With Lyle Fass proclaiming himself a Grenache hater, what better way to kick off this blog than with a defense of Grenache?
Granted, Lyle says that "there are certain wines I am thinking about as a Grenache hater," specifically overcooked Robert Parkerized tete de cuvees from Chateauneuf, but I love the Rhône Grenache blends in part because the majority of them are not like this.
The basic 2005 CDR from Domaine Chaume-Arnaud that I brought to Shawn and Kyle's last night will serve as Exhibit A. This vibrant, fresh, medium bodied red jogs easily past the finish line, with pepper and wild herbs rooster-tailing in its wake (Cinsault (10%) and Syrah (30%) join Grenache in the blend). The raspberry fruit had just the right touch, neither sweet nor fat.
It was, in short, a vigorous wine, an alive wine, a balanced wine, but one modest enough to be simply enjoyable.
The Chaume-Arnaud family raised this wine in organic soils, harvested the grapes by hand, and let the juice spend 8 months in stainless steel and cement — no oak. And bad dollar and all, we got to experience this love for a mere $15 retail.
An organically grown, lovingly raised, very affordable wine of character... What's not to love?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
I Am a Grenache Lover
Posted by Wicker Parker at 1:51 PM
Labels: g - Grenache, r - Rhône
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4 comments:
Grenache is better in CDR, Cairanne, Gigondas and CDRV , , ,all day and every day. CDP has had its time in the sun and that sun is getting too hot!
Thanks for posting the first comment, Lyle!
I will admit to having limited experience with CDP due to budget and perceived value issues, but do you find Sabon and VT to be overcooked, too? Well, I will open them in 10 years and find out.
But anyway... Grenache... Grenache! A feral Gigondas excites me more than any other Southern Rhone wine; and I have fallen hard for wines from Sablet and Cairanne, among other villages.
I have never been enthused by a Vacqueyras or a Lirac, though. Every one I've tried has been rather club-footed.
Just some random commentary from a fellow blogger/blog surfer...
So, let me get this straight ~ you enjoy gourmet food and wine, travel, cooking, literature, writing about it all, AND aviation comedy? ARE YOU TRYING TO SEDUCE ME??? :)
Your only flaw that I can see is your lack of affinity for seafood! ;)
I think the Sonic Youth inclusion on your profile bears mentioning...
You know there is a new theory involving rock music and perception of wine so it's time the art-rock no-wave wine lovers stand up to be counted.
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