Proper thin garnet, heady in the nose, a dark and tarnished perfume, alcoholic and licorice-ridden, a calm leathery barnyard spreads a kind of cream-cheese willingness on briary toast. Rich beyond its pedigree, this is an unsung and effortlessly elegant Grenache from 100YO vines in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Mouth-feel brings the whole magic together for an encore of sharp fruit, spicy on one side and tumultuous acid and thin tannins in the other corner. A classic watery duskiness of the variety still manages to leave you with lip-smacking fruit. I love this brand and I love Santa Cruz Mountains and this is win-win. Please tell me they are still making this.

2013 CARINI WINE Grenache Santa Clara Valley 14.4

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