Garnacha (Grenache) - March 12th - Ms. Leslie

Garnacha (Grenache or Garnatxa) - March 12th - Ms. Leslie

Bring: 1 bottle of Garnacha. We ask that if you bring a blend, please ensure it is at least 85% Grenache.

Wikipedia: Garnacha (also known as Grenache or Garnatxa) is a red grape, wine varietal. It originated in Spain. It is generally spicy, berry-flavored and soft on the palate with a relatively high alcohol content, but it needs careful control of yields for best results.

Suggested Food Pairings: Wild Mushroom risotto, grilled entre's, barbeque, asian foods
Although we dined on: Tortilla Espanola (Potato/Egg Omelet), Chorizo stuffed mushrooms with shredded manchego, green olives, manchego cheese wedge, Comte cheese wedge, rosemary goat cheese wedge, soft goat cheese spread, seeded crackers, fresh wheat bread, marinated bbq pork tenderloin, bacon wrapped dates with almond and cream cheese, a spicy eggplant dip, marcona almonds with rosemary and sea salt, dark chocolate squares, and truffle chocolate squares

Tasting Notes:
Reception Wine: 2010 Fabla Catalyud - $7.99 @ Total Wine
100% Garnacha, 14% alcohol
black pepper, soft smooth w/strawberry fruit and long finish.

1) 2010 Evodia Alto Vinum Old Vine Garnacha - $7.97 @ Tower Liquor
100% Garnacha, 15% alcohol
white pepper, notes of strong green pepper, plum with acidity, light-medium bodied, pairs well with chorizo mushrooms

2) 2007 J.V. Fleury Chateauneuf du Pape - $37.00 @ Total Wine Kennesaw
85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
Nose: floral and spicy, smells of crunchy crisp lettuce, white flower
Palate: nice finish, earthy sweetness, dark berry, plum, cinnamon, more tannic
"Graphitey" - Valerie
"Most peppery wine I've tasted in my life" - Susan

3) 2007 Boots Trever Jones Barossa Grenache - $17 @ Total Wine
100% Grenache, 14.5% alcohol
Guessing Italian - Valerie, Guessing Rhone - Leslie,
"Dirty Underwear, and Nose of Lucky Charms" - Deb,
"Older, aged, has been oaked, vanilla & Cedar" - Rheinallt,
tobacco, mocha, coffee, very different than the others, sweeter but with a bite, seductively sweet but hot at the end, cocoa and hazelnut. toasted marshmallow, fruity marshmallow, legs are quite thick ("that's what she said" someone quipped), chocolate raspberry truffle.

4) 2008 Las Rocas Garnacha - $10 @ Kroger
14.1% alcohol
We nicknamed this wine the "Chameleon Wine" as it constantly changed aromas each time we sniffed the glass.
"I smell Cab Franc! also fresh dog turd" - Abbie, "Marijuana" - Val,
thin legs, pepper citrus/chocolate covered orange, lingers a bit, has viscosity,
keeps changing on each inhalation of the nose,
"salsa" - Val, "cigar box at end, pipe tobacco" - Rheinallt
"It can't make it's mind what it wants to be when it grows up" - Abbie

5) 2006 Arrels Clos Oblidat Sangre de Garnatxa - $26.99 @ Le Caveau
13.5% alcohol
"smells like port" - Abbie, "ice cream" - Jaffet
"white chocolate" - Rheinallt, milk chocolate, vanilla, amaretto, caramel, tart, raspberry, acai,
"Anise" - Val, "Vibrant herb" - Rheinallt, "Rosebush" - Deb & Janssen, "Rosemary" - Abbie & Rheinallt, "grapey kool-aid" - Deb

6) 2006 Boots Trever Jones Barossa Garnacha - $17.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
baked/burnt, sweet vanilla, smores, syrupy, some oak, cigar box at end, aged, "nose of caramel" - Val, "Candy Apple" - Janssen

7) 2009 Andre Brunel Cotes du Rhone Villages Cuvee Sabrine - $19.99 @ Sherlock's in Decatur
80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
"Old world Cotes Du Rhone" - Rheinallt
Southern Franch, deep purple, younger,
"coconut" - Janssen, "cherry" - Leslie, "reminds me of Malbec" - Abbie
"mint" - Rheinallt, "Sugared African Violets" - Ardella

8) 2004 Clarendon Hills Kangarilla Grenache - $47.00 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
deep purple,
"boiled sweet or Jolly Rancher, pectin" - Rheinallt, "tootsie roll" - Abbie, "Tide Detergent" ?
sweet earth, morning grass (fresh), spring grass, dew, herbacious, grapefruit, citrus, has a bit of Shiraz on the flavor, citrus/berry chocolate finish, tart finish,
"citrus cut with a pear, a chilled asian pear" - Janssen
"Light Eucalyptus, minty finish" - Rheinallt
"Australian" - Leslie

9) 2010 Rojo Garnacha Vino de la Tierra de Castillo - $12.00 @ Hop City
13% alcohol
"nose of Port" - Abbie, "Caramel" - Deb, "Tulip" - Janssen, "happy good ending" - Ardella, "jammy" -Leslie, "Light" - Janssen & Rheinnalt,
hot caramel peaches, cobbler, elderberry, soft palate, no grip, syrah blended in smidgen? pepper, mourvedre? Pepper-Jack palate, peachy
"like a good Chateauneuf du Pape" - Ardella