Tag Archives: grenache

Massaya Classic – Le Colombier Rouge 2020, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

27 Tuesday Feb 2024

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Medium ruby with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV) and it looks unfined/unfiltered.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberries, licorice, charred oak, coffee, cardamom, red plum and white pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of black raspberry and licorice dominate with plum, pepper, coffee, cardamom and violet supporting.  The alcohol is quite noticeable btw.  The tannins are very fine grained and quite prominent throughout.  The finish is long with red fruit and some spice.  It says to serve this blend of 35% Grenache Noir, 35% Cinsault, 30% Tempranillo slightly chilled….  I like it just fine at room temp and think it gets 89 points.  For  $22 it gets 4 stars from me.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Xavier Vignon ‘Arcane Le Fou’ NV, Rhone, France

21 Wednesday Feb 2024

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black olives, licorice, blackberry ganache, black cherry, granite and petrichor.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, full body and medium tannins.  The flavors are quite pronounced- black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, charred cedar, olives and that mineral granite note.  The finish is long and silky with the tannins slinking away to reveal loads of dark raspberry and cherry notes.  The slight oak nuance is nice, as is the earthy minerality.  I like this $26 wine- 93 points worth, making it a 5 star effort.  I would pair it with hearty stews, game meat or meatloaf.  It’s drinking beautifully now and will do so for quite a few years.  Mostly Grenache, there’s other Rhone varietals from different vintages thrown in for good measure.  Look out for this wine.  It’s yummy.  Salut….

 

Domaine de Pignan Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019, Rhone, France

12 Monday Feb 2024

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My college buddy gave me this at Christmas, I was waiting to open it with him to enjoy.  Not exactly the right scene, but it made the pre-Superbowl party more enjoyable!

Medium garnet with slight staining and high viscosity (15.2% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, black plums, cracked pepper, violets, purple licorice, blueberry ganache, chocolate powder, baking spices, vanilla bean, coconut and eucalyptus (?).   The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a full body. The first thing that comes to my mind is the silky yet slightly chalky texture to the tannins. It’s beautiful. Medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, black plums, purple licorice, ripe/rich blueberry paste, vanilla bean, baking spices and cocoa powder- itfinishes long and sensual. Very smooth and delicious. 93 points. Drink now until 2030. Simply amazing.  At $50- it’s a treat for sure that gets 5 stars.  Salut…..

Bodegas Mas Alta Cirerets 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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For the third wine of the tasting we opened this Grenache/Carignan blend from Priorat.  I was excited for this wine and it did not disappoint.  Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of game, smoke, musk, black cherry, black pepper, leather, blackberry, anise and was a touch jammy.  Very interesting and earthy/meaty.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium  (-) tannins and a full body.  Not quite as jammy on the palate it still showed its gamy side with dark fruit and leather supporting.  It turned a bit dusty and the tannins seemed very powdery on the mid palate.  An ethereal sensation imho.  The long finish closed out this $40 wine that garnered 17 points on our tasting sheet and a technical score of 93 making it a 5 star effort.  I would drink this beauty till 2030 with some lighter meat dishes or even a roast duck.  Salut….

Clos St. Thomas Les Emirs Rouge 2014, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

30 Saturday Dec 2023

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose of this nine year old wine has aromas of beautiful baked plums, black cherry reduction, cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, coffee, toasty oak and a hint of menthol.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are well integrated and very polished.  Mostly tertiary in nature the flavors consist of baked dark red fruit with vanilla, baking spices, cocoa and coffee with a hint of cracked black pepper on the mid palate.  The tannins are sublime, making for a great mouthfeel.  The flavors carry on and on with a long finish promised and delivered.  Delicious and at peak, this wine is showing the power of its terroir and the skill in winemaking.  93 points from me for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache.  I trekked all the way to the city to pick up every bottle they had which at $19 per was a great price.  5 stars, drink till 2028.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Grenache ‘Romas’ 2011, Australia

01 Wednesday Nov 2023

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A brief note- en point and at peak,. This is a delicious and full throttle Grenache that is layered with ripe fruit, great structure and a long finish. It will pair beautifully with my minted Lamb Shanks and should drink well till 2028. A stunner.  Salut….

Chateau de la Gardine Rasteau 2019, Rhone, France

12 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has intense aromas of raspberry, both black and red, violets, hints of vanilla, walnuts, red plum and a touch of game.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that caress.  A full body with flavors of raspberries, vanilla and spice from oak, violets and that telltale game note from the varietal. It’s more Syrah driven imho but the blend is 75/25 the other way.  The finish is lengthy and delicious.  It’s a lovely drop that gets 91 points from me and at $18- 5 stars.  I am grilling Hangar steak to pair alongside Miso glazed King Oyster mushrooms.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Camille Benitah Limite Red 2020, Paso Robles, California

16 Saturday Sep 2023

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Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, pomegranate, violet, meat, blackberry jam and a creme de menthe hint.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are plush.  This blend of Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Mourvedre, Carignan and Primitivo is very smooth with ripe fruit and subtle nuances from each grape.  It shows the warmth of the region in the way the fruit is sweet but there is no residual sugar.  The full body is lush and coats my palate with beautiful layers- delicious stuff.  The finish is long and somewhat dry but not astringent, the tannins are en pointe.  This $15 offering gets 92 points from me and will be paired with grilled burgers tonight.  5 stars, drink till 2027.  Salut….

Massaya Cap Est 2018, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

25 Tuesday Jul 2023

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Medium garnet with high viscosity and staining on the walls (14.5% ABV).  I can smell the alcohol on the first whiff but it blows away to reveal- red currants, pomegranate, exotic spices, game, red peppercorn and baking spices.  Dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins that are well rounded and a medium-full body.  The palate echoes the nose with delicious red fruit and silky tannins.  A medium to long finish makes this Grenache/Mourvedre blend an enjoyable 91 point wine to drink till 2034.  For $40, it gets 4 stars from me.  We drank it at a traditional Lebanese feast!  Salut….

Carmen Stevens Angels Reserve Shiraz Grenache 2021, Western Cape, South Africa

17 Saturday Jun 2023

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Medium ruby colored with slight wall stains and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this 82/18 Syrah blended with Grenache has medium intensity aromas of ripe black raspberry, black cherry, coffee bean, bacon fat, lavender, baking spices and a hint of greeness- perhaps some mint?  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium intensity tannins that are smooth.  The body of this tasty wine is medium to full and I get the dark raspberry/cherry and oak nuances with a meaty streak that syrah brings to the table.  The floral component is more prominent on the palate than it was on the nose but a re-sniff reveals that is is opening up in that direction.  The finish has a touch of heat that quickly blows off, otherwise it is short to medium in length and mainly fruit driven with raspberry and some black plum notes.  You could pair this delight with pretty much any meat dish, it’s flexible and has a nice, easygoing mouthfeel.  89 points from me with a drink by 2027 window.  For $10 it’s worth stocking up on- 5 stars.  Salut….