Yep, Airen is #1, and Trebbiano is #2 I believe. But that's only measuring acreage/land under vine. In terms of number of vines, some of the more famous ones (Cab, Merlot, Grenache) come out on top. I've also read somewhere that Thompson seedless grapes are more planted than any of the above, but they don't make wine so they don't count in the list.

Smoky… Fruity… Yummy delicious… Sounds like some Pinotage I've had (Golden Kaan, Bob's African, etc.)

ramon allones is always a solid cigar to go with.

Not double blind. That Murph brought a dollar for dollar fight is great. That one is a low production, Howell Mtn, estate wine is prob. enough to say that it's good. $35 good, I don't know – but your reaction doesn't scream it… I think good is easy to get in Cali from scores of producers – Quivira (Dry Creek), or Adam Tolmach/ Ojai (or any of the original Rangers), for example.
I think that Spain's efforts encompass the full range – most of the simple, and inexpensive stuff, tasty and easy to enjoy (Calatayuds, Yecla, Tierra de Castilla, entry Campo de Borja, etc.) I might qualify as New World – fruit forward, not too complicated,… but finer offerings from Priorat (e.g. Scala Dei, Erasmus, Clos Mogador) are big and grand, Earthy, full, in your face, but subtley nuanced with worlds of flavors and complexities that aren't even looked for in “New World” style wines – which are too often in your face, (like a punch), but straight ahead, simple, and too often goopy.
Oh… I just like Grenache. period. Cheers.

Someone mentioned Tres Picos – always liked that one. And Vega Sindoa's El Chaparral had been pretty comparable to that. And you just about never go wrong w/ your Rhones, whether CdR's, Villages, like Chusclan, Rasteau, et al, or AoC's unto themselves (Gig/CDP)

meeeeeeeee liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes Granaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaache!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
end of story………………..

DISCUS BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh we can agree on this for sure!!!!!!!!!!! I'm with ya!

“Hey Jeremiah”. ROTFLMAO X 10.

Just watched GV's latest keynote address over at GV dot com. Brilliant stuff as always but the Hey Jeremiah bit (circa 19 min) was pure comedic genius plus it really made the point in a very dramatic fashion. It made me think. I recommend it to everyone.

Yeah that was a cool bit. 🙂

His cursing got a little out of hand though LOL 🙂

Thanks, i've just watched all of it. GV's got some good points.

Nice tight show. I like Grenache (Garnacha) quite a bit. The CDP would have been a clear cut winner in my book based on your notes. I have had some really good Cali Grenaches as well, though. Try some of the Tablas Creek Grenache or their Esprit de Beaucastel. Really good stuff. That would have been an interesting comparison. How about a rematch, KMurph? Tablas Creek vs. a good CDP or Gigondas.

Grenache really rox. one of the greatest.

gary, what about a soccer world cup special. like wines from SA, or SA vs NZ. things like this would be great.

Glass Joe is the best. I like the brown bag shows. How about doing some Virginia bordeaux blends GV.

i worry about jumbo alcohol levels in grenache. 16% 2007 CNP seems like overkill.

QOTD:

Snidely Whiplash!

DISQUS SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I put together a GREAT Grenache tasting recently which included an old vine Garnacha from Montsant, a Grenache-dominant blend from Cotes du Ventoux, and a Santa Ynez Grenache. The wines were phenomenally different for my customers yet all had that red fruit and spice element that tied them all together along with fresh acidity that kept them food friendly.

We like that Tres Picos as well…great summer grilling wine when there is a crowd.
The one I pulled the ruse with was
http://winelibrary.com/wines/16138-Borsao+Red+750ML
of course, this one is not pure garnacha…25% tempranillo gives it a ‘little’ more backbone.
Cheers!

I don't have a particular grenache story but the best I've had are definitely from the south of France – Côte du Rhone or Languedoc.

Who's watching the World Cup? GV – given that you're from the Old World, who's your pick?

Re-post!

I think I've referenced this before, but since the story is about 60-80% Grenache I'll risk being repetitive. Last November, a group of us drove out to a remote parking lot on Long Island to look at the Leonid meteors. It was a cold night, so I brought along some wine/cheese to keep the morale high. Well, it happened that the only bottle we opened was a 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone from Chapoutier – a fantastic wine for the $12 I paid, and, with the flavor profile (the oft-referenced Rhone combination of earth, spice and dark berries), perfect for the setting. It almost erased the disappointment over the fact that I was off by one night (i.e. the meteor shower had happened 24 hours prior).

1st QOTD – My favorite villain (with nothing else coming to mind right now) would have to be The Brain, from Pinky and The Brain. He often does skirt the boundary between villain and shlemazl, however…

Bit of a suggestion… fo

I have tasted the Outpost twice recently, was not that impressed…

2007 Outpost Grenache (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain) 4/19/2010 AMM3RD 89
88-89 Pts. Was a good match for steaks on the grill & Caprese salad. Nice pepper notes with some raspberry fruit. Alcohol is still pretty off balance for me, but it improved with food. Will the alcohol resolve itself??? AMM (249 views)

2007 Outpost Grenache (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain) 4/4/2010 AMM3RD 89
89-91 pts. This wine had a great white pepper nose and some raspberry preserves. Served at room temp., a touch of alcohol on the nose that continued to the palate. The alcohol was the biggest downer for me. Expanding on the palate was more black and white pepper and a full raspberry, blackberry component. Tannins are firm but friendly. Drink over the next 3-5 years? Will this loose something over time or will the alcohol overtake the fruit??? Maybe there will be more balance??? AMM (283 views)

Gary,
How about WLT on the wine aerator! Does this thing work? What about the Vaniacks opinion? Does anyone use this thing?
http://www.wine-aerator.ca/

Good episode. I think Grenache is very underrated as well.

QOTD – My story is fairly short, but my very best encounter with Grenache was with the Secret Pack you had a year or so back, you included the “Le Gourmand” fortified Grenache that was just wonderful. Ordered two (2) more bottles and the last time I checked you were out. Your evaluation was dead on and it was a great portion of the quest.

GV – Interesting blind tasting…good to see a brown bagger taking in a good score!

QOTD: I like the first Glass Jaw Joe and Mr. Dream!
QOTD: Listen to the Beastie Boys “Body Movin'” they rap about CDP!