'11 Thierry Puzelat "Le Telquel"

'11 Thierry Puzelat "Le Telquel"

Loire Valley, France

smoky, funky, natural

"Telquel" (as it is) sounds like the French word "teckel" (dachshund). "As it is" because this is a natural wine, where "natural" means that it's got biodynamic grapes, just a bit of sulfites, and nothing else. No added yeasts, sugars, or bacteria, no egg whites (a common fining component), and certainly no oak.

This wine has some of the good traits often found in bigger red wines (smoke, complex earthiness, dark fruit) in a light, summer-friendly package. Just 11.5% alcohol, too. It can be funky-smelling when you open the bottle, but this dissipates.

The grape is Gamay Noir, which is most known for producing the light and fruity reds of Beaujolais.