The Language of Yes
En Passerillage Grenache
San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, USA
I’m glad we still have Randall Grahm to make special wines like this because Lord knows the shitty US importer of Rayas, Pignan, Fonsallette and even Chateau des Tours has decided it’s easier to phone it in by selling out Reynaud Grenaches to the elite “swells” though private channels rather than making it available to less well-heeled wine lovers through normal retail. Fuck that shit. As for my take on this excellent wine, see my most recent note from August 2022 on this, but this is incrementally better and more complex and resolved after several more months’ rest.
I’m glad we still have Randall Grahm to make special wines like this because Lord knows the shitty US importer of Rayas, Pignan, Fonsallette and even Chateau des Tours has decided it’s easier to phone it in by selling out Reynaud Grenaches to the elite “swells” though private channels rather than making it available to less well-heeled wine lovers through normal retail. Fuck that shit. As for my take on this excellent wine, see my most recent note from August 2022 on this, but this is incrementally better and more complex and resolved after several more months’ rest.
Apr 1st, 2023I tried my first bottle of this several months ago, and since then it’s really settled down and blossomed. Light color, but the nose pops with perfumey cherry and raspberry, along with subtle notes of moist earth, spice, and sandalwood. In the mouth, it’s got intense flavors in a floaty carriage, with deep red fruit and lots of savory notes. Long finish, with a teensy bit of tannin. Alcohol in check, and enough acidity to keep the intense fruit buoyed up. Superb. If you’re a Grenache hound like me, get some of this.
I tried my first bottle of this several months ago, and since then it’s really settled down and blossomed. Light color, but the nose pops with perfumey cherry and raspberry, along with subtle notes of moist earth, spice, and sandalwood. In the mouth, it’s got intense flavors in a floaty carriage, with deep red fruit and lots of savory notes. Long finish, with a teensy bit of tannin. Alcohol in check, and enough acidity to keep the intense fruit buoyed up. Superb. If you’re a Grenache hound like me, get some of this.
Aug 12th, 2022Very excited to try this Grenache from Randall Grahm’s new project. It’s super young and was too tight to really evaluate on night 1, so these are night 2 notes.
The color is light-ish, but the nose is inviting, with loads of bright cherry/strawberry fruit, spice, and lovely crushed gravel minerality. Soft in the mouth, the flavors are relatively intense but it maintains a medium weight and silky feel. Great purity and balance. Not a dense wine that will demand attention at a tasting, but a really fine dinner accompaniment (I’m having beef tacos).
Very excited to try this Grenache from Randall Grahm’s new project. It’s super young and was too tight to really evaluate on night 1, so these are night 2 notes.
The color is light-ish, but the nose is inviting, with loads of bright cherry/strawberry fruit, spice, and lovely crushed gravel minerality. Soft in the mouth, the flavors are relatively intense but it maintains a medium weight and silky feel. Great purity and balance. Not a dense wine that will demand attention at a tasting, but a really fine dinner accompaniment (I’m having beef tacos).