That experience ended up sparking something unexpected—it became the foundation for my submission to the 2025 Jancis Robinson Wine Writing Competition.
Great write up! If my memory serves me correctly (which is hard for the evening), I think I also brought a SQN Distentia, but the Syrah. Mine wasn’t WOTN either….
I love this variety in all of its forms - but I can understand the response from those in attendance about that first SQN wine that you poured.
I actually had the same reaction when I was blinded an earlier vintage of their grenache - I ‘enjoyed’ it but could no way tell what variety it was.
The beauty of a variety like Grenache is that it can be anything to everyone - light and ethereal, big and bold, and everything in between . . . it truly comes down to what YOU are looking for.
As a winemaker, I cherish the fact that the variety is very ‘transparent’ - just like Pinot Noir. What I mean is that it clearly shows a sense of place, of vintage, and, most importantly, of ‘winemaker intent’. You can ‘beat up’ a cab or a syrah and it can handle it - new oak? No problem. Lots of extraction? Bring it . . .
With Grenache, it truly shows EVERYTHING that a winemaker does - if there is a lot of new oak, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Same with high or low alcohol.
Thanks again for sharing - and please continue writing and sharing!!!
Larry, thank you for your insight. I hear that about Grenache as a transparent canvas. Will be interesting to delve into more. Any specific producers you’d recommend?
I’ve only scratched the surface with it, but I’m eager to keep exploring (and writing). Thanks again for reading
Nice work @RayChung. Grenache has always seemed an elusive grape to me, possibly due to its wide possibilities. But also very appealing for those same reasons. I might have had an SQN grenache at a big “open bottle” event many years ago, but it was not a formal tasting, so dozens of bottles slinging around. I didn’t focus then, so not much frame for me on that one.
I have done a number of formal/semi-formal tasting with Grenache/Blends mostly from PacNW, with often a CdP, Spanish, or CA wine thrown in as “ringers”.
A couple of producers to look for are Cayuse God Only Knows, and its sister wineries, No Girls, Horsepower. Side project with similar make-up is La Rata. Those are “Washington” wines grown in Rocks District of Walla Walla, Oregon. Rotie Cellars also makes some good grenache from that area. New kid on the block here is Weathereye (vineyard and winery), and others making Grenache from that site, Liminal, Seth Kitzke, Kobayashi.
Enjoyable read , Ray. Being there that night, I remember the surprise on the reveal. And you’re right, the nuance does get lost in a quick paced, 20+ bottle night where everything is a slammer. Glad you stuck with it and keep putting other Grenache expressions out there to appreciate.
By the way - I am not sure which dinner was which, but that may have been the one where I brought an Outpost Grenache and a SQN Grenache… The Outpost showed very well.
Grenache is probably my favorite grape. MANY years ago, there was a Grenache dinner at Tribeca Grill that had some outstanding wines. My personal favorites for 100% Grenache are, in no order, Aquilon, Rayas, Janasse, SQN, and Saxum Rocket Block. The Moncayo Veraton is outstanding for a “cheap” wine.
AND Larry’s Watch Hill Vineyard Grenache is very nice.
You bring up a great point - and one that was covered not too long ago about choosing a wine that would ‘stick out’ in a flight of multiple wines.
I do believe that many of these such dinners are truly ‘embarassment of riches’ - so many wines that each is not given their due. @J_a_y_H_a_c_k , if you had an SQN, a Rayas and a Rayas in a line up of a bunch of different wines, how in the world would the Rayas ‘stand out’?
Nice write up, congrats for getting published Ray.
I wasn’t there, but despite it being one of my favorite grapes am totally guilty of mixing up Grenache and Syrah if it’s the big concentrated kind, and I’ve had a few too many of the same beforehand.
Yes, Larry. The OP in that thread got a lot of suggestions for Sauternes, d’Yquem specifically to stand out and win WON. He ended up shooting himself in the foot by bringing two wines of almost identical style. In our get together, the focus is much more narrow. We had limited vintages to 2016 and newer of a bigger style. And as you said, in an embarrassment of riches, it’s really hard to be head and shoulders above anything else in the offerings