Reviews of 21 releases of Grenache from top Pacific Northwest producers
Maryhill Winery 2019 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache
96 pts.
The balance and structure are remarkable, expressing jammy red fruit of uplifting strawberry, cherry and currants that flow seamlessly with nuanced blackberry, cinnamon, cardamom and loamy spice notes. Ends with duration and a rich feel, bringing the poised acidity and harmonious fruit into sharp focus. Sourced from Estate Gunkel Vineyard (51%) and Elephant Mountain Vineyard (49%). $51
“Grenache is one of my favorites indeed. We first released it in our 2000 vintage and I will say it turned so many people on to red wine due to its lighter, brighter fruit as opposed to the big, bold tannin filled reds we were making. Not only is it full of bright fruit, it has great acidity which makes it so food friendly. We were teaching people about food and wine pairing early on in our winery’s history and loving watching the ‘Aha’ moments happen. I’m a true fan.”
—Victoria Leuthold, Owner
K Vintners 2020 The Boy Grenache
96 pts.
Laser focused, with a sensational beam of wild strawberry and crushed cherry at the forefront, picking up wonderful floral notes of rose petal, star anise, dried thyme and brightly-cut powdery tannins with a dusting of cocoa on the lengthy, minerally-cut finish. All from Clone 363 planted in 2012. $50
“The 38-acre Powerline Estate Vineyard is in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley, located at over 1200-feet elevation. The deep sand and silt below cobblestone river rocks bring a great purity to this 100% Grenache. The Boy is named for a song by French musician Serge Gainsbourg and includes the line: ‘I’m the boy that can enjoy invisibility’ on the back label, a concept that I identify with. Let the wine speak for itself, not a story told by the winemaker.”
—Charles Smith, Winemaker
Callan Cellars 2021 Grenache Boushey Vineyard
94 pts.
Ripe and focused, a beam of dark cherry radiates with fruit-forward notes of macerated black fruit, crushed rose, warm spice and tarry edges. There’s notable concentration, balance and length in good proportions, with eucalyptus and pebble notes that play out on the firm, gripping finish. $38
“The 2021 Grenache is 91% Grenache and 9% Syrah from Boushey Vineyard. This is one of my favorite food wines as it is light bodied, yet full flavored. It’s perfect with meats, cheeses, pastas and rich dishes. This wine was aged for approximately 15 months in 100% neutral oak.”
—Lisa Callan, Owner & Winemaker
Orr Wines 2022 Grenache Royal Slope
94 pts.
A blanket of crushed ripe strawberry and red currant coat the fresh and brightly-lit palate, accented with floral and orange peel notes. Mineral and loamy spices surface on the firm and vibrant finish. $30
“This is a blend of two vineyards: Stillwater Creek Vineyard’s 2004 Grenache planting and Lawrence Vineyard’s Corfu Crossing Grenache block which was planted in 2008. To achieve the fruity and fresh style I like, we are totally destemming the fruit, there is no whole cluster fermentation and the wine is aged in neutral oak barrels. This was bottled without fining or filtration last summer.”
—Erica Orr, Owner & Winemaker
Cedergreen Cellars 2019 Grenache
93 pts.
Refreshing and lighter in body overall, yet with appealing fullness to the crisp, nuanced profile of bright red and black currants, pomegranate and earthen spice notes. Fine-grained tannins show persistence on the firm, dry finish. $31
“2019 started out as a memorable year with nice heat, crisp nights, and little stress from rain and humidity. After all the typical earmarks of a textbook Eastern Washington growing season, we experienced an early cold snap that resulted in high amounts of malic acid. With some trepidation we instigated malolactic fermentation, which is usually finished in two to three months. In 2019, the secondary fermentation required a full 12 months to convert all that malic acid to give us a smooth, mouth-filling Grenache. Truly one of our favorite Grenaches we’ve ever made.”
—Julie and Kevin Cedergreeen, Owners & Winemakers
Two Vintners 2021 “Claire” Grenache
93 pts.
A fuller-bodied and concentrated mix of fruity and savory, marked by ripe wild blackberry, plump currants and lively black raspberry punctuated by an underlayment of briny salinity and stony minerality. The elements unfold in unison on the finish, while building power and momentum on the firm, spice-filled mouthfeel. $45
“I freaking love Grenache. To steal a quote from my friend Juan Munoz-Oca, Grenache is Washington’s Pinot Noir. It is fickle and difficult in the vineyard and in the cellar but gives you great rewards in the bottle.”
—Morgan Lee, Founder & Winemaker
Chateau Faire Le Pont 2019 Grenache
93 pts.
Lush in feel, with cocoa-edged steeped cherry and ripe red berries, augmented by savory shadings of cigar wrapper, black licorice and molasses. Hints of warm clove and cedar fill in the smooth finish, proportionately weighted with firm yet refined tannins interwoven with nice acidity. $46
“Our Grenache is earthy with sweet raspberry and cherry notes complimented by spice, dried herbs and licorice. We were inspired by our trip to Spain where we had it paired with a fabulous rib steak (Chuleton) cooked over an open fire. It was the perfect pairing!”
