2012 Amor Fati Grenache Murmur Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Maria Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

The is 100% Grenache from California's Central Coast.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, herbal notes and moist forest floor.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry and cherry fruit with underlying earthiness.  Seems to be fully mature and at peak.  Tannins all resolved.  Nice finish.  This is a food friendly wine that went well with Pasta Primavera with summer vegetables.  Drink over the next few years.  

2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

This is quite young but still delicious.  It is a blend of 64% Grenache, 16% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan.  Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, some black licorice, floral notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Vibrant with lots of energy.  On the palate, loads of black raspberries and black cherries with medium tannins.  It takes some time to open in the glass but then shows a nice minerality.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to hits its peak but is delicious today

2011 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Terrasse du Diable, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This wine is proof that good producers make good wine even in challenging vintages.  It is mostly 85% Grenache with the rest Mourvedre and Clairette.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries and black cherries, char and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is chewy with fresh cherry fruit.  Some underlying char.  Quite tasty.  Long finish.  This is at peak now and should be drunk over the next five years.  A nice drink on its own, it will work better with food.  Stews, chili or meatloaf would work well.  

2017 No Girls Double Lucky #8, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

My second time trying this wine.  Same overall impressions.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.  Almost black in color, more ruby towards the rim.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries and the burnt rubber smell.  Medium bodied if not a bit thinner.  On the palate, this is a nice quaff.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  No idea on what the pricing will be.  

2020 Bonterra Vineyards Young Red, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Bonterra has been a winery that has been reviewed here many time.  They provide quality wines at a fair price from grapes that are organically farmed.  This is a blend of mostly Grenache with some Malbec and Viognier.  The juice comes from the remains of grapes used from their Rose, and then hard pressed.  It is fermented mostly in barrel although some sees stainless, and then aged in neutral French oak for five months.  It is not meant to take too seriously.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, fig newtons, and clementine oranges.  Medium bodied.  13.3% ABV.  On the

2018 Tablas Creek Le Complice, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 15% Terret Noir grapes.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with some char underneath.  Delicious.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  They Syrah is dominating now but this should gain some complexity with a few more years in bottle.  Drink over the next twelve to fifteen years.  This would work great with Indian or Thai food with a bit of spice.  

2017 No Girls Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard. USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

From the folks at Cayuse.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, strawberries, slight earthiness and a hint of floral notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherry and strawberries come thru big time.  A slight dry earthiness underneath.  This is ripe but not over done.  Good finish.  This could use a few years to develop more and should drink well for eight to ten after that.  Nice on its own, with age it will work well with roasted fowl.  

2017 No Girls Double Lucky #8, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is apparently a new wine from No Girls that was sent free to those members on the Mailing List.  A Zoom tasting was held for people to try it although a friend brought this bottle to a separate event.  Pop and pour.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.  Almost black in color, more ruby towards the rim.  The nose has that burnt rubber smell so prevalent in many Washington Syrahs.  Also, some slight barnyard, black raspberries and black cherries.  Medium bodied if not a bit thinner.  On the palate, this is a nice quaff.  Somewhat one dimensional with nice black cherry fruit

2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel, Eleven Confessions Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$365.00USD

There are not a lot of great producers of Grenache in California, but there are a few who excel and at the top is Manfred Krankl and his Sine Qua Non wines.  At age 13, this is just hitting its stride and just outstanding.  A blend of 82% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 2% Viognier and 2% Roussanne.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, roasted meats and spices.  Full bodied.  15.8% abv but no heat.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries over a bit of char.  Deep and powerful.  Delicious.  Long finish.  The kind of wine that

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