Renaissance Vineyard & Winery
Estate Bottled North Yuba Cabernet Sauvignon
North Yuba, Sierra Foothills, California, USA
The concentration and intensity on this 16-year-old bottle is mind blowing. At the core, pure ripe red and black cherry and berry fruit, moving towards the stewed end of the spectrum, with savory herbs, cedar, and earth radiating out brilliantly. Medium-full bodied, with high acid and high tannins, structure (with the complementing fruit holding strong) to last another decade or more. Though I know he was gone by this vintage, it’s hard not to see Gideon’s lineage in this bottle - Sierra wines that have something to say, with wild intensity and purity of fruit. Great food wine, enjoyed with steak frites at home. Decant for a couple hours to throw some sediment and let things mellow just a touch. 🌄
The concentration and intensity on this 16-year-old bottle is mind blowing. At the core, pure ripe red and black cherry and berry fruit, moving towards the stewed end of the spectrum, with savory herbs, cedar, and earth radiating out brilliantly. Medium-full bodied, with high acid and high tannins, structure (with the complementing fruit holding strong) to last another decade or more. Though I know he was gone by this vintage, it’s hard not to see Gideon’s lineage in this bottle - Sierra wines that have something to say, with wild intensity and purity of fruit. Great food wine, enjoyed with steak frites at home. Decant for a couple hours to throw some sediment and let things mellow just a touch. 🌄
Dec 3rd, 2018Revisited this bottle this past weekend to check condition before pulling the trigger on a re-up. Simply gorgeous, expressive, terroir-driven wine in its absolute prime right now. Nose is, to loosely quote @Alex Spoto, like taking a hike through the High Sierra wilderness, with intense eucalyptus, bay laurel, pine needles and cedar. Fruit is secondary on the nose, but it erupts on the palate with ripe black plums, blackberry bramble, and red and black cherry. All very ripe but slowly moving towards the intense, dried end of the spectrum. There is so much concentration and freshness to the fruit quality it is unbelievable that the wine is nearly 20 years old. Tannins beginning to soften and acid is still holding strong! In its prime now, I think, but I’m holding some for 5-10-20 years more. Legendary Cali vino for a song. Gideon’s final vintage! Enjoy!
Revisited this bottle this past weekend to check condition before pulling the trigger on a re-up. Simply gorgeous, expressive, terroir-driven wine in its absolute prime right now. Nose is, to loosely quote @Alex Spoto, like taking a hike through the High Sierra wilderness, with intense eucalyptus, bay laurel, pine needles and cedar. Fruit is secondary on the nose, but it erupts on the palate with ripe black plums, blackberry bramble, and red and black cherry. All very ripe but slowly moving towards the intense, dried end of the spectrum. There is so much concentration and freshness to the fruit quality it is unbelievable that the wine is nearly 20 years old. Tannins beginning to soften and acid is still holding strong! In its prime now, I think, but I’m holding some for 5-10-20 years more. Legendary Cali vino for a song. Gideon’s final vintage! Enjoy!
1 person found it helpfulJul 16th, 2020
This is just singing right now. 13 year old beauty
This is just singing right now. 13 year old beauty
Nov 12th, 2015
Wow! Dark fruit, tobacco and healthy acidity.
Wow! Dark fruit, tobacco and healthy acidity.
Sep 21st, 2020
There's quite a bit going on here. Ripe berry comes first, but flavors of damp forest floor, stewed meat, and spices start to show soon after. Pleasantly acidic also. The 2002 is drinking well now.
There's quite a bit going on here. Ripe berry comes first, but flavors of damp forest floor, stewed meat, and spices start to show soon after. Pleasantly acidic also. The 2002 is drinking well now.
Jan 22nd, 2017
Smell like a worn leather jacket. Funky, earthy, black cherry, tobacco, super fine tannin. Excellent and dispels any association with classic Cali cab. Some licorice and morels.
Smell like a worn leather jacket. Funky, earthy, black cherry, tobacco, super fine tannin. Excellent and dispels any association with classic Cali cab. Some licorice and morels.
Nov 25th, 2016Excellent but unfiltered. Don't be shocked at a layer of sludge on the cork. Other than that, medium tannins with vibrant finish.
Excellent but unfiltered. Don't be shocked at a layer of sludge on the cork. Other than that, medium tannins with vibrant finish.
Feb 14th, 2016Decant! Lots of crazy sediment. Jammy and black fruit obv but nicely structured and a steal of you can find it!
Decant! Lots of crazy sediment. Jammy and black fruit obv but nicely structured and a steal of you can find it!
Nov 24th, 2015