Do You Know What Grenache Can Do?
It’s amazing how you can forget all about a country and/or a grape until it is thrust into the spotlight and you get to taste a whole bunch (no pun intended).
In late-November I found myself at a tasting completely devoted to the Grenache/Garnacha grape from Spain … what an eye-opening experience.
I already knew I liked Spanish wines and I know I like Grenache based wines, but when you find yourself in a room with over 2 dozen you really start to understand why. From the simple to the complex this grape seems to be able to do it all.
Santo Cristo 2012 Seleccion Garnacha ($13.50)
Here you’re looking at a wine made form 60-80 year old vines and no oak was used, sure it’s fresh and fruit driven but because of the old vines it also has complexity and spice, you’d swear it saw the inside of a barrel, it has that many layers.
Bodegas Paniza 2012 Vinas Viejas de Paniza Garnacha ($17.95)
Another old vines offering that shows great fruit like cherry and raspberry all mixing it up with a gentle spice – the surprise is the complexity it gains with each sip.
Vinas del Vero 2009 Secastilla ($32.00)
This one is mainly Grenache but has other varieties thrown in for “seasoning”, and is consider more of a field blend; chocolate, plum, black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, the list goes on and on.
For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.