Zuidema Wine Company, 2017 Grenache – A Class Above
The Background
Photo from Rudy Zuidema
Rudy has been making wine for almost 30 years an impressive resume making wine for Red Cap Vineyards, Shadybrook Estate, Rapp Ranch, Red Cap Vineyards, Porch Wines, Phamus Wines, Napa de Oro, Middle Oak Wines and many more. Rudy first put in the hard work at St. Clement Vineyards, working with local winemaker Dennis Johns. From there he climbed the industry ladder with positions in turn as assistant winemaker, head winemaker, vineyard manager and general manager at Cuvaison, Honig, Robert Craig, Ehlers Estate and White Cottage Ranch. He studied organic and biodynamic farming, receiving CCOF and Demeter certifications on several ranches. Rudy is well traveled in Napa Valley, utilizing his talents with many climates and varietals including AVAs of Howell Mountain, Coombsville, Rutherford, Mount George, Carneros, and St. Helena. If you never had any of his wines they are definitely “top shelf” wines!
He secured this plot of land, located in Rutherford, in 2011 and was able to start from scratch with plantings. He choose Clone 515 Grenache from the famed Chateauneuf du Pape heritage and married it to the noble St George rootstock. This allowed his Grenache to be dry farmed in an Old World manner. No trellis, no wires, simply head trained soaking in the richness of the Rutherford soil. The label on the bottle with the roots seeking minerals and nourishment, is more than an artist logo, it is his vineyard management style in full swing.
Rudy with his experience in the vineyard, winemaking and his choice of vines, seems to have merged some Old World techniques into producing excellent wine for Zuidema Wines.
The Wine “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
His 2017 Grenache from Rutherford, Napa Valley produced a very well balanced wine. Rudy Zuidema’s style of Grenache is old world with layers of rich flavors and juicy, rustic tannins. On the eyes, a light brick red coloring with almost a light brownish hue with medium viscosity. On the nose aromas of plum, new leather, and clove waft into the senses. On the palate you are awakened to a complex finish of fig, licorice, molasses, and black cherry with hints of spices and dried herbs. The finish shows the earthy minerality of these grapes. Rudy uses about 20% new American oak from Pennsylvania with the balance being 2-3 old neutral French oak barrels. Without a doubt one of the best Grenache wines tasted out of Napa Valley!! Vintages 2018 and 2019 are unfortunately sold out. However the 2020 will be available in early 2024 at the same $42/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled out of the cellar to be paired with tonight’s dinner. The main entrée was baked salsa chicken. The ingredients included olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper, fresh chunky salsa, shredded cheddar cheese and boneless chicken breasts. Served with a light topping of salsa over the cheese. Accompanied by a warm Mexican corn salad that was flavorful and spicy. The ingredients included fresh corn off the cob, Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, chili powder, fresh lime juice, minced cilantro, minced scallions and grated cotija cheese. Also a fresh garden salad was served.
Both the chicken and corn salad were excellent with the soothing Grenache wine! An excellent food and wine pairing. This wine will make the annual Best Wines Tasted during the year! That list comes out mid-December.
Sláinte,
Michael