Tag Archives: Grenache

Raising the bar

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Some wines just deliver year in and year out and this Rasteau is one of them. A nice savoury, spicy palate. Dark red, slightly jammy red fruit.


A blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and Mourvede (10%) brings out the earthy terroir tones. 

 It’s full bodied and concentrated. It’s fresh and fruity yet earthy, complex and elegant too.
Egg noodle pasta, with mushrooms, spinach, red peppers, onion rings and shrimp worked so well with this.


RASTEAU – CAVE DE RASTEAU LA DOMELIERE 2019

$21.99 regularly $26.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03506707066419 

Plays nicely with Prosecco

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Summer lunches with friends on the deck are always a great way to spend an afternoon.  We let South Australia play with Italy.

And proved Real Men do eat quiche.

A gentle blending of Syrah, Cab Sauv and Grenache from Tread Softly got us started and then pushed ourselves away from the table to quafe away the Prosecco after downing ginger frozen yogurt.

Low carbon footprint (and trying to eliminate it), Tread Softly is planting native trees for every dozen sold.  Harvesting in the cool of mornings and then regular fermenting in steel with lots of erating … then a 3 month sleep before bottling.

It’s delicious and freshly flavoured.  Long Crisp dry finish.

Tread Softly – Rose

$16.99

10.9% alcohol

UPC: 09344154013969

Elevating Burger night

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On the rocky soil between Valréas and Vinsobres, where Grenache (75%) meets Syrah (25%), emerges this cuvée infused with a full-on Rhone identity.  The 9 to 12 months of élevage in concrete produces a wine first revealing accents of fruit , then making way for mild spices. The finale is supple, heady and persistent.

Father and son produce wines with a lovely expression of the rhythms of Valreas terroir.

It boasts big fruit, balanced by hints of orange zest and clove. It’s full-bodied, intense and concentrated, with supple tannins and a long, slightly warming finish.

A Very polished Cotes du Rhone Villages.

We heavied up on the rosemary for the burger spicing but kept in the subtleness of a little tarragon.

COTES-DU-RHONE VILLAGES VALREAS – MAS DE SAINTE CROIX TENDRE

$18.99 regularly $20.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03760236590290

Is it the 1%?

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33% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre & 1% Other

Berries, Cherries and Plums are the predominant flavours. Lots of silky, smooth bright cherry, blueberry and spicy.

Carbonic maceration is typically undertaken with light to medium-bodied wines to make them fruitier and to soften their tannins.  The grapes are not crushed, rather put whole bunch into a fermentation vessel then carbon dioxide is added and the vessel sealed so no oxygen can interact with the grapes.  There is no yeast to cause the grapes to ferment.  The fermentation happens within the grape where the carbon dioxide is used to break down the sugars and malic acid within the grape. Once the alcohol level reaches 2%, the berries burst to release their juice and at this point fermentation using yeast is undertaken to convert the remaining sugars from the grape juice to produce the wine.

Other reviewers give this a 91 points. I’m tempted to go a little higher. It’s robust and exceptional value.

CORBIERES AN 806 GRENACHE SYRAH MOURVEDRE – GERARD BERTRAND

$17.99 $19.99 regularly

14% alcohol

UPC: 03514123101768

Great 2021 Value

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Purchased by Michel Chapoutier in 1999, Bila-Haut is located in the best part of the Languedoc called the Ctes du Roussillon. Historically the site was one of the first areas planted for viticulture by the Greek Mariners and has been continuously a wine region known for making top quality wines. The House of Bila, the translation of the name of the estate, was once a house of refuge for the Knights Templar, which is why their cross is symbolically used on the label. 

“Bila Haut’s entry-level white is a super value. A blend of Grenache Blanc (60%), Roussanne, Macabeu (20%), and then smaller amounts of Marsanne and Vermentino,  the Ctes du Roussillon les Vignes de Bila Haut Blanc is richly textured and extremely refreshing.

