From: Bugey, France
Blend: Gamay
Taste: This NV Bugey rouge is 100% Gamay and 100% delicious. Alpine red fruits like tart cherry, wild strawberry, cranberry, and plum skin lead the way, buoyed by notes of subtle forest, Alpine herbs, and baking spice. Light to medium-bodied, this gorgeous wine should be served at cellar temperature (or slightly chilled) to show off its many positive attributes. You’ll love how immediately open and charming this wine is, with no hard edges and food-friendly vibes. The depth of aromas and developing flavors within this bottle are even more impressive, carrying complexity and a ton of personality through to a lengthy finish.
Pairing: Versatile and approachable, Gamay wines exhibit delightful compatibility with an expansive range of dishes, making them a gastronome's delight. Gamay stands out with its food-friendly nature. Its light-bodied character, pleasant acidity, and understated tannin content ensure it complements rather than overpowers your culinary choices. Imagine savoring a delicate pork belly dish, where the Gamay balances the meat's richness, or enjoying a burst of flavors in a Tikka Masala. It's a delightful choice to accompany a Hawaiian pizza, refreshingly contrasting the sweet and salty toppings. Cheese enthusiasts will find its compatibility with various cheese types a delightful revelation, creating the potential for unforgettable charcuterie board experiences. And when Thanksgiving rolls around, consider serving Gamay.
Pork and Watermelon Salad
Adapted by Melissa Clark
About. In the hidden cellars of Mérignat, where viticulture has been a prominent feature since the Middle Ages, the Renardat-Fache family has been at the forefront, mastering the art of wine-making for over eight generations. Initially cultivators of a rich variety of fruits, including apples and cherries, the family pivoted its focus towards viniculture after the Second World War.
Pioneered by Léon Renardat-Fache and his wife Cécile, the family introduced the world to the "Méthode ancestrale", an ingenious vinification process that set the stage for the now-renowned Cerdon sparkling wine. This wine garnered the esteemed "Appellation d'Origine Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure Bugey" in 1958, further elevating the family's reputation.
Each generation added a new chapter to the winemaking process as the years progressed. Alain, followed by Élie, incorporated modern techniques and innovations to enhance the wine's quality and production. 2008 marked a significant turn as they began transitioning towards organic farming, culminating in an Ecocert organic farming certification by 2012.
Mérignat, a quiet medieval gem, is ensconced comfortably in the foothills of the Jura mountains, offering a nurturing haven for the exquisite vineyards of Bugey. Its rugged topography characterizes the region, with vineyards peppered across steep slopes, overlooking grazing fields and dense forests. The climatic conditions and the unique blend of clayey-limestone soils create an ideal environment for nurturing varietals such as Gamay, Poulsard, and Chardonnay, each contributing to the region’s prized demi-sec, pink bubbly - the Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale.
The Renardat-Fache family’s latest offering, the "Rouge Comme Dans la Cave a Meme", celebrates tradition and innovation. Crafted from Gamay, the wine is a delightful blend of the 2022 and 2021 vintages (30% from 2021 and 70% from the 2022), embodying the rich, clay-limestone soil characteristic of the high, rolling hills of Bugey.
This wine marks a notable departure from their famed sparkling Cerdon, as it takes form as a still, red, dry Gamay, previously reserved for personal consumption. The meticulous process involves spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts and a week-long maceration period. The result is a wine of unmatched depth and complexity, housed within old foudres in the homely cellar of Elie Renardat's grandmother, Mémé, lending the wine its vibrant name and character.
