Open Mike: Grenache.

Robin was wondering why no-one had posted an Open Mike so here goes! We can talk red or we can discuss Grenache Blanc or Gris..my fave of late. There always appears to be diverging opinion about the red variety so we could start there? Me..I am a white wine fan (say it isn`t so Doris) so quite happy to open a couple of whites for discussion.

No doubt, a few links will be posted as is usual with a Mike so I will start off with this one>

http://fringewine.blogspot.ca/2012/08/g ... rance.html

Looking around here, I see some mention of Grenche Noir from California so thoughts there will be of interest. Do you prefer blends, maybe with Syrah? How about South Africa, must be lots to choose from out there?

I am wondering how many Chateauneuf du Pape are 100% Grenache?

[Jenise]

I am wondering how many Chateauneuf du Pape are 100% Grenache?

Interesting question: I don't know of any, Bob. I've run into some Gigondas, but not CdP.

You know what, I really love Grenache but I don't know if I own any 100% Grenaches. There's a lot of it grown here in Washington these days but it almost all ends up in GS or GSM blends.

I know I don't have any blancs at present. If I did I'd join you in this Open Mike!

I am wondering how many Chateauneuf du Pape are 100% Grenache?

Rayas Reserve, Chapoutier makes one, I'm sure there are others.

Grenache is a vast subject, Bob. My experience is overwhelmingly with French renditions of it but many people speak highly about what they do with it in Spain and Australia. My limited experience from both those two countries is mixed with human manipulation often IMO spoiling good raw materials.

In reds, the grape gives high colour, high alcohol, sweet seeming fruit and generosity, often too much of all these, and tends to be oxidative needing special care in vinification. Therefore, for table wines in France it is mostly found in blends with the likes of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan, which give more tannin and attenuate the oxidative tendency. However, 100% Grenache table reds do definitely exist and prosper; Château Rayas at CndP is the prime example. Contrary to the grape’s reputation, its wines are lighter coloured than most CndPs and they are long lived. I don’t have any Rayas in my cellar (too expensive) but I rate them several notches above most others in the appellation for their quasi-Burgundian refinement in a sweeter vein.

Where 100% Grenache comes into its own is in the fortified wines (Vins Doux Naturels –VDN) from Roussillon. The oxidative tendency is not a disadvantage with such wines. Like port they come in several different styles ranging from tawny (ambré) to vintage; the latter are good drinking a lot younger than most vintage port. I find this a useful wine type; better with desserts, especially chocolate, than most white sweeties and distinctly cheaper than port for the equivalent quality level.

Grenache gris seems capable of producing excellent results in the warmth of Roussillon giving a freshness and minerality which I miss in such Rhône valley warhorses as Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.

I have recently posted on fine examples of both Grenache VDN (Rivesaltes ambré) and Grenache gris (Collioure) from Marc Parcé. However it’s a long time since I had a 100% Grenache table wine. I’ll search the archives for a TN.

Bob, did you see the interesting thread on Grenache on the UK board initiated by Jonathan Hesford, who has first-hand experience of the variety as a grower?

Yes Tim..I did see that. Thanks for your imput as usual, off to look for Gris this afternoon as in-house PO is at her accountants!!

Here is a TN of Château Rayas 2000 at a horizontal tasting in 2007 of '00 CndPs , which included Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, Mordorée Reine des Bois........in the line-up.

C: Much lighter and more limpid than any of the others and, by that, instantly recognisable. N: Completely different from the others and quite burgundian; superbly elegant and complex with many red fruit, including black and red currant, cherry, raspberry and strawberry with a touch of liqueur. P: Lighter weight than the others but elegant, complex, intense and very long with notes of candied fruit and butter (someone said “Chardonnay, if blind”) in addition to those from the nose. There was a touch of Campari-like bitterness in the finish but it only added to the complexity of the delicious balance of the after-taste. My rating 17,5; Pierre’s 16,5; group average 18,05.

h? How about South Africa, must be lots to choose from out there?

Surprrisingly. there is very little here. When we first came it was almost impossible to find. They've been planting more; the Rhone rangers have been searchng out old forgotten vineyards but according to Platter 2016 there are still only 'tiny plantings' with <30 producers of varietal red and 3 of blanc (out of 900).

It's one of Jo's favourite varieties (you know mine) so we had a bottle of varietal Swartland Grenache when we lunched at Spice Route a couple of weeks ago and I bought two more to take away. We've one left and I'll post a note if we have it before we go.

Must say the most stunning Garnacha I've had was when judging the IWC category. So expressive.

We had some fantastic single variety Garnacha in Rioja during our visit last year.

Speaking of Garnacha, not to be overooked are the roses made from Garnacha, a stunning example is the Garnacha de Fuego Rose, a Jorge Ordonez selection

TN: 2013 Raig Ralm White Cellar Pinot DO Terra Alta.

80% Grenache 20% Macabeo. Good natural cork, 13.5% alc, $23 Cdn. Clay limestone soil.

