Samuel Billard

Samuel Billard

While half the Renegade team steamed ahead to the Samuel Billard winery and what turned out to be a fantastic few hours, the other half of the team caught up on sleep. But both were present that evening to a monumental dinner. Samuel Billard hosted at the famed Hostellerie des Clos restaurant bringing his 2010 Mont de Milieu (still young). Skipping the drama with the glassware, Samuel surprised us with a 2007 Raveneau Blanchot. This one was a baby, even after decanting BUT at this stage it was perfect with the raw scallop appetizer.

Once again the generosity of Samuel was apparent when a 2010 Roumier Chambolle-Musigny appeared. There was so much going on with this gentle giant. Truly one of the best village wines we’ve had in years. It’s no wonder his wines command the prices they do.

A dinner in France could not conclude without the cheese course. Our server brought over a cart the size of ping pong table (see picture). We indulged further.

As for Samuel, we hope to get him to Santa Barbara for a dinner one of these days. (Oh yeah…almost forgot…the food was Michelin-worthy. #renegadewines #santabarbara #winenerd #sb #sommlife #winetasting #wineporn #seesb #trustyourpalate #montecito #sbcwine #seriousjuice #winetime #winegeeks #winewednesday #funkzone #foodiesofsb #zagat #sommelier #thatwinenerd #intothebottle #somm3 #savorsb #sbindependent #sbindy

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Chopin (Not Vodka, Perhaps Music)

That was the sticking point. No sulphates is a prime idea…sometimes. On the other hand these wines are fresh and vibrant and not at all natty or funky; in other words there’s no stinking barn smell here. Just pure expressions of gamay.

As far as label artwork goes Chopin rocks! But that’s what you see, not what you taste. Let’s skip to the very favorite: 2018 Beaujolais Villages Funambule. Carbonic 100%. No sulfer. All concrete. Beautifully fresh with plenty of alluring spice. Boysenberry coulis with a touch of underripe cherry. Warm hay and slight pinches of earth linger in the background but this compliments more than distracts.

This was an intimate experience as we were treated to these wines in the living room/kitchen of the proprietor Raphael ( this was before “the feeding of the horse & donkey”, not kidding, ask Jenna ).

Our take-away was curiosity tinged with intrigue. We can not wait to hold a tasting event at with these wines at Renegade and hear your views. #renegadewines #santabarbara #winenerd #sb #sommlife #winetasting #wineporn #seesb #trustyourpalate #montecito #sbcwine #seriousjuice #winetime #winegeeks #winewednesday #funkzone #foodiesofsb #zagat #sommelier #thatwinenerd #intothebottle #somm3 #savorsb #sbindependent #sbindy

Hip Hip Brouilly!

Our late morning stop after Gangloff was up a large hill through high density plantings of Gamay. This is Brouilly and we were on our way to visit Laurent Martray. We parked and proceeded to follow him into a tiny, cramped cellar holding a few dozen barrels and thousands of stacked bottles. Our line up, of course, were wines from Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly.

Our overall impressions of his wines were that of clean, fresh, lean, spicy juice with enough tannins to warrant three to five years in the cellar before they would become pretty outstanding.

Two favorites were the 2017 Brouilly “Corentin” from magnum which he gave us for that evenings dinner (outstanding cooking David Shiverick), and a superb 2017 Côte du Brouilly old vines of which 1000 bottles were produced (released later this Spring).

Afterwards another 3 hour lunch this time at a bar packed with 20 & 30-somethings celebrating a birthday. They were enjoying themselves tremendously.

Gangloff and The Cats

After last night’s Chave experience we wondered what The Shivericks had in store next. Another legend, that’s what. Welcome to Gangloff.

We were welcomed by his “10” cats (we suspect 20 or more). Once inside we skipped the chatter and went straight for the wine bottles. Time: 9:30. Yvez Gangloff never has any wine (he sells out quick each year) so it was incredibly generous of him to share.

Our wake up wine, along with plates of pastries he set out on the bar, was a 2017 Condrieu. First impressions: Bees wax. Lychee. Exotic. Orange blossom. Schiuan peppercorn (hey, we were still sleepy-eyed). After that we got down to business. We tasted Condrieu reserves, Saint Joseph Blancs, and a big textured, red berry brambly, Mediterranean Herbal infused, warm Earth + Chaparral, minerally 2017 Saint Joseph Rouge.

Then we went to the barrel room where we tasted each component of his two future cuvees, a single block bottling of Rozier and then back to the bar for the current releases: 2016 Cote Roties in all their glorious finished form. Quite an exceptional morning.

Highlight

And finally dinner where Jean Louie took us to one of his favorite spots in town. He shared a lively 1991 Hermitage Blanc with the first course (so alive we were mind boggled) then poured us his 2005 Hermitage Rouge with our mains. This one is at its sweet spot now having shedded its adolescent and now looking forward to a long prosperous future. After thank you s and farewells the Shiverick Team and “The Renegades” shares a late night bottle of Selosse Champagne before calling it a night (if you think we splurged on the bubbles we did, but it’s price was 75% less than in the States; how could we not?). Thank you Jean Louis!

#renegadewines #santabarbara #winenerd #sb #sommlife #winetasting #wineporn #seesb #trustyourpalate #montecito #sbcwine #seriousjuice #winetime #winegeeks #winewednesday #funkzone #foodiesofsb #zagat #sommelier #thatwinenerd #intothebottle #somm3 #savorsb #sbindependent #sbindy

Current Line Up

We made our way upstairs to the Chave tasting room where a entirely new line up of wines awaited us. While all were worthy, two stood out. The first is the new release (2017) of the Cotes du Rhône Mon Coer. Bright. Nice red fruit. Lovely texture and when this is in stock it April you will love it (it needs a few months to come together. Meanwhile the 2016 is drinking exceptionally). The second is the 2015 Chave Hermitage Blanche. Nice honeycomb, ginger spice, lemon curd, pear, orange blossom, this is stunning and it’s affordable!!! (For a white Hermitage ($72). That concludes our winery visit. Dinner came next!

Barrels at Chave

We continued throughout the cellar stopping to taste the 2017 Hermitage Red from 5 different barrels, the final blend not yet determined, then the 2016 Saint Joseph Estate: Wild, untamed nose with dark rustic fruit. Young. Focused tannins. Violets & spice. Earth + Minerals. Potential outstanding!

We finished in the cellar with these:

2016 Saint Joseph Clos Florentin: Baby. Tannins. Earth. Dark and meaty. Needs much time!

2017 Saint Joseph Clos Floretin: tasted first the barrel from the Clos just above the river (Rich. Texture. Lush. Tremendous Spice. Chalky. Tannins!) then from the barrel from the vineyard high above the Clos (on pure granite: lean and very fresh with bright acidity and clean pure dark meaty fruit). Cannot wait to taste the final blend in bottle…