Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Old Vines Grenache 2018, Wente Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, California

Tasting Note: A grenache with black-fruit oomph and hair on its chest.

Medium-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic medium-plus-intensity nose of strawberry, black-raspberry puree, black cherry and red cherry with hints of licorice and hibiscus.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied grenache has medium-plus-intensity flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and ripe, medium tannin ultimately completing with a cassis-filled, medium-plus finish.

The wine has a complex midpalate with lots of black-fruit percolating throughout the length of the taste.

The kind of grenache you serve when you want to please both the pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon lovers at your table with a bottle that offers pleasing characteristics of both.

Bottle Note: Sunce is a family winery located in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County – specializing in small artisan lots of vineyard designated varietal wines and classic blends. Frano’s stellar example grenache offers us ripe cherries, strawberries, while a violet, cedar character dominates the nose. Gobs of pureed red fruit flavors layered delicately in mixed spice notes mingle smoothly on this full-bodied personality. An aftertaste of your favorite fruit smoothie lingers on the finish. Pair with Moroccan skirt steak, Hungarian goulash, Indian curries and macaroni and cheese. Aging: 5-9 years. Only 9 barrels made.