—Debé Brazil, Co-Founder
Martinez & Martinez 2019 Grenache Horse Heaven Hills
92 pts.
There’s a rich, round, jammy feel to the luscious dark fruit of boysenberry, cherry puree and tart strawberry framed with dark chocolate notes. Details of white pepper, anise and sweet tobacco line up on the creamy, spice-filled finish with a backstop of fine tannins. $35
“We have always loved Grenache but never had planned to produce it, at least not in 2019. Somehow, the Grenache was picked in the vineyard by accident and Sergio Martinez said, ‘I’ll take it.’ We find that a great Mexican dish to pair with this wine is enchiladas Mexicanas with queso fresco.”
—Drew Martinez, Winemaker
Elephant Seven 2021 Grenache Blue Mountain Vineyard
93 pts.
This single-vineyard version was co-fermented with 10% Syrah, offering intriguing expressions of red berries, rose water, bergamot and briary herbs. Accents of blue fruit, grapefruit and iron minerality surface, ending with a gorgeous uplift of balanced acidity and that ripples on the finish. $42
“2021 was a great vintage for Grenache. Hot and dry conditions meant the Grenache ripened easily, while cooler nights late in harvest allowed for acid retention, plus we were able to hang the fruit long enough to get full phenolic ripeness. We picked this in early October, about two weeks earlier than we typically pick Grenache. Because of the earlier pick, this was the first time we’ve never used 100% whole cluster fermentation, we didn’t think the stems and rachis were ripe enough, but the fruit was ready to go!”
—Cheryl Villalobos West, Owner
Alluvium Cellars 2022 Alyssum Grenache
94 pts.
This is silky across the full spectrum, overflowing with jammy raspberry and plump strawberry-rhubarb wrapped around a suave core of orange bitters. Floral and savory overtones of rose hips, spice and iron minerality ramp up on the firm precise finish, with excellent structure and lasting berry flavors. $68
“Our Alyssum comes from a small, quirky head-trained Grenache block at French Creek Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. The fruit is fermented at cooler temperatures, providing a longer maceration period and forcing the yeast to struggle, resulting in a different aromatic profile. The result is a wine that showcases the typical bright red fruit and floral notes of Washington State Grenache, but also brings a darker, more serious side to the table.”
—Tyson Trautmann, Owner & Winemaker
Novelty Hill 2021 Grenache Stillwater Creek Vineyard
93 pts.
Layers of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry cascade through this sleek red, joined by crushed pebble minerality. A dash of orange peel, spice and anise emerge on the concentrated finish, with a nice grip of ribbon-silk tannins. $30
“Grenache is an easy recommendation for us, because not only is it tasty but, when done correctly, it’s one of the most versatile varieties we produce. This is a wine for most anyone who enjoys a glass of red with their meal. Stillwater Creek Vineyard’s shallow soil and high level of exposed fractured basalt combined with the more temperate climate of the Royal Slope AVA produces a rich, complex Grenache.”
—Mike Januik, Winemaker
Camaraderie Cellars 2020 Grenache
93 pts.
Richly smooth, this single-vineyard version from a veteran producer in Port Angeles delivers a refreshing core of plump red plum, currant and rhubarb layered with gentle spice. Fine tannins add a deft balance to the polished finish, which resonates long after the last sip. $31.50
“The 2020 vintage comes from Knox Road Vineyard (formerly LeTendre) in the Yakima Valley. It is a cool down-slope site located between Prosser and Benton City. I prefer cool site Grenache as it maintains the bright and fruity characteristics of a Northwest expression of the variety. While ‘fresh’ it keeps deeper, lingering flavors and aromas. Larger, more neutral barrels were used for elevage.”
—Don Corson, Owner & Winemaker
Ryan Patrick 2018 Reserve Grenache
93 pts.
Culled from the warmer Wahluke Slope AVA, this red is bright and full bodied, evoking floral raspberry entwined with blackberry preserves and red cherry. Maintains a freshness to the concentrated fruit, backed with warm stone, baking spice and mineral notes. $43
“I love this Grenache because it is soft, yet striking to the palate. I get notes of pomegranate and zingy cranberry with a drier finish that lingers with a bit of clove and oak. My sweet food pairing for this wine is chocolate hummus and luscious strawberries atop a crusty piece of toasted rustic sourdough, and my savory pairing is a good smoky gouda and genoa salami.”
—Olivia Wareham, Marketing Manager
South Hill Vineyards 2019 “Wild” Grenache Rattlesnake Hills
93 pts.
Shows finesse, with floral-tinged cherries, cranberry and raspberry that burst onto the palate with darker notes of black tea and currant preserves. The chiseled structure sports bright red fruit with precision balance, delineated by firm, elegant tannins and spice hints. $38
“This Grenache delights visitors at our Underwood Mountain winery in the Columbia Gorge. The grapes were carefully sourced from the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, near Yakima, and have resulted in a beautifully balanced wine. Full destemming of the fruit with a ‘wild’ native yeast fermentation followed by aging in French and American oak barrels give the wine complexity, whilst retaining structure and fruit. A versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of foods, making it an excellent choice for any occasion.”
