Bodegas Alto Moncayo Aquilon Garnacha 2012, Campo de Borja, Spain

For international Grenache day, here is a delicious Garnacha from Spain.

Full bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with great complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, earth, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, vanilla, mocha and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old is rich, extracted, engaging and fruit forward. Feels like a Napa Cabernet based Bordeaux blend.

Wine Spectator 94 points. Robert Parker 94 points.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Good by itself as a sipping wine. Just gorgeous.

100% Garnacha grapes were aged in (70%) French and (30%) American oak barrels for 2 years. A very small production of only a few barrels.

16% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150.

Bodegas Borsao Monte Oton Garnacha 2007, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of plums, cherries, currants, spices, light oak, licorice, dark coffee, earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black and red fruits, earth, light oak, licorice, chocolates and coffee.

Medium length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 15 year old Spanish Garnacha, drinks very fresh. Has a lot of sediments in the bottle, but otherwise I would have guessed it was a 2015 vintage.

Not showing too much complexity, and will probably be still drinkable in the next 5 to 10 years, although there is no reason to wait. I had it a couple of years ago and it is still drinking nicely.

Tasty and easy drinking with mild complexity. A nice easy red to start the evening with.

Needed 45 minutes in the decanter to show the nice tannins. Good by itself or with food.

100% Garnacha grapes.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

Famille Gonnet Font du Vent Cuvée Tradition Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019, France

Dark cherry in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose raspberries, strawberries, cherries, light oak, spices, herbs, earth, dried meats, wild flowers, garrigue, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, black currants, blueberries, light wood, earth, dark coffee, light bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Grenache blend from Southern Rhone. Elegant and interesting.

Tangy and spicy with lots of fruits. Nicely balanced with nice complexity.

This 3-year-old is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

Easy drinking and better after 90 minutes in the decanter.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.

Leverage Wines Trajectory 2017, Paso Robles, California

Dark purple in color with a purple/ reddish rim.

Strong nose of blueberries, black cherries, black plums, earth, wood, light vanilla, spices, herbs, tobacco, coffee, dark chocolates and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked strawberries, spices, pencil lead, tobacco, chocolates, earth, herbs, oak, licorice, dark coffee, pencil lead, cloves, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a wonderful GSM blend from Paso Robles. Nicely balanced, rich and fruit forward. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle, but already delicious. Would age nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Complexity comes in in the decanter.

Spicy and interesting to drink by itself, and good with food too. Delicious and approachable.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board meats, cheeses and crackers. Goes very nicely with the aged Brie cheese.

A blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre. Aged for 18 months in (40% New) French Oak barrels. A small production of only 175 cases.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$56.

RD Winery Hundred Knot Grenache 2019 Sonoma Valley, California

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Sweet nose of cherries, blueberries, sweet strawberries, licorice, oak, tobacco, vanilla, chocolates, spices and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, red currants, oak, tobacco, earth, spices, licorice, peppercorn, chocolates and coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Grenache from Sonoma Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

Showing mild complexity with a nice, soft mouthfeel. Light and engaging and a good summer wine. A nice light chill would be a good idea.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and brings in more structure.

Alcohol is nicely integrated already, so watch out.

Would be nice to see how this evolves in the next 3 years.

I had it by the pool with some dried meats, fresh berries and cheeses.

A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months (20% new).

15% alcohol by Volume.

91 points.

$53.

New Napa Winery

Falset Marca Etim Seleccion 2006, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish, cloudy rim.

Pretty nose of cherries, blueberries, wood, earth, spices, tobacco leaf, chocolates, metals, acetone, wet leaves, leather, forest floor, mushrooms and light black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, red currants, oak, stewed strawberries, earth, light vegetables, tobacco, dark coffee, licorice, spices, forest floor and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This is a nice surprise. A very enjoyable 14 year old red wine from Spain. Drinking very nicely now with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show nice structure and tannins. Tasty and easy drinking.

Thank you David and Elvira for sharing.

Robert Parker 91 points.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan.

I paired it with light appetizers.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

Notre Vue Estate GSM Rosé 2019 Chalk Hill, California

Pretty salmon in color.

Nose of citrus, limes, light raspberries, spices, earth, vegetables and minerals.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, strawberries, cherries, limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, herbs, spices and white pepper.

Nice finish with spices and almonds.

This is a very enjoyable Rosé from Chalk Hill, Sonoma County. Fruit forward and refreshing with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced with a buttery mouthfeel. Better when properly chilled.

Good by itself or with food. I had it by the pool with soft cheeses.

A blend of 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre.

12.7% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$29.

Bodegas Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva Rioja 2006, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick/ reddish rim.

Great nose of black currants, sweet cherries, blueberries, wood, cloves, vanilla, espresso, cola, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, cumin, saffron, graphite, herbs, Indian spices, earth and dark chocolates.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, oak, spices, earth, dark chocolates, graphite, peppercorn and leather.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious 14 year old Rioja Gran Reserva. Drinking very nicely now, but still a little hot at the back of the throat. Tangy and soft with great complexity especially on the nose.

Needs 2 hours open up, and even better after 3 hours.

A nice wine to pair with food, but definitely good by itself too. Loved smelling on it for a long time.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me. Really enjoyed it.

Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75.

Cellar de Capcanes Flor de Primavera Peraj Ha’abib Montsant 2017, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cooked cherries, light wood, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, spices, herbs, earth, dark coffee, dark chocolate and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, licorice, sweet cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, light vegetables, peppercorn, tobacco, chocolates, light vinaigrette, pencil lead and herbs.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Spanish blend. Smooth and buttery, with nice acidity and balance. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Very pleasant and easy drinking already. Fruit forward, spicy and interesting. Would be nice to try it again in 3 to 5 years.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, so please be prepared. It’s worth the wait. Last glass was so much better.

I paired it a young Gouda cheese and crackers.

A blend of 35% Garnacha, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Samsó. Aged for 12 months in French Oak barrels. Kosher. Not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.

Tranche Estate Blue Mountain Vineyard Pape Blanc 2017, Walla Walla Valley Washington State

Pale lemon in color.

Very aromatic nose of pears, peaches, white flowers, spices, apricots, yellow apples, light earth, white pepper and herbs.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with grapefruits, limes, lemons, green apples, bitter herbs, earth, vegetables, wet leaves and white pepper.

Nice spicy finish with white pepper.

This is a nice and interesting Rhône blend from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State.

Spicy with nice complexity and a tangy finish. The nose is fruit forward, yet the palate is much earthier, which is always interesting.

This Single Vineyard is tangy and refreshing. I loved smelling on it for a while. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food. Would pair nicely with oysters. I had it by the pool and paired it with Brie cheese.

A blend of 32% Viognier, 19% Grenache Blanc, 15% Roussanne, 15% Marsanne, 15% Picpoul Blanc and 4% Clairette Blanche.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.