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1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Cuvee .750 ml Details
1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Cuvee .750 ml
Mike Hinds from his wine blog 'Wicker Parker' - August 2009
Whereas many producers' tete de cuvees come from extra-ripe grapes or are lavished with expensive new oak, Renaissance does none of that. Instead, they pick and raise their best lots much the same way they raise their basic wines and let the terroir speak.
This isn't quite infanticide to drink this now. It's more like cutting a man down in his 30's (chilling enough, don't you think?). But over the course of three nights, this wine, which is 24% merlot and a mere 12.4% abv, proved that it will just get better. It kicks off with intense aromas of plum pudding, beef broth, black pepper, gray sea salt, blackberries, blueberries, and spice cake. It's structured yet velvety (more velvety than the 'standard' 1995 cabernet), with a preliminary attack of sweet black fruit quickly giving way to bold tannins and a more austere rendering of the fruit. A note of cherry rings on the bright, brothy finish, and its spiciness is quieter compared to several other Renaissance wines, although a white pepper note lingers with the tannins for some time.
This is elegant and balanced, and the little bit left on night three shows a slight melting of the tannins and hints of black currant and dried fruit on the palate. Although this was really good with the lamb that I grilled, it would have been even better had I decanted it 24 hours before serving.
Matt Kramer - NY Sun - June 1, 2005
The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Cuvee is Renaissance's iontended 'signature' wine, the one the winery sees as the richest, fullest, most long-lived of its array of cabernets. Indeed, this is powerful, full-bodied wine, but it's nowhere near the fruit bombs so commonly found today. Instead, this is penetrating, dimensional cabernet suffused with an austere fruit and lovely balance, a blend of cabernet sauvignon (76%) and merlot (24%). This is eminently drinkable today, but will make old bones for sure.
Wicker Parker - 12/10/10
As with the 1998 Premiere Cuvee, its slightly more evolved brother, this brand new release (!) reminds me something of young Barbaresco. Red flowers and cherries hit my nose; firm yet elegant tannins massage my cheeks while a very pure and clean expression of minerals and red fruited acidity rushes up the middle. Hints of cinnamon and clove mark the finish. It's almost impossible to find cabernet sauvignon this fresh, this elegant, from anywhere. This is still a very young wine, built to age, and will deepen with time.
Fredric Koeppel - 7/2014
Dark ruby color; rich, warm and spicy, notes of black cherry, fruit cake, graphite, dried thyme and blacmk olive; still quite tannic with lots of woody spice, yet oddly attractive and drinkable. Best, though, from 2017 or 2020 through 2027 to 2030.
Whereas many producers' tete de cuvees come from extra-ripe grapes or are lavished with expensive new oak, Renaissance does none of that. Instead, they pick and raise their best lots much the same way they raise their basic wines and let the terroir speak.
This isn't quite infanticide to drink this now. It's more like cutting a man down in his 30's (chilling enough, don't you think?). But over the course of three nights, this wine, which is 24% merlot and a mere 12.4% abv, proved that it will just get better. It kicks off with intense aromas of plum pudding, beef broth, black pepper, gray sea salt, blackberries, blueberries, and spice cake. It's structured yet velvety (more velvety than the 'standard' 1995 cabernet), with a preliminary attack of sweet black fruit quickly giving way to bold tannins and a more austere rendering of the fruit. A note of cherry rings on the bright, brothy finish, and its spiciness is quieter compared to several other Renaissance wines, although a white pepper note lingers with the tannins for some time.
This is elegant and balanced, and the little bit left on night three shows a slight melting of the tannins and hints of black currant and dried fruit on the palate. Although this was really good with the lamb that I grilled, it would have been even better had I decanted it 24 hours before serving.
Matt Kramer - NY Sun - June 1, 2005
The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Cuvee is Renaissance's iontended 'signature' wine, the one the winery sees as the richest, fullest, most long-lived of its array of cabernets. Indeed, this is powerful, full-bodied wine, but it's nowhere near the fruit bombs so commonly found today. Instead, this is penetrating, dimensional cabernet suffused with an austere fruit and lovely balance, a blend of cabernet sauvignon (76%) and merlot (24%). This is eminently drinkable today, but will make old bones for sure.
Wicker Parker - 12/10/10
As with the 1998 Premiere Cuvee, its slightly more evolved brother, this brand new release (!) reminds me something of young Barbaresco. Red flowers and cherries hit my nose; firm yet elegant tannins massage my cheeks while a very pure and clean expression of minerals and red fruited acidity rushes up the middle. Hints of cinnamon and clove mark the finish. It's almost impossible to find cabernet sauvignon this fresh, this elegant, from anywhere. This is still a very young wine, built to age, and will deepen with time.
Fredric Koeppel - 7/2014
Dark ruby color; rich, warm and spicy, notes of black cherry, fruit cake, graphite, dried thyme and blacmk olive; still quite tannic with lots of woody spice, yet oddly attractive and drinkable. Best, though, from 2017 or 2020 through 2027 to 2030.
Awards
GOLD MEDAL CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR, 2012Wine Profile
| Vintage | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Size | 750 ml |
