2017 Domaine Brand Maître Renard

Price: $28
Region: Alsace <France
Grapes: Gamay, Negrette
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming (Demeter certified); granite soils; 10-day maceration of handpicked grapes; whole cluster fermentation and maturation for eight months in demi-muid barrels; bottled unfined/unfiltered with zero-added So2; 12% ABV
Winemaker: Philippe Brand

It’s a common story all across Europe: Philippe joined his father in the family estate in 2006, pushed him to take the organic estate even further, into biodynamics and working without any additives.   Since 2015 they’ve been Demeter-certified and add no So2 -- and the wines have never been better.   This wine is ripping, full of bright red fruit, herbal plumminess and a red-hot spice that balances aromatic rose petals and soft tannins.  We always love us a good Gamay blend, and the addition of Negrette here takes it a whole new direction, a bit wild and feral, but not funky in the least.  Coastal Cali Pinot lovers take note: this is your jam.  And you can drink a whole lot more of it at just 12% and no added So2.