Grenache makes my favorite inexpensive wines, but there seems to be basic, fairly consistent difference between many inexpensive Cotes du Rhones and most of my favorite cheap Spanish Garnacha, like Vina Alarba "Old Vines", Nino Jesus, and some years of Vina Borgia. I like them both, but the Spanish wines seem to be more straightforwardly 'grapey' , with bright, sweet fruity raspberry Garnacha flavors and less of the brown spice and garrigue that I know and love in many of the French versions. I don't know, but might it be a difference of more carbonic maceration, shorter maceration, more stainless steel?
Ole Wine's series of Vinos Sin Ley "G" wines (G1, G2,......) also have that grapey style. A few short takes:
2006 Vinos Sin Ley Empordà-Costa Brava G1- light bodied, sweet but bright raspberry fruit with decent acidity, very light on tannins. Tasty stuff and great value for $5.50
2006 Vinos Sin Ley Terra Alta G3 'Caliu' - a earthy whiff (of brett?), has the fruit, more concentration than the G1, but lacks the balancing acidity. Ok, drinkable at $8.
2006 Vinos Sin Ley Vinos de Madrid G5 'Puerta Bonita' - darker, fuller,more purple than the other "Gs". Red Garnacha fruit with undertones of dark cherries and coffee. Sweetish, could use a little more tang to balance the soft fruit. Better as a gulper than with chicken lo mein. Ok+ at $12.
Put me down in particular for more of the G1(my kind of cheap wine), but I won't hesitate to keep trying any of the G series.
Dave (while listening to the New Pornographers)