Garnacha/Grenache

Purchased at Foxcroft Wine Bar in Charlotte, NC.  This is 100% Garnacha (Grenache) from old wines in the mountains just west of Madrid.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, pomegranate, spice and wild herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries and spice.  There is some depth.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is young but drinking nicely.  Good on its own or with food.  It would work well with Baked Ham.  

For 20 years Quivira Vineyards has produced a Provencal-style Rosé with Grenache as the lead variety. Additionally there is also 20% Primitivo, and smaller amounts of Counoise, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. There is soft fruit and soft acidity here, a wine that doesn’t overshadow any companion foods. Strawberry, stone, fruits, light citrus, black cherry, rhubarb, and subtle lemon lime fill out the palate. This is not a wine that announces itself and takes control, this is a subtle wine that is meant to be part of the meal.

This is a really interesting wine.  As the story goes, Xavier Vignon is a Rhone producer who also consults.  In his travels, he discovered this wine as it was sitting in a concrete tank with very low levels of oxygen.  It is unclear who made the wine originally.  It was bottle recently and released.

This is in a lovely place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, slight black cherries, violets, spices and just a hint of funk.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is complex, layered and delicious.  Cherries and black cherries with some char, spice and earthiness.  Long finish.  This is just about at peak right now and should be at this level for five to eight more years, but this will drink well for another five to ten after that.  Great on its own, this will work 

Whoa!  Not a wine that shows up often, and its expensive, but this wine is amazing!  15.5% abv.

This is 95% Grenache.  Ruby/purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, char and floral notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this has lovely black cherry fruit, some cherries and spice.  Nice finish.  This seems to be about at peak at this point.  It should drink well for another five to eight years, but won't get better.  Nice on its own, this will be better with food.  A nice wine with beef stew.  

This is 100% Grenache made only in selected vintages.  The bottle lists 16.4% abv but there is no heat.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is explosive with black raspberries, black cherries, char and slight gun powder notes.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight black cherries.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is still drinking youthfully and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work nicely with roasted fowl.  

This property has since been purchased by Realm Cellars.  Only five cases of this 100% Grenache wine were produced.  Inky Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, clay and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with underlying char.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years. It is great on its own and would work very well with a hearty meat or vegetarian chili.  

This is a blend of 70% old Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% other allowed grapes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  It was interesting to drink this side by side with the Gigondas.  The CdP is a much bigger and more complex wine (and more expensive).  The nose has black cherries, cherries, spice, smoke and black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Open and drinking well but with depth and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, plums and spice with light tannins.  This is drinking well on its own and will work well wi

This is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20 % Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre.  In many ways, Gigondas has been thought of as Chateauneuf du Pape's little brother and for Guigal, that is an apt comparison.  Drunk side by side, this seemed lighter and easier although similar.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and spice and a hint of anise.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and cherry fruit with a bit of spice on the finish.  Nice finish.  This will work better with food that on its own.  Cassoulet is a classic match.  Drink over t