Here’s the thing about Grenache. There’s basically two kinds of Grenache. No… make that three, because Paso has to figure in somewhere, and when you have as many followers as I do, you have to factor in the group wanting to see *the Paso version*, despite my abhorrence for it and desire for all of you to go away and follow someone else. But here we are. There’s the CdP version–which requires no explaination. Then there’s the vibrant, thin, green version from California and otherwise. Then there’s the pancake-syrup 15-oh #winebro definition which bothers me immensely and is dropped out of the conversation because it sucks. So what do we have here? The almost-pinot-driven nutty, graciously-driven, thin, bricking version those of us who relish Grenache crave.
Funky, nutmeg-driven nose flows seamlessly off the transparent body where deep cherry fruit mingles nicely with gobs of briar and herb. I won’t go so far as “Grenache delivers what Pinot promises” but you see where I’m heading here. It kinda does. Vapid delivery of gob-stopping fruit is key, based down on layers of complexity and funk true fans require.
In the mouth, all your nodding-head, open-mouth influencer podcast situations fade away as shards of acid and well-deprived angles of earthy delirium produce presentations of black cherry and berry the Oakly-blade contigent finds offensive. It’s thin. It’s glorious in presentation and delivery. It wipes clean hi-octane waiting-lists promising inclusion. This is dearthy, ridiculiously-fruited Grenache in a nutshell, where the bouquet glances things off the palate nearly impossible to describe. And: it’s 25 bucks.
2021 NSO WINES Grenache Santa Rita Hills Santa Barbara County 14.0
Stephen McConnell 