Brecon Estate Grenache 2020, Paso Robles, California

Light ruby/ reddish in color with light intensity.

Spicy and fruity nose of blueberries, cherries, raspberries, milk chocolates, light tobacco, spices and black pepper.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, sweet cherries, light oak, vanilla, citrus, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and raspberries.

This is a very tasty Grenache from Paso Robles. Spicy and entertaining. Fruit forward and Interesting.

Nicely balanced and easy drinking with nice complexity.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets spicier after 2 hours of airtime.

Feels like a Zinfandel blend with a Pinot Noir touch.

While some people may assume that screw-top wines are of lower quality, this is definitely not the case with this wine. It also makes it easy to take with, making it an excellent choice for a picnic.

Still young, but already very enjoyable. Tasty and good by itself. A good quality wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

A great sipping wine. If you like something lighter, and Pinot Noir is not your favorite taste profile, then this is a great choice.

Paired nicely with light appetizers.

A blend of 93% Grenache, 2% Petite Sirah, 2% Mourvedre, 2% Syrah and 1% Viognier. A small production of less than 2,800 bottles.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$55.

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Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, 2010, Rhone, France

Beautiful color of dark ruby, with a cloudy brick rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black plums, cherries, sweet strawberries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, earth, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 13 year old is drinking beautifully now. Shows exactly how you would expect it to, especially from this wonderful vintage.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Good by itself or with food. Rich yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 2 hours of airtime, when tannins show up.

I’ve had a few different vintages of this wine, younger and older, and I find this to be at a perfect age for my palate. Nonetheless, it will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Advocate 97 points.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120.

Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Grenache 2020, California

Light reddish in color with light intensity.

Fruity nose of raspberries, bing cherries, spices, light oak, light chocolates and earth.

Light in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, strawberries, spices, light wood, earth, black pepper, and light milk chocolates.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This young Grenache from Arroyo Grande Valley in California, is starting to drink nicely now. Easy drinking and good by itself.

Feels like a California Pinot Noir. Spicy and entertaining.

Good right out of the bottle, and even better after some airtime.

This Single Vineyard Grenache is showing mild complexity at this point. A good quality wine that will be nice to revisit in 3 years.

A nice sipping wine that I had by the lake.

Aged in neutral French Oak barrels for 16 months.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$60.

Zwebner Estate Vineyard Judean Mountains 35.40.2 Red Blend 2015, Bethlehem

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

Pretty nose of blueberries, black plums, currants, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and dark coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, cloves and peppercorn.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old GSM blend from Bethlehem is drinking wonderfully now. Showing nice balance with a great mouthfeel.

Feels like a Napa Cabernet on the nose, but definitely not on the palate.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 3 years.

Loved the nose right out of the bottle, and the alcohol is nicely integrated now.

Delicious right out of the bottle and good by itself.

I had this vintage 4 years ago, and it is drinking beautifully now.

A blend of 47% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 18% Mourvedre. Grapes are grown in the Judean Mountains at 2,500 feet elevation, and aged for 12 months in (100% new) French oak barrels. Kosher.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.

R. Lopez de Heredia Vinã Bosconia Rioja Reserva 2010, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. What a beautiful color.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing cherries, raspberries, black plums, currants, oak, light vanilla, spices, cola, chocolates, earth, wet leaves, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, rust, blood and herbs.

Dry on the palate with a nice mouthfeel. Shows nice complexity at this point.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This 13 year old is starting to drink very nicely now, and will continue to age in the next 7 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show itself. Easy drinking once it opens up. Elegant with good structure.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Paired nicely with the Prosciutto.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Aged in used American oak barrels for five years.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Ghito Winery Adom Red 2018, Israel

This is a nice Grenache blend from Israel.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, plums, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, black tea, barnyard, earth, vegetables and tobacco leaf.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

I had it a year ago and it was a different wine. Showed mainly red fruits, and now it feels like a new world Syrah blend. Interesting stuff.

Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. Aged for 16 months in mostly used French oak barrels. Kosher and unfiltered.

14% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$53.

Toca Madera Winery Toca Madera Vineyard GSM 2015, California

This 7 year old GSM from California is still drinking nicely, although definitely not at its peak any longer.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, espresso, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard is easy drinking now, and good for the pool or beach.

A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier and Grenache.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$32.

Leverage Wines Trajectory 2017, Paso Robles, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

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

Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, blueberries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, tangy raspberries and red chili pepper.

This 5 year old GSM blend from Paso robles is drinking very nicely now.

Showing nice complexity with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Creamy and tangy. Fruit forward and spicy.

Will continue to age nicely in the next few years. A delicious wine.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. I paired it with 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 7 barrels.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$64 (current vintage).

Buccella Winery Mixed Blacks 2014, Amador County, California

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, sweet cherries, light cedar, licorice, Indian spices, wild flowers, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, tar and earth.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, licorice, cedar, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, mint and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious GSM blend, with a twist of Petite Sirah. Fruit forward and complex with a nice mouthfeel.

Right out of the bottle it feels like a Cabernet blend from Napa. Only after 3 hours of airtime, it changes and feels more like a Napa Merlot. Interesting stuff. Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food too. I paired it with a Brie cheese and Duck Pâté.

A blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 14% Grenache and 6% Mourvedre. Aged for 22 months in (50% new) French oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined. A tiny production of less than 1,500 bottles.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$130.

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.