1994 Renwood Zinfandel Grandpère - some varietals age gracefully and indeed several require aging to smooth them out and allow differentiation of flavours and tannins, but some do not and zinfandel is one that I usually view in the latter group. One of the reasons zin is popular especially with the younger crowd is that perceiving the scents and flavours doesn’t usually require much subtlety of palate, though there are some exceptions. I came across this bottle in my cellar during a review and figured that it would likely need drinking.
Colour was bright but light, I’ve seen pinot noir that was darker than this, though I recall it being fairly dark on purchase and first tastings, and the edges were bricky. The nose retained some of the sweet up front fruit - black currant - and much of the sweetness I remembered. Medium length, and not overly sweet in the finish. It has aged gracefully but has nowhere to go but down from here in my opinion. I also have 1995 and 2006 Grandmere and intend to rataste them in the near future.
Decent, but it won’t replace Ridge Geyserville or Lytton Springs in my Zin favourites, but just to be sure, I have both of those wines of about the same age and intend to taste them both before year end to confirm.
I’ve found that those new to wine tasting often favour the youthful brashness and sweet fruit of young zins, but those of us that are claret hounds tend to prefer a bit more subtlety and complexity. It should be an interesting.comparison.
Used to buy Renwood wines many, many years ago. The winery has gone through a couple owners over the years and is now a Rombauer tasting room, as Rombauer likes making zin from Sierra foothills fruit. Thanks for the tasting note and glad it was drinkable after all these years!
As many peeps here already know, im a pretty big zin guy…but ive literally never been impressed with Renwood. I wasnt of legal drinking age to try this wine when it was younger but I’ve never been thrilled with any of them after a bit of age, and don’t even know if they’re still around/producing new wines (someone shoot me straight here).
Your note is excellent and is spot on for what i would expect with this wine. Not terrible…but not great either. Pumped to hear your reviews on the 94 Geyserville and Lytton Springs though as those should be
Opened the 94 Grandmere tonight - very similar to the Grandpere but if anything a tad inferior to it. Will make a mental note to get into the Ridges in due course. Came across 1 bottle of their 94 Santa Cruz Cab as well, which I recall fondly
The Grandmere vnyd is a much younger vnyd than the Grandpere. Scott planted it a bit to the North of the wnry on land never used for grapes. He took cuttings for this vnyd from the older vines in Grandpere. Not sure if it was own-rooted or not. But it was always a lesser wine compared to the Grandpere.
Tom
