1991 Renaissance Sauvignon Blanc Estate Bottled Select Late Harvest

Community Tasting Notes (6) Median Score: 92 points

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  3/8/2022 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points

  13% alcohol. Lot 040395, which might mean that the wine was bottled in the spring of 1995.
  
  Evolved pale bronze color. Rich, sweet and moderately tertiary nose with aromas of maple syrup, some oxidative caramel tones, a little bit of apple jam, light smoky notes, a hint of Sultana raisin and a touch of nuttiness. The wine is rich, sweet and oily on the palate with a medium body and mellow flavors of apple jam, some oxidative nutty tones, a little bit of maple syrup, light raisiny notes of Sultanas, a hint floral lift and a touch of strawberry jam. The medium acidity keeps the wine somewhat in balance. With the oxidative nuances, the overall feel reminds me of a lighter, less alcoholic Tawny Port. The lengthy finish is rich, sweet and juicy with complex, evolved flavors of honey and caramel, some apple jam, a little bit of maple syrup, light oxidative notes of roasted nuts, a hint of burnt sugar bitterness and a touch of Sultana raisins.
  
  A delightful, rich and tasty late harvest Sauvignon Blanc that drinks like a Tawny Port that is lighter in body and alcohol, but not in sweetness or intensity. I guess this must've been quite vibrant and fruity in its youth, but now the overall feel here is quite mature and oxidative - yet the wine doesn't feel like it is in decline in any way! Although the wine could use a bit more acidity, it has nevertheless kept on going remarkably well, and even though I don't expect the wine to improve any further from here, most likely it will keep just fine for years more. Terrific stuff, highly recommended.

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  6/23/2018 - James Kim Likes this wine: 93 Points

  50th Birthday Dinner (Classic Wine Storage, Dallas, TX): Impressions. Sweet ripe apples, orange zest mixed with dark caramel, tea, herbs, and minerals. Excellent concentration of moderately sweet flavors on a bright, lithe frame. Lovely.

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  5/29/2017 - James Kim wrote: 93 Points

  Gathering w Kate, Juan, Melissa and Chewy. Didn't get to pay as much attention to the wines. From memory. Took a little while to open up but really beautiful. Hint of toasty caramel, orange peel, tea and minerals. Crisp acids balance the moderate sweetness. Lovely.

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  3/1/2010 - dubdub wrote: 88 Points

  Steely aromas with a definite whiff of petrol on the nose. Not syrupy at all, but surprisingly light on the palate, tropical fruit and an iron/flint component.

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  11/7/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 92 Points

  Clos Saron and Renaissance with Gideon Bienstock (Trestle on Tenth): Not the Sauternes lmposter one might have expected but a very unique profile, sharp and steely in its acidity while still intensely sweet and luscious, the fruit towards the tropical and even strawberry (!) so evocatively that if you closed your eyes you might figure it for a rosé.

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View all 6 Community Tasting Notes

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