2025 Kysela
Pere & Fils Picpoul de Pinet
(France, Languedoc Roussillon, Picpoul de
Pinet)
$16
It's a grape,
it's an appellation, it's a grape...so the
argument goes. Both are correct as Picpoul is
the name of the varietal and the appellation
in the South of France.
This is a
total refresher for the warm weekend. Pale
yellow color, fresh citrus, Granny Smith
apple, and light grapefruit aromas, zesty
acidity, and a crisp, mineral-driven finish.
Brilliantly thirst-quenching.
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2025
Riofavara Moscato di Noto Mizzica
(Italy, Sicily, Moscato di Noto)
$24
You've
probably tasted 'that Moscato'; the Tuscan
lightly sprakling, lightly sweet white wine
that is ever popular with fruit tarts and
crostata.
Now imagine
the opposite; racy acidity, salty/savoury,
citrus notes mingling with orange blossom,
spice, and sea spray. That's this wine, and it
is electric!
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2025
Fattoria Moretto Lambrusco
Grasparossa di Castelvetro Secco
(Italy, Emilia-Romagna)
$25
We have two
great Lambruscos here at Renegade; now we have
three and this one just might be our favorite
(by a slim margin).
There's a deep
purple hue with a delicate, frothy mousse,
wild berries, crushed violets, plum preserves,
and a dusty mineral backbone.
Moretto sets the standard for dry sparkling
red wine; this new vintage is dangerously hard
to put down.
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2025 Bisson
Ciliegiolo
(Italy, Liguria, Golfo del Tigullio -
Portofino)
$26
We now arrive
at a most popular 'dark rose' or
light-chillable-red from Portofino. 100%
Ciliegiolo (chili-ah-joe-low). Bright, crisp,
refreshing (a theme it seems), loads of tangy
cherries, wild red berries, strawberry,
raspberry, and limestone minerality. Perhaps
our favorite Italian Rose.
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2024
Domaine Sérol Côte Roannaise Éclat de
Granite
(France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Côte
Roannaise)
$26.50
We are
captivated by the wines from Côte Roannaise;
specifically reds made from the Gamay Saint
Romain variety. Here they are grown on granite
at high elevation. Farming is certified
organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Biodyvin).
The results are hypnotizing.
Bright red
fruit, raspberry, red cherry, and crushed
strawberry, layered with white pepper, stony
minerality, and a hint of spice. This
chillable red pairs well with charcuterie,
steak frites, pork terrine, or grilled salmon,
to name a few dishes.
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2024
Terres d'Imaginaire - Mathilde Magne Obscur
(France, Loire Valley)
$34
The
grape here is Grolleau, a somewhat rare Loire varietal that is
scarcely ever bottled on its own. The talent behind this wine is
Mathilde Magne, who began her project, Terres d’Imaginaire, in
2022, after working alongside the great vingerons Sylvain
Pataille and Stefano Amerighi.
Again,
we have another crushable, chillable light red / dark Rosé that
cuts through the hot weather. Lots of savory energy
here, velvety texture, and crisp minerality. Red fruit
abounds along with ethereal bosen and black berry fruit and a
finish that lasts.
A wine
that's "frankly delicious" and more that once styled as
"pleasantly contagious". |
