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Grenache Night
somewhere downtown Clermont Ferrand
Tasted September 30, 2021 by Stanrocks with 6,152 views
Introduction
A bit of a lie turning event, but needed to do it lately... lots of nice wines coming and willing to taste...
All blind to the tasters, not me :)
Flight 1 - Whites Introductory (0 notes)
Nothing special but to ignite the night :)
Flight 2 - Grenache s (5 notes)
Some random mid aged Grenache or Grenache very dominant wines from around the world
Red
2015 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Pancrudo
92 points
I think people who gave marks did not get the style here,
This being in the Rioja Appelation is nothing like a "typical Rioja", no Tempranillo and no oak... but a tremendous expression of Grenache or Garnatxa, infused, light and super balanced, in a great Grenache tasting this was for all the tasters by far the WOTN
Light ruby color, with roses, dried flowers and candied fruits on the nose...
palate is fresh, long, juicy and lovely, in a Burgundy/Nebbiolo style, very graceful...
Again it is nothing like a powerful Rioja, but a fantastic example of partialy whole bunch and big oak aged wines, refined and elegant ... Pinot Lovers, Old style Nebbiolo lover's this guy is for you
This being in the Rioja Appelation is nothing like a "typical Rioja", no Tempranillo and no oak... but a tremendous expression of Grenache or Garnatxa, infused, light and super balanced, in a great Grenache tasting this was for all the tasters by far the WOTN
Light ruby color, with roses, dried flowers and candied fruits on the nose...
palate is fresh, long, juicy and lovely, in a Burgundy/Nebbiolo style, very graceful...
Again it is nothing like a powerful Rioja, but a fantastic example of partialy whole bunch and big oak aged wines, refined and elegant ... Pinot Lovers, Old style Nebbiolo lover's this guy is for you
Red
2016 Cellers de Scala Dei Priorat Reserva Cartoixa
91 points
Grenache Tasting,
Quite a subtle Priorat here, wine with 80 % Grenache, cannot find much intel about winemaking and aging, but it smells a bit oaky, not dominant but still there.
The wine is very much on the cherry, little red berries, and palate is smooth with good acid and balance.
Day2 and 3 the wine gains in subtlety and precision, with a great amount of freshness and peppery savors ! Excellent
Interesting to go go up the scale and try the Bigger ones mainly made of Grenache like the Mas Deu
Quite a subtle Priorat here, wine with 80 % Grenache, cannot find much intel about winemaking and aging, but it smells a bit oaky, not dominant but still there.
The wine is very much on the cherry, little red berries, and palate is smooth with good acid and balance.
Day2 and 3 the wine gains in subtlety and precision, with a great amount of freshness and peppery savors ! Excellent
Interesting to go go up the scale and try the Bigger ones mainly made of Grenache like the Mas Deu
Red
2016 Torbreck Grenache Hillside Vineyard Barossa Valley
89 points
Grenache night
Very different, and more cooked than the others, the style or direction/location shows here, as the nose is on the light strawberry jam, not overcooked, but way more jammy than the other wines...
Palate is quite balanced with no signs of alcohol whatsoever, a good fruit presence, cooked or warm strawberries again, interesting in the middle of the tasting, quite a style on its own.
Good wine though...
Very different, and more cooked than the others, the style or direction/location shows here, as the nose is on the light strawberry jam, not overcooked, but way more jammy than the other wines...
Palate is quite balanced with no signs of alcohol whatsoever, a good fruit presence, cooked or warm strawberries again, interesting in the middle of the tasting, quite a style on its own.
Good wine though...
Red
2017 Jean-Michel Alquier Faugères La Maison Jaune
85 points
Grenache night
Looking for Languedoc Grenache wine, I picked up the wine, which appeared to be so closed and having so little to show that I wondered if the wine was not flawed...
Nose is very closed, not showing much... the the palate is very harsh, hard tannins, with some bitterness, sourness in the finish... very difficult to understand and get ...
Deception, giving that that wine has been one of my all time favs of the region along my Languedoc Years ... hope it was a flawed one... let's buy another one to figure out ...
Looking for Languedoc Grenache wine, I picked up the wine, which appeared to be so closed and having so little to show that I wondered if the wine was not flawed...
Nose is very closed, not showing much... the the palate is very harsh, hard tannins, with some bitterness, sourness in the finish... very difficult to understand and get ...
Deception, giving that that wine has been one of my all time favs of the region along my Languedoc Years ... hope it was a flawed one... let's buy another one to figure out ...
Red
2017 Domaine de l'Espigouette (Bernard Latour) Gigondas
89 points
Quite on the closing side now...
Leave it for a couple more years, but after a few minutes and some air, the wine starts to eventually get back on its feet.
Nose of currant, bramble, a bit of smoke, but still on the closed side
Palate is a bit tannic, not showing so well as B4, with some good length and a classic black berries and sooth ending
Will gain in aging now
Leave it for a couple more years, but after a few minutes and some air, the wine starts to eventually get back on its feet.
Nose of currant, bramble, a bit of smoke, but still on the closed side
Palate is a bit tannic, not showing so well as B4, with some good length and a classic black berries and sooth ending
Will gain in aging now
Flight 3 - other wines coming in :) (1 note)
Some random wines opened and discussed around the table
Red
2009 Cims de Porrera Priorat Vi de Vila
90 points
Being a bit severe there, but the other wines showed very well, and the UFO brought by one of the tasters ended showing really well but with a Carignan base it was nothing like the soft and subtle Garnatxa s
Nose of black berries and of some evolution, not enormous evolution though, but a nice spot right now
Palate is surprisingly very easy, and drinkable, soft and balanced, very elegant and round.... superb wine so far
Drink or Hold
Nose of black berries and of some evolution, not enormous evolution though, but a nice spot right now
Palate is surprisingly very easy, and drinkable, soft and balanced, very elegant and round.... superb wine so far
Drink or Hold
Closing
Spain showing great on different styles and levels of wines, strangely the Grenache known for its oxydation sensitivity needed some air here...