I’m curious what folks are currently enjoying in this category. I’m especially interested in recommendations for GSM blends where Grenache plays a significant role, as Syrah-heavy wines just don’t appeal to me quite as much.
I’d love to beef up this part of my cellar with some current or recent releases. What have you had lately that you’ve enjoyed?
Unti is doing an excellent job with GSM wines, and with syrah and Italian grapes like sangiovese, barbera and montepulciano. They’re very balances and they offer serious QPR.
I like The Vicar from Pax Mahle. 50/50 Grenache/Mourvedre, but I think it reads a little more red fruit forward if that makes sense
Benevolent Neglect has a couple bottlings that may be up your alley. Their GSM is delicious, typically with the largest proportion of Mourvèdre or Grenache although the 2019 is 40% for both Syrah and Grenache. I also really enjoy their single-vineyard Grenache but it needs a whole lot of air.
K Vintners Charlotte.
GSM from Jolie Laide is a favorite. It is Scott’s signature wine made from Shake Ridge fruit. 2019 is the current vintage. For me a must buy every year!
Tom
Our own Larry Schaffer at Tercero is doing a really nice job, too – also with real QPR.
And Steve Edmunds’s El Jaleo bottling at Edmunds St. John is an interesting, more Spanish-inflected blend of mourvedre/mataro, grenache/garnacha, graciano and tempranillo. As always, his wines are very fairly priced.
I was going to say Tercero
I’d also reco Ledge given the parameters
I was going to say ESJ
I suggest the following reads for information on several acclaimed Grenache growers (and producers) in California:
from Randy Smith’s The Wine Write:
· “The Viticultural And Historical Gem That Is Rodnick Farm”
March 14, 2021
Chalone AVA, Monterey County
. “Catching Up With Kyle Knapp of Stolpman Vineyards”
August 2, 2020
Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County
· “Our Sit Down With Sonja Magdevski”
May 29, 2017
Santa Barbara County
· “Talking Fair Play With Jonathan Lachs of Cedarville Vineyard”
August 8, 2021
Fair Play AVA, El Dorado County
· “Talking El Dorado County Viticulture With Chuck Mansfield”
October 4, 2020
El Dorado County
· “Exploring Caelesta Vineyard With Brian Farrell, Jr.”
April 11, 2021
Paso Robles, East Templeton Gap
· “Our Chat With Monterey Winemaker Ian Brand”
December 31, 2018
Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito Counties
from Tablas Creek Blog:
· “Tablas Creek Grenache Retrospective: A Vertical Tasting of Every Cotes de Tablas and Every Varietal Grenache Ever”
September 1, 2011
· “A Vertical Tasting of Every Vintage of Cotes de Tablas, 1999-2017”
November 28, 2018
Wines & Vines Analytics
“Grower Interview Steve Beckmen: On Developing His Santa Ynez Valley Rhône Vineyard, Purisima Mountain”
November, 2007 issue
by Laurie Daniel
Wine Enthusiast
“How California’s Central Coast Winemakers are Making Grenache Their Own”
by Matt Kettmann
March 28, 2018
New York Times
“Grenache Three Ways, and Over Many Decades”
by Eric Asimov
April 2, 2021
Rosemary George
“Garnacha Master Class Conducted by Norrell Robertson MW”
by Rosemary George
May 28, 2021
Wine Australia
“Jamie Goode on Australian Grenache: The Fall and Rise of an Australian Wine Great”
by Jamie Goode
October 6, 2017
Jancis Robinson
“Grenache and Garnacha redesigned”
by Jancis Robinson
November 7, 2020
SF Gate
“As Syrah Falters, Make Way for Grenache”
by Jon Bonné
March 6, 2011
SF Gate
“Grenache Finds a Star Turn in California”
by Jon Bonné
February 26, 2012
*** Random Cool Resources ***
“Grenache: Best Practices and Potential for South Africa”
(PDF download)
Grenaches du Monde
“Press Area”
Grenache Symposium 2010 Vimeo videos:
(Part 1 of 10):
I have really enjoyed the Novelty Hill Oxbow GSM. Very nice.
Thank you for the suggestions, all. I look forward to seeing what I can find and giving them a try.
Further thoughts or recommendations are certainly welcome.
Sans Liege ‘the Offering’ is a consistent winner in that category for me. I need to add the Tercero to my ‘to try’ list - his wines are fantastic!
Don’t forget Halcon either!
Cheers
As well as Tercero, I’m a big fan of the wines of Tablas Creek, all of which are Rhône varietals. The Esprit wines are outstanding, but honestly all of their wines are very good.
What little is left.
So sad to see them go.
+1 on Ledge. Mark Adams was Justin Smith’s assistant at Saxum. I started buying Ledge years ago while languishing on Saxum’s waiting list. He’s not as full throttle as Saxum which I appreciate and they’re ready to drink much sooner, imo. Look for their MCA Cuvee & Adams Ranch bottlings. Jeb Dunnuck gave their Bien Nacido Syrah 99 pts last year which isn’t bad for a $65 bottle!
My favorite Rhone Ranger (sub $50, high Grenache) is Gramercy’s Third Man Grenache (Washington). Usually 50-75% Grenache and the rest split between Syrah and Mourvedre. Love this wine and its elegance for $35, for some reason this one hits my tastebuds perfectly almost every time I have it. Great food wine.
Anyone a fan of Failla syrahs? Wondering how it compares to some of the light savory syrahs I like such as Halcon and Piedrasassi.
Villa Creek years ago. Assume they are still excellent