The Tasting Panel magazine

October 2016

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32  /  the tasting panel  /  october 2016 Rendered Rendarrio 2014 Baja-Ha Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands ($30) Inspired by that motorcycle trip with Charlie Wagner and the tie-in with the Mer Soleil Vineyard, this acid- driven white has gorgeous notes of lemon bar and honeysuckle. Balance is defined here, and as Render says, "That's a word that doesn't get overused when it's right there on your palate." Jasmine, white gardenia and buttered popcorn all play into this 100% ML wine that's fermented in oak, concrete and stainless steel. 93 Rendarrio 2013 "First Born King," Paso Robles ($34) The blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah offer up plum spice and an espresso-chocolate nose. Silky, with black berry and black cherry with backdrops of cedar vanilla, dried violets and dusted white pepper. Aged in 25% new 500-liter oak barrels that ensure structure and tannins are kept in check. The wine is named for Render's son. 93 Rendarrio 2013 "The Lost Ones" Syrah, Santa Barbara County ($34) Texturally blissful, with jammy black fruit, licorice, leather and lavender. White pepper gets snappy mid palate and the finish is coated with chocolate raspberry plum. Aged in 20% new oak for 24 months. 94 Rendarrio 2013 "The Rocker" Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Ranch, Paso Robles ($40) Clare Ranch is owned and operated by Brenden and Carrie Wood; he has a degree in biochemistry and she holds a Ph.D. in viticulture. They have been farming Clare ranch since 2009. The vineyard is located 10 miles as the crow flies from Cayucos pier making it one of the clos- est vineyards to the ocean in the Paso Robles AVA. "No one else gets their fruit," Render states. Juicy, rich, with elegant acidity and silky tannins, you can taste soil that appears sweetened by blueberry and lavender candy. 95 RYAN RENDER'S RENDARRIO WINES ARE INSPIRED BY THE SOUTH OF FRANCE AND STYLED FOR THE CENTRAL COAST by Meridith May / photo by Jason Hickman H is high energy, his royalty-yet-gangster persona [#RoyalyetGangster] and his belief in the quality that Paso Robles can produce make Ryan Render one of the most colorful characters to emerge from this Central Coast growing region. How did the wine name, Rendarrio, come about? "From my Cal Poly days," he confesses, explaining that the word can only be translated as a state of being: "Render + five glasses of wine = Rendarrio." Motorcycle trips to Baja with Charlie Wagner, visits to Châteauneuf-du- Pape and "never meeting a varietal he didn't like" are some of the experiences that Render carries with him when telling his stories of the wine in the bottle. "Sourcing is my thing," Render tells The Tasting Panel during our recent visit to his spacious tasting room off of Highway 46 East in Paso Robles. He gets an exclusive from the Wagner family's Mer Soleil Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands for his whites, gathers Syrah from Santa Barbara County and Paso along with Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot and Grenache from Paso. Render's first vintage was in 2003; he started with only two barrels. He has grown since, but the wines are still limited-production, powerhouse reds and high-acid whites. Here are our favorites from the tasting: Rendered RHÔNE Ryan Render is the man behind Rendarrio Vineyards. He is also National Sales Director for French oak barrel producer Tonnellerie Cadus North America. CALIFORNIA

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