Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Grenache 2008

 It is perhaps not unreasonable to ask why this wine is so expensive, or to wonder whether one might not get more for one’s Grenache dollar from the southern Rhône and its excellent 2007 and 2009 vintages.  Nevertheless, this is an indisputably delicious wine that hides its 15.5% alcohol amazingly well, showing delicious red cherry and raspberry fruit with excellent breadth and depth of flavor.  Soft but still adequately structured, it is very tasty and wonderful with spicy meat dishes such as braised pork with adobo sauce.