Before you’d plunk down $85 for a bottle of Grenache, I’d guess you’d need assurance that what you’d be getting would be comparable to the very best bottlings of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Well, I’m here to offer you assurance of exactly that. This shows soaring aromas and persistent flavors of fresh pie cherries, wild strawberries and even a hint of cranberry, along with floral and spice accents. The flavors are quite open and generous, yet the wine finishes with lots of tannic grip, and I have no doubt that it will continue to improve if cellared for a full decade. Once those 10 years have passed, my guess is that my score will look stingy rather than generous.
d’Arenberg, McLaren Sand Hills (McLaren Vale, South Australia) Grenache 2010
By Michael Franz