2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is 100% Grenache from organic grapes grown in Pignan.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and spice/garrigue.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and some plums with underlying spice and char.  Nice energy and balance.  Long finish.  This needs more time to mature and open and surely will improve with five to seven more years.  It drinks well now though and will continue to do so for another twelve to fifteen years.  It will work well with lamb stew and other slow cooked, savory dishes.  

2018 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% a field blend.  It is quite tight and shut down at the moment so if drinking soon, give it about six hours of air or more.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and garrigue.  With air a bit of lavender comes out.  On the palate, this has a lovely silky texture.  The fruit is quite tight but there are black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of black licorice and anise.  Everything feels right about this wine but it just isn't showing much at the moment.  Give it another five to seven years and then it should be o

2018 Chateau de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I don't recall ever tasting a wine from this producer before.  This is a blend of 80% Grenache noir 20% Syrah.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seems older with dust, dried cherries but also some black raspberries and garrigue.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and dried fruits.  Moderate finish.  This seems like a wine to drink in the near term, maybe over the next three to five years.  It will work well with pasta or stews.  

2014 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Méntrida Cantos del Diablo, Spain, Madrid, Sierra del Gredos

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

From one of the more interesting vineyard areas anywhere, just to the west of Madrid and at around 3,000 feet in altitude with sandy soils  over granite, come some of the more interesting Garnacha (Grenache) wines to be found.  This one is amazing.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose with cherries, cranberries, but also black raspberries and blueberries with baking spices, slight floral note (rose hips?) and slight earthiness/fresh mushrooms.  Full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries with underlyi

2011 Torrin James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 52% Syrah and 48% Grenache from one of the great Rhone varietal vineyards of California (or anywhere).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, smoke, roasted herbs, and a bit of meatiness.  Full bodied.  Complex and seemingly at peak.  Layers of black raspberry and black cherry fruit with underlying char and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This wine should continue to drink well for another ten to twelve years.  A nice match for Indian or Thal food.  

2001 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

Always one of my favorite wines from the Châteauneuf.  They have a more elegant style.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, garrique, licorice, and meaty notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries with underlying earthiness and some pepper.  Long finish.  This drinks well alone but really deserves a nice meal, perhaps some meaty stew.  This bottle seemed at peak at age 20 but could go another five years at this level.  

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

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