2016 Renegade Wine Co. Rosé

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull The Renegade, 4/5/2017

  (Renegade Rose) Hello friends. One of the best things about our emerging wine neighborhood south of downtown is the company we get to keep. Some of our favorite Washington winemakers—vintners that have graced the pages of well-respected review publication, newspapers, and Full Pull’s own e-mails—are now our neighbors. They are where we go when we’re in need—like for a cup of sugar or an emergency Grenache. When Trey Busch and his team opened up shop on the north side of our little complex, we were elated. It meant being walking distance from the cult wines of this magical winery—but also that much closer to one of our favorite Washington wine projects, Renegade Wine Company. For those of you new to the workings of Renegade or in need a quick reminder of what this program is all about: imagine a winery sitting on barrels of wine that they don’t want to release under their own label. There are a myriad of reasons why this could be the case (and you’ve seen some of the fruits of this type of situation under the Full Pull & Friends label). Regardless of the reason, the Sleight of Hand team will purchase the barrels, bottle the wine under the Renegade label, and frequently sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding the source of the juice. The results are always high-quality wines from the top tier of Washington wineries at very accessible pricing. We all get to benefit from Trey Busch’s deep connections in the Walla Walla Valley with this extraordinary value project. The Renegade Rosé might just be one of Washington’s most popular rosés... ever. This little rosé that could has won Seattle Magazine’s best rosé of the year two years in a row—and that’s in a blind, multi-judge setting, up against much more expensive versions. This bottle delivers for the price, and fits the bill for a perfect patio pounder, boat buddie, camping companion, or hiking hero with a screw top. Renegade’s Rhône blend rosé (69% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 9% Grenache & 7% Mourvedre) has aromatics of all the fruit you would eat on a hot summer day—watermelon, strawberry, peach. The palate is bright, with plenty of acidity, and opens into the melon and berry profiles of the nose. Moving into some green-yet-decidedly-fruit notes—think little kiwi berries—the finish is tart. Overall the wine is a touch more serious than years before, yet incredibly approachable. It’s just light enough to drink on any given afternoon, but also perfect for pairing with delicious creamy cheeses or any whole roasted bird.