Grenache is one of the cornerstones of Rhone wines. While the Grenache Gris varietal will play a principal grape in certain Rhone blends, it is most often in a supporting role blend with other Rhone varietals for its wonderful aromatics and fruity additions. For your blends with Carignane and Syrah, I suggest the liberal use of Grenache. Grenache Noir is darker varietal in the Grenache family. With a more fruity flavor and deeper color, the Grenache Noir can be a fruit bomb as a 100% varietal wine.
Photo: Peter Brehm shows off McDowell Valley Grenache vines that were planted around 1906. (Click to enlarge.)
2008 Harvest Report: Grenache: Extremely old vines have provided us with a Grenache that is ideal for rosé or blending. The fickle weather had these head pruned vines producing low sugar grapes near the end of the season. The mature condition of the fruit made the harvest desirable. This is an ideal blender with Zinfandel, Carignane and Syrah. Add a hint of strawberries, a lushness of fruit to your wines, lower the resulting alcohol in your future wine. Add 60 ppm SO2 before fermentation, limited skin exposure recommended, do a malolactic fermentation.
Recommended Yeast: IVC-RGE; ICV-D254
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Grenache Vineyard Information
2008 McDowell Valley Grenache
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McDowell Valley Vineyard, Mendocino County CA
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Grape Code: 08MVG / Freezer Code: 715
Harvested 10/14/08.
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Availability: Frozen 5 gallon pails, Richmond CA |
2007 McDowell Valley Grenache
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McDowell Valley Vineyard, Mendocino County CA
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Grape Code: 07MVG / Freezer Code: 511
Harvested 9/30/07 in clean condition. Add 6 grams tartaric acid per 5 gal must or 50 lb. grapes. Ferment warm with D254, L2056 or Fermirouge yeast. After start of fermentation add quality yeast food. Do Malolactic fermentation. Not a dark wine. Grenache adds depth, nose and complexity to many Rhone & California Blends. An incrediable rose’ if pressed early. Press & ferment for a light red wine or use with Syrah for complexity and added lushness. Add SO2 based on pH after malolactic. Expect about 70 ppm SO2. Oak not needed. Taste for acid addition after ML fermentation.
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Availability: Sold Out |
2007 McDowell Valley Grenache Noir
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McDowell Valley Vineyard, Mendocino County CA
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Grape Code: 07MVGN / Freezer Code: 537
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Availability: Frozen 5 gallon Pails in Richmond CA
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2006 McDowell Valley Grenache
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McDowell Valley Vineyard, Mendocino County CA
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Grape Code: 06MVG / Freezer Code: 308
Harvested 10/11/06 in perfect condition. Stir very well and take sugar reading. A perfect light red or rosé, or blender with high sugar grapes. For red ferment warm with D254, L2056 or Fermirouge yeast, rosé ferment juice cool. After start of fermentation add quality yeast food. Do Malolactic fermentation. Not a dark wine. Adds depth, nose and complexity to many Rhone & California Blends. Press after 4 days ferment for a light red wine. Syrah, Zinfandel, or Malbec will add depth and color. With Carignane acid and earthiness increases, Mourvedre complicates the complicator. Add 55 ppm SO2 after malolactic . Oak not needed. Taste for acid addition after ML fermentation.
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Availability: Frozen 5 gallon pails in Hatfield PA
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- Region: Mendocino County CA
- Age: Planted around 1905.
- Irrigation: Dry farmed with drip available when necessary, deep gravely loam
- Trellis: Head, spur pruned
- Mid-late harvest.
- Same as past years, light color, rich flavor & aromatics, not Grenache Noir
- 2-3 tons / acre
- A rare premium vineyard & grapes. Great to blend in Rhone wines or rosé
- Also produced by Caymus; Copain; Marietta; Saracina; Fetzer; McDowell Estates
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