# Renard Red (2023)

- **Producer:** Sylvain Martinez
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay, Grolleau, Pineau d'Aunis
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €24
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, black pepper

## About this wine

Sylvain Martinez is an independent natural winemaker located in Le Thoureil within the Anjou sub-region of the Loire Valley. After spending years working alongside legendary Loire natural winemakers like Olivier Cousin, Marc Angeli, and Xavier Caillard, Martinez adopted traditional horse-drawn vineyard cultivation and low-intervention cellar practices. He began farming his first single hectare in 2006 and established his estate in 2016 inside historic troglodyte cellars beneath the Abbey of Saint-Maur. Today he organically farms around three hectares of indigenous Loire varieties.

## Interesting facts

- Sylvain Martinez learned horse-drawn vineyard cultivation while working under Loire natural wine legend Olivier Cousin.
- The estate cellars are located inside ancient semi-troglodyte caves beneath the Abbey of Saint-Maur in Le Thoureil.
- Sheep graze through the vineyards during winter months to maintain soil health naturally without machinery.

## Food pairing

This vibrant, light-bodied red pairs seamlessly with charcuterie, light poultry, and earth-forward dishes. Its high natural acidity cuts through rich pork fats and terrines, while the gentle tannin structure allows it to match delicately cooked fish like tuna without introducing metallic notes.

## Wine making process

Renard Red is made from a blend of Gamay, Grolleau Noir, and Pineau d'Aunis grown on schist slopes and fine sand over Turonian limestone bedrock. Harvested entirely by hand, the grapes undergo 100% whole-cluster fermentation driven exclusively by native yeasts. Vinification takes place without enological additives or added sulfur dioxide. The wine is aged in neutral vats to maintain pure grape aromatics without oak influence and is bottled unfined and unfiltered.