2014DoonGrenache2014 Bonny Doon Vineyards, Grenache, The Wine Formerly Known as Clos de Gilroy, Monterey County.
Randall Grahm’s earthy and spicy dark Grenache is a delightful and intriguing wine, at first juicy with bright red fruit, but as it unwinds in the glass it takes on a deeper, much more intense presence with layers of blackberry, boysenberry, wild plum and strawberry fruits along with peppercorns, meaty notes and porcini earthiness. There is a fine textural feel and a certain amount of Grenache hedonism that makes you more comfortable and it shows a sense of varietal purity and charm, it leans toward a Vacqueyras in style, and it grows on you into the second and third tastes with hints of anise, floral notes, dusty stones and kirsch all coming through in a delayed addition. There is good balance and detail in The Wine Formerly Known as Clos de Gilroy and it’s lively acidity helps keep it fresh and the natural tannins cut some of the riper notes, overall there is a solid core of fruit and structure, making for a wine that really deserves your full attention, but is helped greatly by cuisine, this is a much more serious effort than it’s label or price would suggest, this is complex and impressive stuff. Best to enjoy this 89% Grenache, 9% Mourvedre and 2% Syrah with grilled meats, robust mushroom dishes and or Turkish lamb kabob. Most of the grapes for this wine comes from a cooler site near Greenfield with mixed soils, lots of sunny days, cool breezes and cold nights equals a damn good expression of Grenache and this one will surprise your Rhone loving friends, drink over the next 2 to 5 years.
($20 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive

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