Happy Cellar Saturday! It's the first Saturday of the month, that wonderful time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to enjoy. Tonight I've open a bottle that's older, but hasn't been in my cellar very long, as it was a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold out. The 2011 Clarendon Hills Grenache is a 100% Grenache from the McLaren Vale region of southern Australia. Though this region is well known for Syrah, let's see what this fellow Rhone varietal has to offer.
The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with a hint of amber along the edges. Take a whiff and you're treated to aromas of strawberry, cherry and blackberry intermingled with earthy notes of peat and dusty loam. Take a sip and your palate is awash in vibrant berry fruit flavors, with just a hint of sweetness, before transitioning to some wonderful earthy mineral notes and white pepper spice midpalate. The tannins are robust, providing a solid backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a real testament to the potential for this varietal under extended maturity. This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from steaks and chops to barbecue or classis paella. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of herb crusted rack of lamb, with a wine and berry cardamom reduction and oven roasted rainbow cauliflower. Cheers!
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