Wine with Andy Cronshaw
TODAY is World Grenache Day celebrating what is the world’s most widely planted red wine grape.
Unlike Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache thrives in hot, dry vineyards such as those in the south of France and in Spain.
Most often it is blended with other red grapes to add balancing acidity and finesse.
It does achieve rarefied heights in the Spanish wines from Catalunya such as Priorat, in Chateauneuf-dupape, and other southern French reds.
One of its most frequent guises is in rosé where it partners very sweetly with other bit part players such as Cinsault.
Here’s a few examples of the huge variety of wines in which Grenache, Garnacha (Spain), or Garnaxta (Catalunya) is the chief player.
CO-OP’S OLD VINE GARNACHA CAMPO DE BORJA (£5.35 Co-op) Campo de Borja is famous for its ridiculously inexpensive wines and this is another budget-busting winner. There’s no denying its rustic power but the initial heat on the nose is tempered by a sleeker palate which nevertheless never quite loses its spicy edge. A brilliant red to crack open for barbecued lamb kebabs and burgers.
CHATEAU MONT REDON SAINT MAX ROSé, COTES DE PROVENCE 2019 (£10.78 Justerini & Brooks) Most people pick up their wine at the supermarket but there couldn’t be a better example of why it’s worth hooking up with specialists such as Justerini & Brooks who have savvy buyers picking out gems like this.
This rosé is dominated by Grenache, with Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan also in the mix. That herbal sweetness that often characterises Grenache translates here into fresh aromatics and a peachy palate invigorated by grapefruit and zingy acidity. A lovely rosé for late summer drinking.
CASA MARIOL GARNATXA NEGRA ECOLOGICO 2018 (£11.99 9 Elms Wines, Cazalet Harrison Wine Merchants) Something from the Terra Alta region of Catalunya where Grenache or rather Garnatxa finds itself in ideal conditions. As I can testify from my own holidays, the supermarkets in Catalunya are stacked high with brilliant wines like this which is made by the Mairol family who have been operating out of La Batea, a Medieval town in the heart of the region. The nose is a mix of perfumed dark cherry and dried herbs.
The palate is all supple bramble fruit with a hint of black olive tapenade and lip-smacking acidity. Brilliant with sausages such as Merguez.
LA BASTIDE SAINT VINCENT COTES DU RHONE 2019 (£12.99 Carringtons) As importers of many wines from the south of France, Chorlton’s Carrington’s is heaving with great Grenache and this wine from a really top-notch producer is just one example of the great value wines to be had.
Typically scrubby, herbal aromatics and a powerful juicy palate with a spicy edge make this a brilliant blend of power and finesse.