Brendan Stater-West Saumur Rouge La Ripaille 2023 MARQUE already complex character

already complex character

Wildcard is an adventurous cider made from heirloom Gravenstein Apples and wild grapes making it a uniquely Sonoma County experience

and a whiff of volcanic iron

and it is reliably good year after year

poached pear

Brendan Stater-West Saumur Rouge La Ripaille 2023 MARQUE already complex characterLa Ripaille is a west facing lieu dit on the Brz hill where 1960s planted Cabernet Franc digs into sandy loam over Turonian limestone. Brendan Stater West, the Oregon born expat now in the direct lineage of Clos Rougeard and Domaine Guiberteau, is only the second grower ever to bottle from this parcel. The wine is fully de stemmed, fermented with indigenous yeast, and built by infusion (no pump overs, no punch downs), then aged a year on lees in