Tony Rynders has his deft hand all over the Oregon wine industry. Originally modeled after drawings made from his two children, Child’s Play is an exciting side project winery by Tony Rynders that carries incredible quality for an uber-low price. Tony was former winemaker at Panther Creek and Domaine Serene, before starting his own winery, Tendril. He currently consults for roughly ten Oregon wineries. I have noticed a marked difference in quality in the lineups of several wine programs which he has taken over. His distinctive winemaking style focuses on richness, texture and elegance.
Look to his outstanding new 2017 Child’s Play Rose (WWB, 91) which has outstanding minerality and tension with the red fruit flavors. Tony has formerly made wine in Washington state for many years and he has sourced his outstanding new Zinfandel from the Columbia Valley. The 2015 Child’s Play Zinfandel (WWB, 90) is forward, with beautiful astringency and richness. This downright delicious wine is a killer value. Learn more about this outstanding offshoot winery at https://tendrilwines.com/wines/childs-play/ Here are the great new wines by Child’s Play.
2017 Child’s Play Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this outstanding wine shows off red currant, red cherry and guava puree aromatics. Beautifully balanced and slightly sweet, this shows a dazzling minerality with bright red fruit flavors and a touch of orange rind towards the back end. Superstar winemaker Tony Rynders has absolutely nailed this Rose. Grab this by the case while you can. Drink 2018-2022- 91
2017 Child’s Play Pinot Chardonnay- A blend of 70% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay, this is a highly unique bottling by Tony Rynders. In the glass this takes shape with a combination of pear, and starfruit aromatics with a touch of baking spice. Highly refreshing and satisfying, this shows a good combination of weight and tension. Baked apple, starfruit and bright citrus rind flavors mingle nicely with the minerality. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2018-2024- 91
2015 Child's Play Zinfandel- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, the wine starts out with some lighter jammy character with red fruits and bramble following. The mouthfeel is very smooth as the wine shows some nice polish. Red cherry, red currant jelly and Hoisin sauce finish off this outstanding Zinfandel that rivals some of the great ones out of Sonoma County. Drink 2018-2024- 90