Tag Archives: grenache

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre 2022, Rhone Valley, France

18 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored turning to a watery meniscus, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, red raspberry, tar, juniper, licorice, charred oak, acai berry, and tomato stalk. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty.  Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, acai, tar, licorice and green notes of juniper and tomato stalk.  There’s an interesting astringency that keeps me wanting another sip.  The finish is medium in length and somewhat austere.  I kinda like it!  The heat is noteworthy on the back end unfortunately.  This is a delicious, slightly green wine that will pair nicely with stews, game meats or Duck breast.  It gets 90 points from me and for $25, 4 stars.  Drink till 2032.  Ps. It has opened up nicely with a bit of air.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha 2016, Navarra, Spain

05 Sunday Jan 2025

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Tasted at our 38th virtual wine tasting- this Garnacha performed decently for many in the group.  It had a a medium garnet complexion with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  On the nose we smelled lavender, smoke, peat, barnyard funk, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, black olives, and some funky blue cheese.  The palate had medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are nicely integrated.  Green peppercorn flavors with black olives, red raspberry, black cherry, black pepper, and that funky blue cheese led to a medium length finish.  This wine was just okay for me and got 11 points on our tasting sheet but scored 89 points for technical merit.  At $20, I would like to revisit this 3 star effort and give it a chance to open up and release the funk.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha

Domaine Clavel Régulus 2023, Côtes du Rhône, France

07 Saturday Dec 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, red plum, smoke, game, tomato stalk, red licorice, pomegranate, and blackberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium  body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark raspberry, plum, blackberry, pomegranate, with some less intense red licorice, smoke, game and green from the stalk.  The finish is quite short but well received- it’s certainly fruity and has some nice juiciness thanks to the acidity.  This is a very delicious wine that drinks nicely now and could perhaps evolve till 2028.  It gets 91 points from me and at $14- a 5 star winner.  A blend of Grenache 60%, Syrah 30% and Marselan 10%.  Salut….

Domaine Clavel Régulus cotes du rhone

La Reserve De L’enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages 2022, Southern Rhone, France

21 Thursday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, steeped black cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, blueberry, wildflower, black pepper and granite.  The palate is dry (very), with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavors of dark red fruit- cherry and raspberry, with some green notes of fresh tobacco leaf, wildflower, pepper (both green and black), as well as some granite.  The fruit/tannins are quite sharp and produce a distinct dryness on the mid palate.  The finish is a bit mouthwatering and of medium length.  The astringent nature of this wine is akin to over steeped black tea- but it’s quite pleasant.  A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah- I don’t get the gaminess associated with the latter, but it does offer up the candied red fruit I dislike.  Overall this $18 is very tasty and will cellar nicely till 2030.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  Grilled meats are the ticket here.  Salut….

La Reserve De L'enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages

Black Slate Gratallops 2021, Priorat DOCa, Spain

14 Wednesday Aug 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, black licorice, grape bubble gum (!), coffee, vanilla, baking spice, blueberry compote and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins. The fruit quality is very good and I get layers of dark red fruit intertwined with oak nuance.  Thankfully the bubble gum is nowhere to be found, an interesting note on the nose tho.  The texture of the tannins is sublime- slightly grippy yet silky making for a delightful mouthfeel that lasts medium length.  A well-balanced blend of Garnacha and Carignena that gets 92 points from me.  I paid $18 for this beaut and give it 5 stars.  My pairing is rack of Lamb.  Drink till 2030, Salut….

J. Navascues ‘Cutio’ Garnacha – Carinena 2019, Carinena, Spain

27 Saturday Jul 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Garnacha (Grenache)/Cariñena (Carignan) blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, black raspberry, mulled blackberry, licorice, coffee, dried green herbs and charred oak.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that are chalky.  Confirming dark berry and plum flavors with a dose of oak and some licorice.  It has a medium (-) finish with quite a bit of heat on the back end.  It’s quite tasty but the slight imbalance of high alcohol detracts a bit.  I am grilling beef and lamb kabobs to pair, should go nicely.  90 points and for $13 it won’t break the bank.  5 stars.  Salut….

Gabriel Meffre Tavel Saint-Ferreol Rose 2022, Rhone, France

09 Tuesday Jul 2024

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Medium strawberry in color with high viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of strawberry, tangerine, cranberry, pomegranate and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and hint of tannic grip due to the slightly longer skin contact this region is known for (hence the darker color).  Strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate and a touch of orange/tangerine are the flavors I get that lead to a medium (-) length finish.  Rosé is a summer wine but the structure of the Tavel wines makes them more versatile with seasons and food.  Our pairing tonight is Tacos, should work nicely.  89 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

27 Thursday Jun 2024

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Deep purple/garnet with some haze, minor staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, slate, menthol, baking spices, brambleberry and is very primal at this stage.  The palate is  dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins, bordering on high.  Rich, ripe dark cherry, raspberry and brambleberry resonate right off the bat.  I get nuance of licorice as was on the nose and also some menthol and dried herbs.  The slate/iron note is somehow absent.  The fruit is very much in charge here but the tannins kick it up on the mid-palate.  The finish is a touch dry and quite long.  This Grenache based wine has aging capacity and should soften with tertiary development till 2032.  I am going with 90 points and for $21, this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Raventos I Blanc Can Sumoi Sumoll – Garnatxa 2020, Catalonia, Spain

21 Sunday Apr 2024

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Deep purple colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, black raspberry, violets and some garigue.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins.  Flavors of game, black cherry, black raspberry and black plum with some floral highlights.  The finish is light and medium in length, not overly complex or tantalizing.  This wine is a bit one dimensional and I can feel some alcohol yet it only rings in at a modest 12.5%.  It runs $23 and gets 86 points from me making it a 2 star effort to drink by 2025.  I am pairing mine with a smoked Beef shank.  Salud….

Xavier Vignon – Barbare ‘Cuvee XL Premier’ 2012, Turkey

30 Saturday Mar 2024

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Medium ruby colored with slight bricking, some staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, vanilla, baked red apple, rhubarb crumble, blueberry pie, coffee, baking spice and garrigue.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins that are plush.  The baked nature of the fruit comes out on the initial attack and then I start to get oak nuance by way of coffee, vanilla and baking spice followed by that earthy garrigue note and some meaty hints of game.  The red and blue fruit are ripe and slightly desiccated but then I get a tart finish that is medium in length, intriguing.  The high alcohol hits on the back end, I normally don’t sense it but this case is different.  I like it all things considered- 92 points and for a wine that is already 12 years old, it’s just starting to show methinks.  Drink till 2030 with stews, lighter grilled meats or even pasta.  At $20, worth looking out for this 5 star effort.  Salut….