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The Renegade Series ...2009 Renegade Red - El Dorado County
Varietals and Sources:
18% 09Malbec
18% 09 Merlot
18% 09 PetitVerdot
18% 09 Sangiovese
28% 09 Zinfandel
Harvest Date: October 2009
Time in Barrel: 18 months
Type of Oak: Neutral French & American
Alcohol: 15.5%
Bottled: April 21, 2011
Production: 253 cases
Winemaker's Notes: Renegade Red has always been one of Crystal Basin Cellars most interesting wines, combining the flavors and characteristics of different grape varieties and regions to create a greater whole, a la Gestalt theory. It, like us, is a natural rule breaker and is a different blend each harvest. The grapes came from long-time Crystal Basin Cellar sources from 5 vineyards; each in El Dorado County. Each variety was hand harvested, fermented in small open top vessels, pressed lightly and aged separately in used oak barrels.
Blending trials were held to experiment with different approaches to the final blend. Once the final composition of the blend was determined the wind were blended together, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Zinfandel leads with a unique Claret-from-the-Foothills quality to this wine, and seems to allow the best elements of the individual components to mesh and knit together. The Malbec and Merlot add deep, brooding, lingering strawberry fruit element to the wine, the Sangio adds spice and raspberry, Petit Verdot adds color and a cedary essence, all topped with a hint of sweet vanilla oak.
Renegade Red is perfectly enjoyable upon release but will improve for up to 36 months.
Take some home! It is our Tuesday night, non-pretentious, Pizza-and-Pasta wine.
Bright Hope Designs