Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19027
Robert Renzoni Vineyards “I n Temecula, the thick fog comes in at night, expectedly, and burns off in the morning,” says winemaker Robert Renzoni. “Temperatures swing 50 degrees between night and day, and there’s always an afternoon wind.” We’re walking the vineyards at Robert Renzoni Vineyards with the man himself, an energetic 39-year-old who worked his way through the wine and spirits indus- try doing everything from launching Pearl vodka over a decade ago, to working for Young’s Market Company. Renzoni guides us up a steep hill where we have a view of Rainbow Gap and rolling hills planted to vines as far as we can see. Because of his marketing and sales background, Renzoni hand-sells his wines to restaurants in Southern California. He specializes in Italian varietals but also grows Tempranillo. “I’m an avant-garde thinker,” he admits, making enough good wine—and getting recognition for them, too—to be among the few to want to awaken the wine world to this burgeoning region. The two-year-old winery is under expansion, right now operating a bustling tasting room out of a barn. Renzoni will be developing an 1880s-style Tuscan villa tasting room and wedding facility on the property, and he is anticipating his first vintage from a Brunello clone of Sangiovese. Robert Renzoni Vineyard 2007 Fiore di Fano This California- appellation Supertuscan-style blend (42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Sangiovese and a small per- centage of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc) has a feminine side. While the Bordeaux varietals are from Temecula, the Sangiovese is grown in Paso Robles. Violets and cinnamon brown sugar glide along its silky texture. SRP $58. Robert Renzoni’s 2008 Temecula Valley Tempranillo speaks cranberry mocha on the nose and leads into a rich, spicy, full-bodied delicious red. SRP $36. More Stand-Out Wines from Temecula We anticipate a lot more coverage of underappreciated Temecula wines in the months to come, so keep posted to our pages. Meanwhile, here are a couple of others that carry weight with THE TASTING PANEL. Leonesse Cellars 2007 Syrah, Vista del Monte Vineyard With its bursting deep black berry notes and serious notes of tar and violets, this hearty red is just one of the wines that get much praise from this wow-factor winery. Oak Mountain Winery 2008 Meritage This blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot opens up with heady notes of pomegranate, cran- berry and rhubarb. It is a winding trail of flavor, peppered and spiced along the way, with hints of graphite and tobacco. SRP $38 november 2010 / the tasting panel / 71 PHOTO: MERIDITH MAY PHOTO: MERIDITH MAY PHOTO: MERIDITH MAY