Wine: 2009 Grenache Rose
Appellation:  Sonoma Valley, Kunde Estate
Alc: 13.6%
Price: $13.00
Haydn gives it: 88pts
You can purchase this wine at:  Kune Estates

With the exception of San Francisco, it seems like summer is in full swing for most of America. And with summertime comes warm nights and cool drinks. At least for me, my whites department get a bit thin come August. And while I enjoy good crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc like the rest of the kiwis, it’s the rose which is my go to drink this summer for cool wines.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of discovering a new Grenache rose, from Kunde Estates, located in the heart of Sonoma. The rose is comprised is close to being called a blend, with it being made up of 80% Grenache, 17% Syrah, and 3% Viognier.

The first thing you’ll notice about this wine is it’s color. It almost glows with a deep and bright red, pushing a bit into the purple-violet area a bit. All of the a sudden, the Pinot Noir rose I had next to it seemed to turn more of a salmon color, but compared. For such an overall subtle grape, the Grenache, the color did not hold back.

This wine will make you smile. It speaks to summertime; fresh strawberries, a touch of raspberry along with a little watermelon. The wine is a tad sweeter than some of it’s dryer Grenache rose cousins, thanks in part to a bit of residual sugar.

Summertime and Kunde’s 2009 Grenache Rose are a perfect compliment. It will cool you down and delight your taste buds without breaking the bank with the beautiful price.

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

Quivira 2007 Grenache
by Haydn Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog
June 6th, 2009

Retail price: $26
Appellation: Dry Creek, California
ALC: 14.9%
You can buy this wine: at Quivirawine.com
Haydn gives this wine: 88pts

Grenache is a funky grape. It is one of the lightest of red wines and while is one of the most widely planted, it rarely bottled as a single variety. Grenache in itself is a soft wine. So growing and producing a bottle of 100% Grenache is often overlooked for a Rhoné blend. Quivira does both. And while the Rhoné blend is good, the single varietal Grenache shines.

The color on this clearly states that it is young. Vibrant red tones with a touch of brick can be seen in the wine. The rim is abundantly clear and is fairly deep in color. You can see your hand through the wine, but not by much.

The nose is fruit-forward with hints of a touch of strawberry and cherries. It is no wonder why winemaker Steven Canter calls the Grenache, “Pinot Noir’s Mediterranean cousin.” There is also an underlying touch of some sort of spice to this wine.

The mid-palate is similar with the fruit coming out in full force, yet mixed in a bit with an asian spice. It also feels like the fruit have just been picked, where you can smell a bit of earth on the fruit, straight from the ground (or in the case with the cherries), the tree.

Kudos to the winemaker for putting this wine in mostly neutral oak, as the tannins would attack too much of this wine and overpower it. I gave this wine an 88 because at first the wine comes out a bit hot. At 14.9%, the high alcohol will make you think twice before pouring that second full glass. I’m all in favor of getting a bit of a buzz when drinking, I just don’t want to get it on my 4th sip.

However, don’t let the high alcohol deter you. This Grenache is a shining example of what a good 100% varietal should taste like. No overbearing tannins, no sharp hits to the palate. Just easy-drinking wine.

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

2006 McPrice Myers L’Ange Rouge (100% Grenache)
by Ashley Constans | Read more wine reviews on the Beyond Napa Valley Blog

Retail Price: $36.00
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
Purchase at: www.mcpricemyers.com
Ashley gives it a 92 Point Rating!

McPrice Myers is one of those winemakers that one can tell is a natural at his craft. Some people a born to do certain things, and McPrice is no different. His personality is reflective in the wines he creates, big, bold, enticing, yet modest and kind. He takes risks, choosing primarily to create wines using Rhone varietals, which many times, the consumer may not necessarily understand. However, being as talented as he is in his creations, each of his wines throughout the vintages I have been able to taste through, are mastered perfectly. He is the single reason why Rhone varietals are my “go-to” wines, my preferred choice. He makes wines that could be intimidating to the consumer approachable. We should all be so lucky to have someone this gifted producing wines for us to drink. He is in a word “brilliant”.

I chose to review the L’Ange Rouge Grenache. His current line up is flawless, in my opinion, but this particular wine left me yearning for more. With all the variety in wines available today, I would choose this one based off of pure brilliance that this Grenache delivers from start to finish. It’s a sexy wine, and not many Grenaches can pull off being sexy. He balances out the sexiness with an unpretentious finish that will leave your taste buds saying, “Oh, yes please.”

The 2006 L’Ange Rouge Grenache by McPrice Myers is a faultlessly created wine. A beautiful dark garnet color hits the glass with perfection. Aromas of Chinese 5-spice that tantalize the nose along with natural blackberry and anise scents leave you craving more and more. A generous and supple mouth feel of red raspberry flavors create roundness on the palate. This medium-bodied Grenache is soft overall however provides an excellent balance.

You can find McPrice Myers in his tasting room in Paso Robles, CA or on the web at www.mcpricemyers.com.