Decanted 75 minutes. Extradimensional Wine Co 2022 Old Vine Grenache, Mendocino County is everything I look for in Grenache. lovely rosy floral notes combined with herbs and a touch of Eucalyptus. Fresh ripe strawberry turns into raspberry- pomegranate along with warm herbs and a bit of mint.
Medium body the aromatics are effusive and the flavors already layered and deep. Great acidity keeps you wanting more. Question is this, how the hell do you get all of this complexity in the bottle at 12.5% ABV! Dr. Wallace strikes again!
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Love to see this post resurrected! Love the variety!
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Landi sold his vineyards to a friend – he’s exclusively focusing on Comando G going forward.
I preferred his solo stuff over Comando G (fewer primary flavors, more tertiary, in my admittedly limited experience), so I would be checking wine-searcher for what’s left on shelves.
Marc Isart was at one point the 3rd member of Comando G.
He was also ?until recently the winemaker for Bernabeleva, which I quite liked the one time I tried it, and whose pricing seems a little less ‘Specialty’. Marc furthermore makes his own stuff, which I have had mixed luck with over 2 vintages.
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West coast Rhone varietals and Grenache in particular have been a focus of mine the last few years. Currently drinking a Grenache from Tablas Creek and am dinner planning for next week and trying to decide between another Rhone varietal or a Pinot Noir with mid week dinner. Decisions…
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The 2021 was something special. The 2022 isn’t too far behind.
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I saw the 2022 Margerum SBC Grenache at our local Costco…$16.99, if I remember correctly.
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This was a favorite when I was a Margerum club member.
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If that’s true, that would be a screaming deal. That’s about half price.
Thanks for that, will get cracking in finding some bits prior to him selling.
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I’d add to this convo David & Nadia’s Swartland Grenache. In the Gredos style: light body but super concentrated. Tart raspberries, black tea, and a nice floral bouquet. A pretty singular and gastronomic wine that overdelivers at its price point IMO.
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Thank you, Tom!!! So glad you dug it!!!
I love A Tribute to Grace’s wines. They are definitely on the elegant side and really show a different side to California Grenache.
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I like them too, but I find them pricey for what they are.
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I think their two basic Grenache wines Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara Highlands are actually great QPRs at $30 and $40 respectively. The single vineyards can certainly get more expensive, but those need some age to show really well.
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I have no local source and the online options I can find are SVD for between $48 and $63. My experience with them have been some Winebid finds in the $20’s, but that is rare.
I really dig what Angela does with her Tribute to Grace Grenaches - they are definitely on the lighter and more ‘ethereal’ side, therefore not for everyone. Another one to check out in our area is Clementine Carter as well - Sonja is doing a great job with Grenaches from throughout SBC.
Jaffurs, Margerum and Samsara are always good choices, too.
Cheers
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California Grenache I’ve been drinking
- Newfound
- Enfield
- A Tribute to Grace
- Lillian
- Amevive
I keep drinking any Vincent Ruiz Grenache I can find, it’s delicious! Especially the L’Ami Faust, which amost veers into the rose category. And Jade Gross in Rioja is worth seeking out as well, don’t be turned off by emojis on the labels! Dominio del Challao is another Rioja producer that makes a 100% Garnacha bottling that is wonderful.
Ok you convinced me on the Clementine Carter. I just ordered some. I trust your judgement. Speaking of your judgement, just had one of your ‘22 Mourvèdre rose’. Spectacular place right now.
Thanks my friend - bottlling our first cab franc rose next week along with our 2024 Mourvedre Rose
You should try our 2020 Spear Vyd Grenache . . .
Cheers
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A friend of mine made a carbonic Cab Franc from the ‘24 harvest. Wild and interesting
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