or marinated flank steak.
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2019 Quintodecimo Falanghina Via del Campo
(Italy, Campania, Irpinia)
$62
We tasted this wine, this beautiful wine, a few years ago at a famous wine-bar in Verona after Vin Italy. It was the first glass of the evening and it was recommended to us after the bartender could not believe we had never heard of the winery.
This white wine was eye-opening. It takes the Falanghina varietal to unmeasured heights (we wonder if the Roman emperors thought this way as it was a wine favored by them).
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This is flat out the finest example of Falanghina we've ever tasted and that’s not nearly high enough praise – this is a profoundly terrific white wine.
We'll save our tasting notes to compare with yours at a later date.
DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!
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 2018 Benanti Etna Rosso
(Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC)
$26.50
This Nerello Mascalese dominant blend shows ashy flavors of red fruit, sour cherries, and wet earth. Persistent minerality and lip-smacking acidity makes this wine one of our top go-to picks at the moment!
We LOVE Benanti.
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Cerbaiona (Molinari) Vino Rosso Vino da Tavola
(Italy, Tuscany, Vino da Tavola)
$30
From famed Brunello producer Cerbaiona is this gorgeous Sangiovese.
Plum, raspberry, and a little earth on the nose. On the palate, dark cherry and more plum with notes of savory herbs and earth, with moderate tannins and good acidity on the long finish.
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Their Brunellos are legendary (and we have a few) but this Rosso is legendary too for the quality vs. price.
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Located in the tiny Valle d’Aosta region of northwestern-most Italy, in the shadow of Alpine peaks like Mont Blanc and The Matterhorn, the Institut Agricole Regional is the local school of oenology and viticulture, which, like many other Northern Italian agricultural schools of its kind, makes and markets its own line of wines.
Not only do they produce delicious, critically acclaimed wines from the school’s vineyards, they give you a master’s thesis worth of information right there on the wine’s label, if you speak Italian.
The real story here is what’s inside the bottle:
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2017 Institut Agricole Regional Pinot Noir (Italy, Valle d'Aosta)
On Sale for $24
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Pale ruby red with a complex bouquet in which balsamic, undergrowth and red fruit aromas are highlighted. Fresh and elegant; a beautifully delicate Pinot Noir.
4000 bottles made.
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Call or email 805.568.1961 to reserve yours and we'll have it ready ASAP for curbside pickup
or in store pick up (or even delivery if you like)
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Thank you for your support.
Renegade Wines
417 Santa Barbara Street Suite A-6
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-568-1961
www.renegadewines.com
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