So, while my wife and I were out and about in DC, we got on the topic of Grenache. I told her I've been having Grenache cravings lately. Through the conversation, she asked what was it I found in Grenache that made me want to drink it tonight. I answered her but I could tell I was losing her. So, I decided to open up a 100% Grenache and a Grenache predominate blend to kind of show her the difference. I really wanted to see if she could pick out the Grenache in the blend while tasting a 100% Grenache.
I chose a couple of bottles from the basement:
The Colonial Estate, Envoy, GSM, '04, Barossa: The nose has great red fruit with kirsch and vanilla. There is also a touch of roasted meat although I couldn't say it was pork. The palate is also full of red fruits (berries). Add in some black fruits. This wine has great acidity and a silky mouthfeel. What a great long finish. In the 4 years this wine has been alive, it has shed most of its baby fat. Very well done.
D'Arenberg, The Custodian, Grenache, '04, McLaren Vale: Total blueberries on the nose. Palate mirrors the nose with a touch of cinnamon. Great concentrated fruit with balanced acid leads to nice long finish.
Tasting these tonight made me wonder; If all $20 dollar bottles tasted this good, why buy anything else.
Also, my experiment didn't work so well. She said she couldn't really pick the Grenache out of the Envoy. I thought is was pretty simple but c'est la vie. She did like the Envoy better than the Custodian. I did too. Sometimes, the whole is better than the sum of its parts and sometimes its the opposite. Tonight, the whole won.
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