US/French Grenache

Ox Restaurant, Jersey City, NJ
Tasted Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Cheryl with 501 views

Introduction

As always, it was lovely to see Scott, Anne-Marie and Gil. Nice to meet Andrew, too. I got turned on to grenache in the fall with the 2005 Saxum Rocket Block. Had a $35-70 grenache dinner and didn't like a thing. Have had CdPs before and REALLY didn't like them. So, we did this dinner, brought US and French and I liked it. The Clos des Papes and Janesse are not traditional representations of French grenache, but I liked them. Even the Donjon, which was more traditional CdP was tasty. Unfortunately, the SQN was corked. And, the lesson of the night? Buy some Ojai! It wasn't as polished as the others, but for $26 on the mailing list, fine by me!!

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 1998 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

    80% grenache. Nice but lots of alcohol on the palate, which seemed odd to me for a 10 year old wine. Drinkable, for sure, good, but not special. Less fruit than the Clos des Papes and Janasse, but considering the age difference, not much less fruit.

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  • 2006 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin

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

    Bright, dark, good. This was fun to try. Pop and pour. After the entree, when it had had time to breathe, this was really good. I liked it, wouldn't buy it, but nice. My palate is definitely changing.

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  • 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

    I liked this, but not as much as in Spring. It was more consistent with traditional CdP, than the what I perceived the last one to be. Nice wine. Lots of fruit, but not as new world sweet as US grenache, for example. The color is cloudy and there is dirt on the nose.

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  • 1999 Sine Qua Non Icarus Flawed

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Decanted. Unfortunately, this was corked. The wet cardboard on the nose was clear, but there was still lots of fruit on the palate.

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  • 2006 Ojai Grenache Santa Barbara County

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    This was not the best bottle on the table, but it was VERY good, and if you add in the price, $26 versus the others at $100+, this stole the show! Bright, fresh, sweet young. All day decant.

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