Autrement is Raj Parr’s most restless red from Phelan Farm. A California wine with one foot in Savoie and the other planted firmly in the cool coastal edge of San Luis Obispo. Pinot Noir, Gamay and Mondeuse shape the frame, but the real story is movement: red fruit, lift, crunch and tension. No heavy costume. No overbuilt California theatre.

The fruit comes from a farm run with regenerative thinking, biodiversity and a serious refusal to treat the vineyard like a factory. Cambria’s coastal climate keeps the wine bright, while the Alpine-leaning varieties bring structure without weight and perfume without prettiness.

In the cellar, the approach stays direct: native yeasts, whole clusters, neutral oak, no filtration, no fining and minimal intervention. The result is a red that works where Pinot feels too expected and natural wine feels too messy. Fresh, energetic, slightly wild, but with enough precision to earn its place on a serious list.