It’s time for yours truly to ‘fess up as a fan of Grenache in all its forms. As a Grenache lover, there has never been a better time for the variety. In its southern French stronghold, there seems to have been a step back from the excess that marked the peak of Robert Parker’s reign.
Here in Australia, old vine Grenache from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale has never been treated with more respect. The best examples of single varietal Grenache set new standards for the variety and are world class wines in their own right.
Garnacha has also witnessed a major revival in Spain, most particularly in the Gredos mountains to the north of Madrid. In this part of world, elevation and old vines is producing wines of almost Pinot Noir-like elegance, with the added spicy exoticism we associate with Grenache.
Commando G has been one of the major forces behind the rejuvenation of Garnacha in Spain. Rozas 1er Cru is one of four Garnacha’s made by the Comando G team. It is Garnacha at its most fine and stylish, pale in colour, but loaded with flavour, whole-bunch fermentation lending complex earthy, undergrowth characters. On the evidence of this bottle, the 2015 will need another 3-4 years in bottle to reach its plateau of maturity.
2015 COMANDO G ROZAS 1ER CRU GARNACHA
Producer: Comando G
Variety: Grenache et al
Region: Mentrida, Spain
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: $75.00
Date tasted: 10 March 2018
Tasting Note:
Bright garnet. Lifted nose of kirsch, strawberry, undergrowth, mulch, licorice and star anise. Medium bodied, dry and savoury, noticeable lick of tannin. ‘Twiggy’ – not the singer! Forest floor, undergrowth. Quite Pinot-like. Needs a few more years in bottle to shed the cloak of tannin.
Score: 17+/20
Here in Australia, old vine Grenache from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale has never been treated with more respect. The best examples of single varietal Grenache set new standards for the variety and are world class wines in their own right.
Garnacha has also witnessed a major revival in Spain, most particularly in the Gredos mountains to the north of Madrid. In this part of world, elevation and old vines is producing wines of almost Pinot Noir-like elegance, with the added spicy exoticism we associate with Grenache.
Commando G has been one of the major forces behind the rejuvenation of Garnacha in Spain. Rozas 1er Cru is one of four Garnacha’s made by the Comando G team. It is Garnacha at its most fine and stylish, pale in colour, but loaded with flavour, whole-bunch fermentation lending complex earthy, undergrowth characters. On the evidence of this bottle, the 2015 will need another 3-4 years in bottle to reach its plateau of maturity.
2015 COMANDO G ROZAS 1ER CRU GARNACHAProducer: Comando G
Variety: Grenache et al
Region: Mentrida, Spain
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: $75.00
Date tasted: 10 March 2018
Tasting Note:
Bright garnet. Lifted nose of kirsch, strawberry, undergrowth, mulch, licorice and star anise. Medium bodied, dry and savoury, noticeable lick of tannin. ‘Twiggy’ – not the singer! Forest floor, undergrowth. Quite Pinot-like. Needs a few more years in bottle to shed the cloak of tannin.
Score: 17+/20
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