Tried these two last night w/ Susan:
1. Birichino Grenache BessonVnyd/OldVines/VignesCentenaires CentralCoast (13.5%; Planted in 1910; U; L080813) KingCity 2012: Med.light purple color; very perfumed/strawberry/Grenache some dusty/OV spicy/cinammon quite lovely/fragrant nose; fairly tart very bright/spicy/strawberry/Grenache rather earthy/dusty/OV almost SouthernRhone complex flavor w/ light bitey tannins; long bright/strawberry/Grenache bit Rhonish rather complex/dusty/OV/earthy finish w/ light tannins; a quite pretty interesting rendition of Calif w/o straying into the tutti-fruity territory. $18.00 (WoP)
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2. Bedrock Grenache (Gris) GibsonRanch/McDowellVlly/MendoCnty (14.0%; www.BedrockWineCo.com) Sonoma 2013: Med.light color; very bright/spicy/strawberry/Grenache very perfumed/aromatic rather dusty/OV quite complex nose; bit tart very bright/zippy/strawberry/Grenache/very spicy quite dusty/OV complex flavor w/ light tannins; rather tart/tangy bright/strawberry/Grenache quite dusty/complex/OV finish w/ light tannins; a really lovely OV Grenache. $nc (MT-P)/$23.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I really liked both of these Grenaches a lot...and I'm not a huge fan of Grenaches. The Birichino was a leaner/brighter/somewhat Rhonish Grenache whereas the Bedrock had a bit more richness & structure. Since GrenacheGris is not a recognized grape variety by the TTB, the Bedrock was just labeled as "Grenache" (though the Idlewild somehow slipped thru as "GrenacheGris"). The rose made by Donkey&Goat is always labeled as GrenacheRose, though it comes from these same GrenacheGris grapes. Anyway...a pretty unique opportunity to taste two Calif old-vine Grenaches.
Tom