In This Issue: Cheap Krug, Cru Barbaresco, Cool Cabs, Coulee de Serrant, Brilliant New Arrivals.
 Krug Grand Cuvee 375ml ($68 - reg 115) There's lots to love in this little bottle. Thanks to the Krug ID number on the bottle (314046), we can tell you that the juice in this bottle is a blend from 127 different wines from 11 different years, the oldest wine harvested in 1990 and the youngest from 2008. For us it's simply a smile in a bottle. |
 2014 Ground Effect Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon - Santa Ynez Valley ($18 - reg 34) We can see you scratching your head while looking at the price. A local Cab for under $20 that's drinkable? This is more than drinkable. It's delightful. A medium-bodied, smooth, velvety Cabernet with grapes sourced primarily from Happy Canyon. This could very well be your new house red. |
 2014 Daniel Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Bellacosa ($22) While we're on the subject of great Cabs for a great price here's one from Napa Valley with grapes sourced from Beckstoffer, Oakville, and Rutherford. Delicious, supple, savory. Lovely food wine. |
 2011 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Ovello & Paje Riserva ($55 ea) The Crus have arrived; single vineyard delights from Barbaresco. 2011 was a gorgeous vintage in Barbaresco. - The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello, from one of the coolest zones in Barbaresco, is superb. Here it is the wine's precision and energy that really stand out. Pine, mint, chalk, bright red berries, blood orange and white pepper are some of the signatures in a brilliant, finely-cut Barbaresco that captures the best of both the vintage and this site. Don't miss it! - The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is one of the most classic of these 2011 Riservas. Beams of underlying acidity and minerality give the flavors considerable thrust and brightness. Sweet mentholated notes wrap around a core of plush, red-fleshed plum and pomegranate fruit, leading to a brisk, refreshing finish. What is left to say? The 2011 Pajè is absolutely gorgeous. It's as simple as that. |
 20113 La Follette Chardonnay North Coast ($22) Greg La Follette -previous from Tandem fame- has created a wonderfully, brilliant Chardonnay thats elegant & energentic. Lemon-citrus zest, brioche and lemon verbena. Asian pear, green apple and just a hint of toast. Lovely, lovely, Chardonnay. |
 2014 Antiquum Farm Pinot Noir 'Juel' ($40) Stephen Hagen bought the property in 1999 and planted about 21 acres of wine grapes. The vines are farmed organically and many sheep, ducks, geese, and dogs roamed among the vines creating a diverse eco-system. Plowing is done with two Belgian draft horses (think biodynamic without the 'magic' as he told us). - The wine is Power, Structure, and Finesse in perfect balnce. Antiquum Farm is unusual in its ability to ripen lush fully mature deep dark fruit, and yet retain abundant natural acidity. This interplay creates an exciting tension that is rarely experienced. This vineyard produces mouth loads of fine-grained fruit-driven tannin. Although we rarely carry Oregon Pinot Noirs at Renegade Wines, this is one we just had to have. It's a Pinot unlike any other. |
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 2014 Grosjean Petite Arvine Vallee d'Aosta ($26.50) Here's a fun little wine that we discovered at Restaurant Perbacco in San Francisco (if you've never been you have to go!). First a few fun facts: Vallee d'Aoste is the smallest appellation, producing the least amount of wine, from the highest vineyards in Italy. The Petite Arvine vines lies at 2300 foot elevation. Organic since 1975. The wine undergoes a long fermentation on the lees, which produces an alluring creamy note with bright and fragrant aromas of apricot, cool green melon, citrus and fennel. C'est Cheese may still have some cheese in stock from this region, and if they do grab some and try it with this wine. It's incredible! |
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2012 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulee de Serrant ($96) |
Renegade Wines
417 Santa Barbara Street Suite A-6
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-568-1961
www.renegadewines.com