The Grenache gives the wine the citrus with hints of lime and adds medium body, a roundness and hint of melon in the mid-palate. The Macabeo supplies the crisp mineral flavors with an almost saline note in the lingering finish. It is WAY better than Sauvignon Blanc and much more unique and rare.


It really shines at the dinner table, as well as just as a refreshing pick me up relaxing with friends.


ROUSSILLON BLANC – CHAPOUTIER BILA HAUT

$16.99 regularly $18.99

12.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03391182410938

Successful Blends

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Syrah (74%) and Grenache (26%) blend from South Western France in the Languedoc / Roussillon Region. Aged in concrete andthen French Oak.


This is mouthwatering with minerality-  to give a full body, silky, almost seamless bouquet of aroma and flavours.I suspect this will age well for the next 4 or 5 years.


We think it overdelivers at the price.

COTES CATALANES SYRAH GRENACHE – LAFAGE BASTIDE MIRAFLORS 17

$22.97 on sale from $26.99 regularly

14.5 % alcohol

UPC 03760031472913

Is it the 5%?

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We have two favourite Vintners in the ‘reasonable’ price range.  The Wineries of Famille Perrin and Meffre.


Saint Mapalis is patron saint of the village of Jonquières, located at the heart of the “Plan de Dieu” vineyards. The quality of this vintage is wonderful.  Intense. Ripe and rounded.


Grenache 65 %, Syrah 30 %, Mourvèdre 5 %


At first I thought maybe it was the 5% Mourvedre that was the differentiating factor.  After the second sip we came to the conclusion that it was a glorious combination of true terroir.  Climate, Soil, full fruit and wine crafting experience.


Pleasure is taken in more than one glass.

COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES PLAN DE DIEU – MEFFRE ST MAPALIS

$17.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 03142920024401

Rack without the Ruin

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The chateau is in decay, but he staked everything on the vines.  

Improving production and vinification have put new recognition into the region and wines of the Minervois region of Languedoc Roussillon. 

And Jean Paux-Rosset (owner) and Claude Gros (winemaker) are using some of the best grape growers in the region.

It’s a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault that takes advantage of the clay/limestone terroir.


 Sample slow and often to get the best of it.  Highly enjoyable.


Paux-Rosset Gros La Condamine Paulignan 2015

$22.99

14% alcohol

Three for Three

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This one is very quickly shaping up to be one of our favourite Rhone Valley vineyards.


The Goddess has directed us to the red and white varietals, and now we get to sample the rose.


Someone described this a funky – well, it does have a really nice edge to it.  It’s clean, crisp, nicely dry and sticks around for a nice finish.


This is a certified organic blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache and 10% Syrah and 3 months in the tank with no oak. 3 generations of winemakers on this family estate in one of the coolest microclimates in the south of the Rhone Valley.  


Chateau Pesquie Terrasses 2019 AOC Ventoux Rose


$20.99

12.5% alcohol

Rugger to Vintner

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SKU: 261008


Gerard Bertrand Corbieres 

$19.99


Grenache Syrah Mourvedre blend

Gerard Bertrand is a former rugby union player who took over the family vineyard after the accidental death of his father to he has become a renowned in the Langudoc-Roussillon region. He now owns and manages 13 Wine Estates in the region and was Red Winemaker of the Year in 2012 in the International Wine Challenge.

Wikipedia tells us:
Corbières is an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, and it is this region’s largest AOC, responsible for 46 per cent of the region’s AOC wine production in 2005. Red wine dominates the production in Corbières with almost 95 per cent, with 3.5 per cent rosé wine and 2 per cent white wine making up the balance. Carignan is the most common grape variety. The AOC was created in 1985, covers 13,500 hectares (33,000 acres) of vineyards and produces an average of 554,000 hectoliters of wine per year, corresponding to 74 million bottles.

It’s lovely and rich and wonderfully bodied.