Pale straw color; Meyer lemon, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, white peach, jasmine, white flowers on the nose and palate.
Dry; no discernible tannins; good, but not cutting, acidity. Light body. Crisp, clean, smooth, refreshing. Made with 100% organic sauvignon blanc grapes from Lake County. There is limited information on the Roué website and online—this wine was only released late in 2025. It appears to have been fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel. Small batch production—limited in-store availability at this time, although winery sells nationwide online (when state law allows). 12.5% ABV
Founded by multiple Grammy-winning hip-hop and trap music artist, Future (Nayvadius Wilburn) and beverage executive Ryan Ayotte under the Freebevz LLC label (Future founded his own record label—Freebevz Records—in 2011). Website notes: “Roué defies expectation. By combining 100% organic grapes with expert, visionary winemaking and innovative sustainability, we’ve reimagined wine through a modern lens, free from outdated ideas about what it is supposed to be.”
The wine comes in very distinctive cut-glass bottle, a choice that creates eye-appeal but renders it problematic in most wine refrigerators/cellars. No doubt the bottles will have second lives as flower vases in homes. Typically, a fancy bottle and a celebrity connection can be a signal for caution, especially in a quality-price ratio evaluation. This certainly is an upper tier sauv blanc from Lake County, but it is more than serviceable as a light, crisp wine. The restrained alcohol is a nice feature. Does not rate a “you must buy this” evaluation, but also does not deserve a “you are a wine idiot if you buy this just for the bottle.”
Freebevz Roué Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Sonoma 2024 is a fruit-forward, smooth, easy-drinking effort that comes in a dramatic cut-glass bottle. Restraint in herbaceous notes, high-acidity, alcohol sets it distinctly apart from many Old World, New Zealand sauv blanc efforts. Aims to create a modern take and succeeds. Lake County sauv blancs typically sell in the $15-25 range, so you are paying a price for packaging and brand at $30-39
Pairing—Easily works as a solo sipper or aperitif. Fresh shrimp ceviche with avocado and citrus; chilled Dungeness crab with blood orange and herbs; garlic butter prawns. Briny oysters with lemon wedges. Serve both wine and shellfish ice-cold. Pan-seared halibut or cod with lemon-butter sauce; avoid smoked fish. Can work with lightly-prepared chicken; light pork. Grilled asparagus with lemon zest and parmesan; roasted artichokes, zucchini, spring peas. Fresh salads with tarragon, dill, chives, citrus segments; warm goat cheese salad with fresh tomatoes; Mediterranean-style salad with arugula, fennel, citrus dressing. Avoid heavy, rich sauces, heavily smoked or cured meats, overly spicy dishes. Cheese—Fresh goat cheese; fresh, soft chèvre (Coach Farms Bodega, Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog), Crottin de Chavignol. As appetizer: Warm round of chèvre topped with olive oil, thyme, rosemary, toasted almonds, drizzle of hot honey. Brie, fresh mozzarella, feta, ricotta salata; gruyère, swiss, fontina, aged gouda. Avoid strong, pungent cheeses; heavily-aged hard cheeses; washed-rind cheeses (époisses, limburger).
There are no useable photos on the Roué website.