— Spencer Jones, Owner & Winemaker
425 Cellars 2021 Garnacha de Lundeen
93 pts.
Supple and fresh on the lithe palate, with nice purity to the red plum and raspberry fruit backed by cranberry, white pepper and spice. This lean version is youthful, sporting bright acidity and lasting accents of ripe strawberry on the succulent finish. $35
“In an everchanging world, our Garnacha is keeping up with the times. To harness the natural beauty of its aromas and ambience, this wine has spent less time in oak, and was aged in all neutral barrel to preserve the freshness and radiance of the fruit in a Joven (young) style. With a light and lean body, try this wine with grilled lemon salmon with dill, or roasted pork loin stuffed with pesto.”
—Cory Barnidge, Owner & Winemaker
Amelia Wynn Winery 2020 Grenache Noir
92 pts.
Powerful and rich, with bold lift to the dark flavors of plum and blueberry infused with violet. Impeccably structured, with suave acidity and a tinge of tart cherry for a touch of bitterness on the complex, long-lasting finish. $33.50
“Heat, low precipitation, well drained soils, high incident of wind, and a south facing slope is an ideal terroir for growing Grenache Noir whether in Chateauneuf de Pape, Rioja, Priorat—or Alderdale, WA. Alderdale is within the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and home to Six Prong Vineyard, my grape source for the 2020 Grenache Noir. It’s terroir consistently produces outstanding award-winning Grenache.”
—Paul Bianchi, Owner & Winemaker
Spruce Hill Winery Grenache Columbia Valley (NV)
92 pts.
Expressive red fruit and savory elements come together in a compact manner, offering juicy raspberry and dark plum backlit by minerally-driven acidity, intricately layered with dried herbs, cured olives and white pepper on the smooth finish. $26
“The Grenache grapes are from a relatively new, fifth-leaf block at Heron Bluff Vineyard. Despite the youth of the vines, the complexity of this wine continues to impress us. After aging for 11 months, the wine was racked and blended with a small amount of Mourvèdre and Syrah to add depth.”
—Mark Bader, Owner & Winemaker
Lobo Hills 2021 Grenache Sugarloaf Vineyard
93 pts.
A core of polished red fruit, notably cherry, strawberry and cranberry, wrap around florally-infused stony minerality, peppercorn and saline notes that present a yin-and-yang balance of fruit and earthen spice on the sleek finish. $35
“What I most like about the 2021 Grenache is the complexity in the nose and how that complexity is mirrored in the palate. I find the most compelling examples of this varietal are able to obtain a balance between bright fruit and reductive, earth-driven elements without the use of new French oak. That complexity needed to be reflected in the palate. We used lees stirring and neutral wood aging to not affect that delicate aromatic while balancing the palate weight.”
—Tony Dollar, Owner & Winemaker
Rush Lattin Cellars 2020 Signet Grenache
93 pts.
Sourced from the warmer Red Mountain AVA, this is brooding with grilled plum, crushed rock and dried cranberry, loaded with umami character of loam, graphite and juniper berry. Jammy red fruit notes linger on the spice-filled finish, with a robust aftertaste. $47
“Our love for our Signet Grenache wine is expressed through its label of a beautiful swan. This Swan is a symbol of our grandmother, painted by our grandfather as a tribute to her. He chose the swan for Grandma because, like the swan, she exemplified not only beauty and elegance, but also strength of purpose and resilience to overcome the winter months of life. Like our beloved grandmother, this small-block
Grenache stands out.”
—Laurence Ransom, Winemaker & Co-Owner
Ocelli Cellars 2020 Grenache French Creek Vineyard
92 pts.
An elegant blend of two different clones, offering a distinctly floral note that follows through on the palate. Silky smooth in mouthfeel, with a deft front of red plum and briary-accented blackberry streaked with complementary inflections of apricot and thyme. Ends with graceful persuasion. $38
“Ocelli Cellars exclusively produces 100% Grenache-based wines. French Creek Vineyard has been a great representation of Grenache for us. Located about 20 minutes northeast of Prosser, it is a gentle sloping south facing hill with soils of wind-blown loess with a thin layer of caliche sitting on top of fractured basalt. This tends to give the Grenache from this site a profile of dark fruit, spice and earthiness.”
—John Peacock, Owner & Winemaker
Quiddity Wines 2020 UBUNTU Grenache
92 pts.
Made with grapes sourced from Sugarloaf Vineyard, this is both silky and lean in style, with a range of saline-infused cranberry, rhubarb and black raspberry expressions. Soft tannins are finely integrated, leading to savory finishing notes of peppercorn and garden herbs. $39
“The fruit for this Grenache comes from Joe Hattrup’s Sugarloaf Vineyard. They consistently produce great fruit and the 2020 vintage did not disappoint. This is an elegant and lighter-bodied dry red wine that pairs well with food. A humdinger of a Grenache with a clean nose and aromas, great flavors, and wonderful not-too-hard, not-too-soft Grenache tannins and mouthfeel.”
—Greg Peiker, Head Winemaker