Pinot Noir gets a lot of play as a food friendly grape that pairs with all sorts of cuisine; and often that is the case. Wines based on Garnacha (Grenache) are frequently just as suited to pairing with all sorts of food. Additionally the entry level price for getting delicious Garnacha is lower than that for Pinot Noir which can be a bit sketchy in the value category. Today I’ll look at a Garnacha that it perfectly suited for everyday drinking for a number of reasons.
The Real Compania de Vinos 2011 Garnacha was produced using fruit sourced in central Spain. The vines had an average of 20 to 50 years of age on them. This wine is 100% varietal. All of the fruit was hand harvested and sorted. Fermentation took place in stainless steel over 12 days. 12,000 cases of this offering were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $9.99.
Cherry and subtle vanilla bean aromas lead a booming and friendly nose loaded with charm. Red and black berry fruits dominate the palate with hints of jam poking through along with touches of spice. The big flavors that mark the palate continue through the finish along with black and white pepper, earth and black tea elements. This Garnacha is absolutely primed to pair with food. It’ll work all summer with just about anything you pull of your grill as one example. For the money this wine has good depth and concentration. It’s a really nice value for under $10, and it’ll please a whole lot of people, so it’s definitely one to consider if you’re headed to a picnic or BBQ.