The color is a medium straw yellow, no green tints. On the aromatic nose I found some white fruit, apricot and some herbal influence. Quite appealing even on day 2.
Initial entry thought is dry, good length, mineral tones, crisp acidity.."more lemon than lime" from across the table. More apricot on day 2..I just love this style of white!

***** roasted pork tenderloin with beans and squash.

Next up...d`Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2012.

Bob, just for you, see my separate thread 'Bringing in the Grenache' http://forums.wineloverspage.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55485

BTW, I'm confused why Pinot is in the name of the wine you posted above...
N: 2013 Raig Ralm White Cellar Pinot DO Terra Alta.?
.

The winery is called Cellar Pinot!

The winery is called Cellar Pinot!

Thanks. That makes a sort of sense --

but I think they prefer to spell it Celler Piñol see http://www.cellerpinol.com/en/

This was the third bottle of the wine we'd had. First was with lunch at the winery and then I bought two bottles to take away.

Opened this last night at beach side steak house and took notes....

Not sure if it was the note taking and focusing on the wine, or if this wine was less expressive than the others but we struggled to say much about it..

soice-route-grenache-front.jpg

Bright clear with spicyness on finish.

Lots of glycerine on side of glass as its swirled

Bit meaty in mid-palate... bacon fat??

Nice drinkable wine but without any great characteristics.

soice-route-grenache-back.jpg

view-from-spice-route.jpg

[Jenise]

Bob, yesterday afternoon I made the rounds of wine stores in town and at each asked for 100% grenaches and there were none except for the super cheapie $10 or less Spanish versions, which I'm not very interested in. But no French, no Washington, no California. Frustrating!

[Robin Garr]

But no French ... Frustrating!

I imagine that's because Grenache is like Merlot: With some exceptions, it generally needs to be in a blend in order to make an interesting wine. The French get this and are more interested in what works in the terroir, and they're not afraid to blend. Well, except maybe for those wacky Burgundians and their silly 100 percent Pinot Noir.

[David M. Bueker]

I have never been a huge unblended Grenache fan - the fruit is too candied (often) and the wine too unstructured (often) for my taste, but there are some that have caught my attention lately. Larry Schaffer at Tercero does a nice job with the grape (he also does Grenache Blanc). Sam Bilbro at Idlewild used to make an outstanding Grenache Gris, but 2014 was the final vintage.

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Mon Aieul is usually 95% Grenache grapes and 5% Syrah, but in some vintages it is 100% Grenache.

Lusu Cellars (Berkeley-Camelia Street-ESJ's old location?) 2011 Eagle Point Ranch Mendocino.

This is one of the oddest renditions of Grenache I have had. But, I actually love it. Slightly spritzy on the palate. Bright cherry berry fruit with a hint of funkiness. Very much a "Natural Wine", but it is so darn quaffable. Like wine soda pop (but not "sweet" at all, of course).

Here is a classic CndP blend of 65% grenache, 20% mourvèdre, 10% syrah and 5% of the 10 other varieties with counoise dominating that segment.

2000 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/21/2016)
A few years I attended two or three horizontals of CndP '00 and at least once there were deviant flavours on Clos des Papes, so I opened this bottle with some misgivings. I need not have worried. Fine pristine colour and nose complex but subdued at first. The palate was quite full bodied and up-front in shape showing opulent red and dark fruit with a sweet tinge but enlivened by more acidity than I expected after a recent Beaucastel '00 and complemented by savoury secondary notes and hints of spice, liquorice and game. This last came out on the lingering finish and led to excellent pairing with venison. Very good.

Posted from CellarTracker

PS: That's not my cellar in the pic. I wish it were.

Here is another Grenache blend, this time from Roussillon. The back label specifies Grenache, Syrah and Carignan but does not give the proportions. It has much more freshness and minerality than most from the Rhône valley as well as less sweet fruit; the schist has no doubt a lot to do with that. And, unlike many from the other side of the Spanish border and a few others in Roussillon, it is free of obvious oak flavours.

2014 Mas Amiel Côtes du Roussillon Villages Pur Schiste - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages (2/25/2016)
Unsurprisingly very much in the same mould as preceding vintages and I can repeat most of my '13 TN with only a few changes. Colour is deep red and the nose shows dense dark fruit tinged with raspberry and a hint of liquorice. The palate is medium/full but from memory less heavy and fleeter of foot than the '13. It shows lots of dark fruit laced with spice, marked mineral notes, fresh acidity and again a little liquorice and raspberry and backbone. The 14.5% alcohol is unobtrusive. Indeed this bottle was moreish and hard to resist finishing in one go. Good+ and good QPR at €10.

Posted from CellarTracker

2012 d`Arenberg Grenache The Custodian, Mclaren Vale Australia.

SC, $25 Cdn, 14.5% alc, 70 yr old vines. Lot 14128R.

Light ruby red in color. Cherry on nose, oak, minty, raspberry and hint of blueberry (pie!).
Initial entry thought is dry, still tannic dusty, not too ripe at all. Think best to put away. Pepper on lengthy finish, plum, "some varied spice notes" from across the table.
Day 2 not much development, I have been quite tired of late so maybe did not give this wine enough thought?