We
began with ambition: 30 Under $30.
Then we realized how long the newsletter
would be. Instead we narrowed our
selections to 10 diverse favorites. Rose
from Corsica, Vino Verde from Portugal,
Rioja Reserva from Spain; you get the
picture.
These
are 10 Summer wines great while lounging
around the pool or working up a thirst
while grilling your favorite Summer
dishes.
As
always, read, relax, enjoy!
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We've
all enjoyed what we dubbed, 'The Oyster
Wine' from Lieu Dit these last five years.
For two years in a row it out sold every
local white wine, Chards and Sauv Blancs
included. Alas, the 'oyster wine', or Melon
as it was called on the label is no more.
The vineyard has been replanted; all that's
left are fond memories.
But
Lieu Dit did not take this lying down, no!
They have released a new wine with a new
label with more oyster shells; a wine with
bright acidity, zippy citrus, with a
savory edge, and a gorgeous finish. It is
still an 'oyster wine', seafood in general
wine, a great warm Summer wine (think
picnic). So let's rename the newsletter
and dive in.
10+1
under $30
#11:
2024
Lieu Dit Blanc de Mer $24
The
wine arrives at Renegade on Friday. We
are taking orders for the wine now, so
call or email to reserve your bottles
and we'll reach out when the delivery
truck arrives.
The
Other 10 Under $30
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Island
of Rose
2024
Domaine Poli
Sciacca + Nielluc Island of Rose
(France, Corsica) $18.50
Island
of Rose. It sounds better than Disneyland.
Corsica is well known for two things and
it's not red or white wine (although there
are great ones out there). No, Corsica is
famous for olive oil, and of course, Rose.
The
label is a play on the two grapes in the
Rose: Sciacarellu
and Niellucciu. Bright fruit -white
peach, ruby grapefruit, savory herbs and
refreshing acidity with a Summer day
finish; long and dry. A fabulous Rose at
at great price.
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Harmonize
2023
Anselmo Mendes Vinho Verde
Muros Antigos Escolha
(Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde)
$16.50
This
wine from the Vino Verde region has
finally made an appereance. Anselmo Mendes
is a master blender; this wine is 20%
Alvarinho, 40% Loureiro, 40% Avesso. And
he takes his craft seriously. No light
spritz on this one; just a serious yet
playful white that's a steal.
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Still,
Bright
2023
Xarmant Arabako Txakolina
(Spain, Arabako Txakolina) $25
If
you woke up this morning and said, “wow,
am I craving some Basque wine,” then you
are in luck. The grapes used here are the
traditional Basque region Hondarribi Zuri
and Hondarribi Beltza varieties, as well
as the less common local varieties of
Izkiriota, Izkiriota Ttippia and
Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia.
Intriguing aromas of lime and wet stones,
followed by fresh acidity, juicy lemon and
lime flavors. And it’s completely dry with
just the right amount of tartness. It’s a
zippy little number, and the flavors
really linger.
Here
are a few out of the box food pairing
suggestions:
Caprese
salad, tempeh bib bim bop, Zurrukutuna
(bread soup with salt cod), and black bean
tacos with chimichurri.
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3-Day
Wine
2023
Alfred Merkelbach Riesling trocken
(Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)
$26
This
utterly dry Riesling is lean and focused
on day 1.
Day
2, notes of citrus and mineral-ladden
orchard fruit emerge, but only slightly.
It's
on day 3 when this one really starts to
shine. Riper orchard fruit mingle with
tantalizing citrus, balanced with a
gorgeous mineral-acidity. It's a wine to
love, a wine to contemplate, a wine to
enjoy.
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Matelica!
2024
Collestefano Verdicchio
(Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica)
$26
Verdicchio
from the Matelica valley comes from
vineyards with some height (300-450m). The
warm days and cool nights retain the
wines' bright acidity and freshness. Racy,
vivid, savory, this is benchmark
Verdicchio. White flower aromas, subtle
tones of citrus, apple, and
peach...there's energy here that lingers
through the finish.
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Please
Chill (me)
2022
Stolpman Crunchy Rôastie Rainbow So
Fresh
(Santa Barbara County) $28.50
Early
picked Syrah co-fermented with a dollop of
Viognier, carbonic all the way, bottled
with perfect timing. This is a seriously
delicious Featherweight. Crunch with
class.
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Rare
and Wonderful
2023
Sottimano Maté
(Italy, Piedmont, Vino da Tavola) $24
Andrea
Sottimano and his father Rino produce
wines of outstanding quality from thirteen
lovingly cared for hectares in the Cottá,
Currá, Fausoni, Pajoré and Basarin crus in
the Treiso and Neive townships. What is
wonderfully surprising is this: besides
their fabulous Barbarescos, they produce a
terrific, affordable red from the rarely
seem Brachetto grape.
And we stress that this a dry red
as in decades passed the grape was used to
make sweet wines.
The nose is fruity, aromatic, and
perfumed, with aromas of wild
strawberries, red cherries, violets,
earth, sage, and licorice, leading into a
palate with firmly gripping tannins. There
is a Trousseau-like quality in its
lightness, but bay leaves and herbs show a
darker side. An endlessly fascinating wine
and for $24 it certainly over-delivers.
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Mind
Blown
2022
Zantho St. Laurent
(Austria, Burgenland) $15
Zantho
is a collaboration between two famed
Austrian winemakers Josef Umathum and
Wolfgang Peck. Their goal was (and is) to
create superb organic regional wines at a
weekday wine price. From our very first
sip we mentally congratulated them on
their success.
This
is a fabulous daily sipper. Medium bodied,
bright red berry fruit, balanced acidity,
long finish. As the wine opens up more
savory components emerge along with subtle
black pepper spice; boysenberry and
blackberry notes too.
This wine has no right to be this good at
this price.
If we told you this is a 'natural wine'
you might not try it, so we won't.
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Mind
Blown, Part II
2022
Tre Monti Sangiovese di Romagna
Superiore "Campo di mezzo"
(Italy, Emilia-Romagna) $18.50
One
sip and you'll stop and think, HOW? How is
this wine so great at this price? Our best
selling Italian red for three years in a
row. It has everything going for it. Ripe
red and black fruits contrasting subtle
citrus notes. A mineral staining
mid-palate, hints of sage, a touch of
aniseed (perhaps), and impressive length.
This punches well above its $.
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Finale
2019
Bodegas Ramirez Rioja Reserva Ramirez de la Piscina
(Spain, Rioja) $28
Ramirez
de la Piscina has historical depth: the family dates back to
the 12th century and while winemaking was certainly part of
their heritage it wasn't until 1973 that the winery was
formalized.
This
Reserva has great depth too; a classic red Rioja. Ripe dark
fruit balanced with red smoky berry fruit, graphite, herbs
(nutmeg?), earth (not scorched), with a wild streak
running through to the finish. Tri-tip, smoked brisket, ribs
all work and so does decanting for a few hours.
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