Grenache Tasting at Dan's

All wines served single blind. None decanted. I think they'd been open about an hour before we started pouring.

• 2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha Campo de Borja 85 Points

  Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

  Meh. Overripe, overoaked. Nose of oaky vanilla. Some nice concentrated black fruit on the palate, with that smooth ripe glycerin texture, but it's a bit too sweet, the oak is too prominent, and heat from the 16% alcohol is poking through. The oak may fade with time, but I'm not sure the rest of the wine will get any better.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Argiolas Turriga Isola dei Nuraghi IGT Flawed

  Italy, Sardinia, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT

  Browning color. Raisiny,slightly stewed. Tannic, not much fruit, good acid. This was likely heat damaged somewhere along the way.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Deep ruby color. You could tell this was a classy wine from the start. Still very primary. Nose of mostly black fruit, a little chocolate. Maybe a tiny hint of VA -- not in a bad way. With air some faint scents of lavender and herbs came out. Nice depth to the aromas. On the palate this is smooth, rich, and concentrated. Intense dark fruit, almost liquer like, sweet without being cloying, with wonderful depth through the midpalate, and a little bit of dark chocolate. Lots of fine-grained grippy tannin, that got stronger with air -- this started to shut down a bit after 60-90 minutes open. Just a touch of alcoholic heat on the back end that detracts slightly (not a surprise as this is 15.5% alcohol -- damn!). Long dark fruit finish. This is a very, very good wine if you like the style -- it's certainly a concentrated fruit bomb, but it's not heavy with glycerin in the way some napa cabs are. And it still needs several years. I think it lacks some complexity, although time may fix this. But for me it also lacks CdP-ness. I don't drink this and feel transported to Provence.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Ridge Grenache Lytton Estate 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Dark purple color. Nose is a bit reserved, with cassis and some nice herbal notes. On the palate, flavors of cassis and black cherry, with lovely purity to the fruit flavors. Still very tannic, with velvety mouthcoating tannin. Nice finish. This was not as intense or concentrated as the 05 Janasse VV served immediately before it, but it had a poise and elegance the Janasse lacked. Would love to try this in 10 years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Tradition Le Grand Montmirail 86 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Dark purple color. Slightly off-putting, chemically/pickle nose, with some plum aromas. Dark fruit palate, but lacking some depth, not a lot going on. Tannin is a bit coarse. Finsishes oaky. Needs time. Unexciting.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Cirillo Grenache 1850's Old Vine 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Ruby color, with just a slight bricking. The nose is a dead ringer for Syrah: red and black fruit, green olive, spicy bacon. This a bit on the lighter/more medium bodied side for Grenache. Nice complex palate: with redcurrant, tart cherry, cassis, pepper, just a touch of oaky vainlla, a bit of baking spice. A very nice creamy texture underlying the fruit. I would have liked to spend a couple hours with a bottle of this; I think it would show better there than at the end of a comparative tasting following heavier wines. Still very good, and not what I normally expect from Barossa.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue