[3] The fortified vin doux naturels of France and Australian "port-style" wines are protected from Grenache's propensity for oxidation by the fortification process and can usually be drinkable for two or three decades. [3] "Hairy Grenache" (Garnacha Peluda as known in Spain, and Garnatxa Peluda in Catalan)[7] is a Grenache variant evolved to grow fuzz on the underside of its leaves to protect the vine from transpiration in hot climates, "like the corresponding fuzz on rosemary or other mediterranean plants. Grenache is the dominant variety in most Southern Rhône wines, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where it is typically over 80% of the blend. Game meat, white pepper, aged balsamic, smoke, and bacon fat all start to play on the palate. L. Alley "New French Wine Grape Arrives in US Market", "Guide to the wine grape varieties in Spain", "Higgo Jacobs' Top 20 South African Grenache Noirs", "DE LA VERNATXA A LA GARNATXA BLANCA, EVOLUCIÓ HISTÒRICA", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grenache&oldid=988864511, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Garnatxa negre, Alicante, Cannonau, Garnacha tinta, Grenache noir (, This page was last edited on 15 November 2020, at 18:38. Tannins will mellow out, becoming smooth and velvet-like. The high alcoholic proof grape spirit brings the finished wine up to 15–16% alcohol. The Southern Rhône is most famous for its blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, often referred to as “GSM." 5-8 years is reasonable depending on the wine. Also to large degree it depends on how it is cellared. In the late 20th century, total acreage of Grenache in Spain has been on the decline with the vineyards being uprooted in lieu of the more fashionable Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Pessac-Leognan/Graves (red): 8-30. Even though in the mid-20th century Garnacha was considered a "workhorse" variety for large volume wines, in the last 20 years a new generation of winemakers have taken a new approach, by controlling yields, taking advantage of the old vines (from 30 to more than 100 years), and applying modern techniques in combination with old traditions to increase concentration. From there the vine made its way through the Languedoc and to the Southern Rhone region where it was well established by the 19th century. Use the VINTAGE CHART to determine where in that range your wine falls (fewer years for a lesser vintage, more years for a better vintage). [3] The characteristic of French Grenache-based wines depends largely on the selection of its blending partners and can range from the spicy richness associated with Châteauneuf-du-Pape to the chewy fruitiness associated with basic Côtes du Rhône Villages. How long you decide to age the best wine from the Barossa Valley is a matter of personal taste and goals. Grenache blanc is not normally meant to age a long time. There are several clonal varieties of Garnacha with the thin-skinned, dark colored Garnacha Tinta (sometimes spelled Tinto) being the most common. As a varietal, the grape's naturally low concentration of phenolics contribute to its pale color and lack of extract but viticultural practices and low yields can increase the concentrations of phenolic compounds. Grenache is the principal grape behind the rosés of Tavel and Lirac and its plays an important role in the Provence region as well. Whether the climate is warm or cold, Grenache takes a very long time to ripen, although it is not a finicky grape. France. 3-7 years: The wines will start to shed some of their youthful vibrancy and begin to pick up more savory aromas like tobacco leaf, mint, and potting soil. Châteauneuf-du-Pape will likely still be quite tannic, but most other wines will be quite approachable. In the late 20th century, the Rhone Rangers movement brought attention to the production of premium varietal Grenache and Rhone style blends modeled after the Grenache dominate wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the 19th century, California wine growers prized the vine's ability to produce high yields and withstand heat and drought conditions. Wines That Last 3-5 Years. Pauillac: 8-40. Grenache is an unlikely hero of a grape. Another variety, known as Garnacha Peluda or "Hairy Grenache" due to the soft hairy texture on the underside of the vine's leaves is also found in Spain, mostly in Borja and Cariñena (Aragón). Aragon, believed to be the probable origin of the grape, concentrates the largest surface of Grenache (or Garnacha as it is called locally) in Spain, with 40,034 acres (16,201 ha) planted. The vine's drought resistance is dependent on the type of rootstock it is planted on but on all types of rootstocks, Grenache seems to respond favorably to some degree of moisture stress. Until recently reviled or at best ignored in much of the world, it is the grape chiefly responsible for two of the world's more celebrated reds, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and, a more recent star, Priorat.