Garnacha/Grenache

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.  

Great showing for this wine.  In a recent tasting of Gigondas wines, this finished as the groups favorite wine.  It was the oldest wine in the tasting suggesting that ten years is a very nice sweet spot for the better wines of Gigondas.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, coffee with underlying herbs and earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Tart black cherries on the palate with underlying minerality.  Also spices with a hint of lavender.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is drinking at peak now but should give at least five to seven more years a

A classic Gigondas producer.  A blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, with the rest made up of Cinsault and Mourvèdre.  Ruby in color (a bit lighter), mostly clear and bright.  Lovely nose with raspberries and bitter cherries.  Some herbs come out with air.  On the palate, a slight cough syrup quality, but very tasty.  The alcohol is a bit noticeable at first but it blows off with some air.  Light tannins.  Cherry, bitter cherry and raspberries over a bit of alcohol and char.  Some herbs and spice mix in as well.  Long finish.  This should improve over the next few years and drink great for ten

For those who like full throttle, hedonistic wines, Torrin should be at the top of your list.  This one is made from 100% Grenache.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is big with black cherries, cherry pie, char, spice and slight dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Lush and jammy.  On the palate, juicy black cherry pie filling with some underlying gravel.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This probably  drinks better on its own right now, but with some maturity it will settle down.  This should make great drinking for the next ten to twelve years.  

One of the more humorous labels in the wine world (check it out).  It is a bland of 52% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 13% Syrah.  This is much less robust than prior vintages of this wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, bitter cherries, baking spices and black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Plenty of cherry fruit with underlying char and spice.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for seven to ten years.  It worked well with a curry dish and will work better with food.