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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
Generally speaking, the great grenache years at Bonny Doon [such as vintages past 1990, 1991, 1994 and 2000] have been very
late. It seems in these later, cooler years, the grapes have a better opportunity to develop the nuance and complexity we so
esteem. 2004, however, was the earliest vintage we have ever experienced, yet it seems to be aligning to serve up some monster
grenache, which is very rich yet still well delineated. The fruit this year derives from the Alta Loma Vineyard in Greenfield,
our own bio-dynamically farmed vineyard in Soledad as well as our traditional source, a very old vineyard in Gilroy. The wine itself
exhibits all the hallmarks of exceptional grenache – bright raspberriosity; a strong suggestion of black pepper and cherry liqueur;
and a piney, resinous quality that shows up in the best vintages of grenache from Gilroy and environs. To those yearning for the
early days when CdG was the first wine out of the blocks, this vintage should induce a happy remembrance of Gilroy’s past.
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Varietal Definition
Grenache:
Grenache Noir is the world’s most widely planted grape used to make red wine, sometimes made into a stand-alone varietal, frequently as a Rosé, but most often as a backbone of red blends. Its strength is its ability to grow in arid and windy conditions. It’s particularly suited to warm coastal regions of California, Spain and France. Grenache-based wines tend to be high in alcohol, with attractive fruit qualities in youth and a sweet berry character.Used as a component in some Northern Rhône reds, nearly exclusively for Rhône Rosés and as the primary component in nearly all Southern Rhône red blends, Grenache is probably most notable as the base varietal for Chateauneuf du Pape, Cotes du Rhône and Gigondas. In spite of its fame coming from French wines, Spain is most likely this grape’s origin.
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