Gideon Beinstock and his sought after Clos Saron label are among some of the most compelling, complex and age worthy wines coming out of California. His Pinot Noirs and Syrahs are sommelier favorites, appearing on many of this country's most heralded wine lists as well as favorites of wine geeks the world over. So we were more than intrigued when we heard that Gideon had released some late 90’s bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon that he'd produced at his first winemaking gig; Renaissance Vineyard and Winery.

Renaissance is well known in California wine having over the years received many critical accolades. But Renaissance wasn’t created with the intention of becoming a benchmark California producer. The winery was a byproduct of Fellowship of Friends founder Robert Earl Burton’s vision: a Mediterranean paradise for his followers called the Apollo Compound. In accordance with their vision of Mediterranean paradise, grape vines and olive trees were planted and Renaissance was born.

Despite Renaissance being the religious group’s side project, Sierra Foothills wine lovers can actually thank the Fellowship of Friends for paving the way for the region. It was Renaissance that first applied for North Yuba, California to have its own AVA in the mid-1980s. The tiny but well-regarded area is now known for its decomposed granite soils (hence the name that Gideon chose for these re-labeled bottles).

In 1994, after moving to the Apollo Compound, Gideon became its sole winemaker. He streamlined Renaissance’s production, pulling out vine varieties that didn’t work in the Sierra Foothills’ climate.

Gideon developed a style at Renaissance that can be described as Old World; terroir-driven, low intervention with moderate ABV. In the early 2000s, Gideon grew disillusioned with Fellowship of Friends’ philosophies and practices. But his dedication to that style of winemaking persisted, living on through Clos Saron. A few years back he was given the opportunity to buy back some of his favorite cuvées from Renaissance’s remarkable library of unsold, back-vintage wines. With the help of Cara & Aaron Mokrish of Frenchtown Farms, close friends and protege, they have meticulously tasted through these old bottles, with only the very best receiving the Taken from Granite label.