Garnacha/Grenache

Another top producer in Priorat, this is their entry level red.  It is a blend of  27% Garnacha, 26% Merlot, 21% Syrah, 18% Cariñena, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has dust, black cherries, plums and coffee.  On the palate, spicy black cherry fruit.  Medium tannins.  The alcohol is noticeable but not obtrusive.  Long finish.  This is delicious and in need of some cellar time.  Perhaps another three to five years.  This drinks great on its own but will need big food right now.  Perhaps after a few years it calms down.  This is the kind

From one of the original wineries in Priorat's rebirth in the early 1990's.  This is an entry level wine. It is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 24% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cariñena, 10% Merlot and 3% other grapes.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries with a slightly sweet black licorice note.  On the palate, this is sweet and jammy, ripe black cherries.  Nice texture. Monolithic.  Of course, this is young so it may develop more.  It drinks better on its own right now than with food.  Probably best to drink over the next three to five years.  

This is the entry level wine from one of the better producers in Priorat. A blend of 35% Garnacha, 35% Mazuelo and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is spicy with black cherries and a touch of dill.  On the palate, this is soft with bitter cherries.  It has firm tannins.  Bitter on the finish.  It doesn't seem like this will get better but it shows no real signs of age.  Still, iits probably best to drink in the next three to five years.  

This may be the most iconic Rosé made.  It is arguably the best as well.  While the price has risen over the last decade or so, there is no question that it delivers on quality.  Pale salmon/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with strawberries, minerals and a slight salinity.  Very nice texture.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strawberries with a mineral base.  This is not a big wine, but its not delicate either.  The finish goes on for a long time.  Some people advocate letting these age and while this will no doubt last for another five to seven years, the freshness in

This was a new Gigondas for me to taste and it showed quite well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with a bit of anise.  This isn't the deepest or most complex wine, but it is drinking well right now.  It probably should be consumed over the next seven to ten years.  This will work well with a nice bean/meat cassoulet.  

From the Perrin family that is one of the top producers of wine in the Southern Rhone valley.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice and accessible.  It has sweet black raspberries, slight char, slight floral note (lavender?), with spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, flavors of cherries and black cherries with an interesting black licorice note.  Good finish.  This may still improve over the next few years and should drink well for ten.  This drinks well on its own and should work well with chili, stews and bean soups.  

This is the basic Gigondas from the top producer of Gigondas.  They also make a variety of single vineyard wines.  The price on these has gone up over the years with the success of the winery and so, they now sell for as much or more than many Chateauneufs.  This is a blend of , 70% Grenache with the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim and shimmering bright.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, slight black olive and spice.  On the palate, this has a juicy texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Clean.  It will undoubtedly improve and open over the next three to five y

This wine was aged in a single concrete tank.  It is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first.  With air, it shows black cherries, plums and dust.  It is very deep but quite tight with firm tannins at the moment.  It opens to carry the plums thru to the palate and also some black raspberries.  Clean.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  This needs about three to five more years and then should drink well for twelve to fifteen years.  

Very impressive showing for this bottle.  2015 is a great vintage and this wine seems to be drinking youthfully but generously.  Purple with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries and is dusty while slightly earthy.

Another classic Gigondas producer.  From the stellar 2016 vintage.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with earthy black cherries and roasted herbs.  Great texture.  Black cherry fruit, cinnamon and herbs over char and earth.  Tight complexity.  Nice finish.  This is packed tightly and slowly unwinds in the glass.  It probably needs another five to seven years to mature and should be good for ten to twelve after that.  If drinking soon, decant for a few hours.  It drinks great on its own this calls out for something fatty; lamb stew would work well.