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2023
For The Land Chardonnay
(Santa Barbara County) $28
Chances
are you have not heard of this one before. That's
because this is the inaugural release. A joint
project between Jessica Gasca (Story of Soil) and
Daniel Berman (Rincon Wine Group).
This has all the
elegant finesse of a truly wonderful Chardonnay;
balanced, layered, fresh; a sunset wine if there
ever was one. Drinks way above its price-point.
2022
Bodegas Godelia Bierzo Godello
(Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo) $26
Like
no Godello you've ever experienced before!
We haven't been
excited about Godello in years. The dozen or so
we've tasted (looking back in our notes) were
boring, flabby, rich. Not this one! Nice acidity,
cool climate fruit of citrus, green melon, and
there's a complexity that surprises. Throw in notes
of stone fruit, elegant minerality and swift saline
hints and you have one heck of a wine.
2021
Antoine Sanzay Saumur Blanc
Les Salles Martin
(France, Loire Valley, Saumur) $58
Sanzay is a master
of, well, everything he creates. This wine is a true
expression of the elegance and freshness that Chenin
Blanc can offer in the Loire region. Intense and
complex with great structure and texture. Our other
wine notes also include citrus fruit, ripe pear,
apple tart and some honey blossom, subtle
spice...almonds, ginger and a fine finish. Thinking
back...fine finish? Probably meant lengthy, or
dazzling.
2022
Mas Doix Priorat Les Crestes (Spain,
Catalunya, Priorat) $34
First off, the
blend, a classic Priorat (if there was such a thing)
of 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Syrah, from wild
country (check
out the intro on their site). Destemmed then
stainless steel before aging in concrete tank (25%),
large oak vats (25%) and used French oak barrels
(50%). The result is a fresh, fruit forward,
powerful wine, but of good judgement. Aromatic with
dark fruit and haunting spice, perfect for that rack
of lamb, or sipping before a (when it finally gets
chilly again) roaring fire.
2022
Herman Story Milk & Honey
(Paso Robles) $72
80%
Tempranillo, 20% Syrah
And
then there's this -tasting note- from the Herman
Story website. Had to share!
"Word
around town is that the late-shift bartender at
The Excelsior Lounge tells fortunes based on your
order. So of course you’re there on a Tuesday
night, tearing the menu a new one, just to see
what she says. Bistecca fiorentina with a bleu
cheese tower, porcini mushrooms in sage-infused
motor oil, cacao-loaded dueling pistols,
plum-jam-slathered Cartier watches,
elderflower-encrusted crocodile, blackberry
bourbon on repeat. She serves the plates one after
another, and when she predicts you’ll want a
dessert menu, you know she’s the real deal."
Another real deal?
This wine.
2022
Ampelos Pinot Noir
(Sta. Rita Hills) $30
We've
been searching for a outstanding local Pinot Noir
to share for $30...for sometime. We could have
circled the globe.
Last week we were
treated to quite the surprise: this wine. The price
was perfect, the vineyard practices immaculate (100%
sustainable, organic and biodynamic), and the weight
(medium-fresh), the taste (savory goodness), the
finish (more please and thank you) were just right!
2010
Château Cantenac Brown
(France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux) $128
This
has pedigree.
Fourteen years young
and it's still as impressive as the six year old
(wine) it was when we tasted it blind down in Los
Angeles at one of those "200 wines to taste today"
Trade Tastings. It was the stand out then, and is
still top-notch today. Give this one-two hours to
open and watch out. Perfect for the upcoming
holidays.
2022
Domaine Denis Mortet Marsannay Les Longeroies
(France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay) $125
Marsannay,
you read, then see the price.
Marsannay you mutter. One-Twenty-Five.
But
back in the day, when you wanted to treat yourself
to an expensive dinner in Burgundy you'd sit down
at, say, The Hôtel de la Côte-d'Or in
Saulieu, arguably the crown jewel of Burgundian
gastronomy in the 1930s (40s, 50s, 60s...you get
the idea).
You'd
drool over the wine list, compare prices,
vintages, producers, and more often than naught,
you'd settle on a red wine from Marsannay. After
all if you wanted the best and most expensive
Marsannay was it; Musigny played second fiddle.
Back to present
times, the quality of Marsannay wines has come up in
the world and some of the juice is Grand Cru worthy.
This is a prime example.
2016
Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT
(Italy, Tuscany) $110
This beauty has been
resting in the cellar for a few years and is just
coming out of its slumber. In 2016 Bibi Graetz was
still making his wines in the family castle, riding
a wave of near perfect scores for his wine, and
living the Toscana life high. There are only a
handful of bottles available so reach out if you're
interested
Call
805.568.1961 or email
us if interested.
We appreciate your support!
Renegade
Wines
417 Santa Barbara Street Suite A-6
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-568-1961
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