Newfound Wines, Mendocino County (California) 2021

 Grenache is California red variety to watch.  Grenache can be as nuanced as high-end Pinot Noir — often at half the price.  In California, winemakers like those at Newfound Wines are exploring lighter, fresher expressions of the grape.  Newfound Wines “Gravels” blends three distinct sources of Grenache and is what the winemakers call their “everyday" bottling, but it stands up against other great light-bodied reds from around the world.  This blend (Grenache 86%, 10% Counoise and 4% Syrah) opens with pretty potpourri aromas complementing a core of red and black berries.  The light-bodied palate is soft, with ample freshness and appealing herbal accents on the finish.