Renardat Fache 'Comme Dans La Cave a Mémé' Bugey Rouge NV

Press 4 Red • May 2023 Direct Press Selection

This fun and festive 100% Gamay is a new offering from Renardat Fache, who is more known for their swoon-worthy sparkling reds that come from the tiny Cerdon du Bugey village of Mérignat where the Renardarts have been vignerons for 7 generations. They farm 13 hectares of Gamay and Poulsard organically; now biodynamic-certified as of the 2022 vintage. The vineyards are located on high, rolling, wooded, and steep hills made of rocky clay-limestone soils.

'Comme Dans La Cave a Mémé' roughly translates to 'just like in Grandma's cellar,' which speaks to the simple, old-fashioned pleasure of this thirst-quenching heart-warmer. While tasting this wine I learned the story of the barrel on the label. The winemaker likes for you to climb in the foudrè with him through a tiny opening. Once inside you are treated to a few glasses of the wine from his cellar. Reminds me of the Bill Callahan lyric from From the Rivers to the Ocean: ”Well, I can tell you about the river or we could just get in.” This is that type of wine, a festive wine that wafts black cherry, black pepper and a hint of wax while that black cherry explodes on the palate followed by a slight menthol, peppery finish with ample acidity to make a great food pairing wine. Jeremy Hernandez