TN: 2004 White Dog Grenache Larner Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)

WINE TALK
1

This note is so full of fail. I apologize in advance.

  • 2004 White Dog Grenache Larner Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/2/2009)
    Let’s face it, I kind of suck at wine tasting. My notes all start to sound the same, after which I realize that I’m just making it up. If you’re reading this, you must be sure to take it all with a grain of salt. I’d love to tell you whether this is a great grenache wine, but hell, I don’t know.

Here’s what I do know: This is a very different sort of Larner Grenache than those from Herman Story or McPrice Myers. For one thing, it’s much less fruit forward, much more about other flavor characteristics. What kind of flavors? And what about the nose? I wish I could tell you, but I just don’t have it in me to catalog a bunch of tasting markers that I hope make sense to others. There’s a nice relaxed feel about this wine and it went well with food–it has a smoky character to it, that I guess you could call “brambly”, but I’ll just say smoky. It tastes “darker” than the Herman Story Grenache, but maybe that’s an age/vintage thing? I know that Steve Goldun told me that he intends these wines to age a bit before showing their stuff, and this one was showing its stuff last night. So isn’t that enough? (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

2

Ken,

Thanks for the notes! Steve makes some great wines - and has a VERY different attitude towards picking then McPrice and Russel do (that’s Russel Fromm from Herman Story).

This is a vineyard that has the potential of producing some of the best grenaches in the country - period. It’s planted on 100% sand, so water retention does not happen. What does this mean? The grapes struggle, and therefore the grapes at harevest are incredibly concentreated - and generally have higher acid levels and lower pH’s than their counterparts in the area . . .

I started working with the grenache in 08 (syrah in 07) and could NOT be happier!!! This year, I’ve brought in my clone 362 - 2 tons total - 1 ton 100% whole cluster and the other 100% whole berry - and will be bringing in clone 136 later this week. I LOVE what the vineyard brings to the table!!!

But as far as your tasting note goes, I love it! It’s what you tasted and perceived - and that’s what this is ALL about IMHO!!!

Cheers!

3

So this is what you guys down south do to get those big wines. neener

Good luck with the rest of your harvest, Larry. Hope to catch up to ya soon.