
Grenache is a spicy tasting grape variety with berry tones and high alcohol content. Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world. Because the Grenache grape ripens late in the year, it is usually planted in hot and dry regions, such as the south of Spain, France, and the San Joaquin Valley in California. In the 19th century, winemakers celebrated the vine’s ability to produce high yields of fruit and to withstand heat and drought. The variety is low in acid, has a light color, and low tannins. Grenache is a popular choice in Rhone wines, and can be used as over 80 percent of the blend. It is also a companion in French and Spanish rose wines, and its high sugar content makes it the perfect match for fortified wines. In the 18th century, Grenache was one of the first grape varieties to be introduced in Australia, and became the most planted variety in Australia until the 1960s. This variety is often used to blend with other varieties to add sweetness and a nice fruit flavor. Using oak can help with keeping the wine’s color, but too much can overpower the fruit aromas of the variety.
La Despensa Boutique Colchagua Grenache is made from 100 percent Grenache.
Clean and fresh, like all our wines, with varietal typical notes of fresh summer fruit but with slightly grippy tannins that will enable the wine to age. Translucent in color, typical of newer vine Grenache.
Very versatile and pairs well with almost any type of food. Would go great with pulled pork and rich tomato based pasta sauces
La Despensa Boutique Field Blend is made from 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Roussanne.
This is La Despensa's flagship Rhône-blend, produced from grapes from their own, organic vineyard in Colchagua. Their passion is to produce very high-quality grapes - it’s the vineyard work that they love the most. So this blend is always a little different year after year, as they make whatever the vineyard gives them. In 2020 they incorporated a little Roussanne to the blend, which adds some mouthfeel and a tiny background note of tropical fruit, to accompany the fresh fruit and structure that the other varieties bring out.
Review:
"A very vivid and bright nose with lots of red fruit and flowers. Some sweet currants, raspberries and pomegranate in the forefront followed by a nice touch of bay leaf, graphite and flowers. Juicy and bright on the palate with a medium body and firm and fresh tannins. Very drinkable. 45% grenache, 35% syrah, 15% mourvedre and 5% roussanne. Co-fermented. Enjoy now."
- James Suckling (February 2023), 92 pts
La Despensa Boutique Field Blend is made from 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Roussanne.
This is La Despensa's flagship Rhône-blend, produced from grapes from their own, organic vineyard in Colchagua. Their passion is to produce very high-quality grapes - it’s the vineyard work that they love the most. So this blend is always a little different year after year, as they make whatever the vineyard gives them. In 2020 they incorporated a little Roussanne to the blend, which adds some mouthfeel and a tiny background note of tropical fruit, to accompany the fresh fruit and structure that the other varieties bring out.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Review:
Lastly, and a wine that will be a candidate for perfection in 4-5 years, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Centenaire reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of black cherries, licorice, iron, nori, and peppery garrigue. As with the base 2019, the estate did an incredible job with the tannins, and this wine is flawlessly balanced, with ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and the sheer class to evolve for 25+ years. This is a perfect example of power with no sensation of weight or heaviness. The blend in 2019 is 84% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 6% Syrah, and it wasn’t destemmed and was brought up mostly in concrete tanks, with just 6% in very old barrels.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
Lydian GSM is made from 40% Grenache, 33% Mourvèdre, 27% Syrah.
Lydian was established in 2019 as a new way to experience Washington wine. The team behind Avennia brings you another delicious wine that serves as an introduction to a lifetime of wine appreciation and a fresh take on Washington terroir.
In music, Lydian refers to a mode, or scale that is used as a building block for some of the world’s oldest and newest masterpieces. This happy sounding mode brings joy on its own, yet when molded and crafted by talented musicians can become a work of timeless art.
We believe Washington vineyards produce some of the finest building blocks in the world. With these grapes, and the collective talent behind those growing and working with them, Lydian wines can be as complex, nuanced, and profound as any jazz classic.
Lydian: a fun, fresh take on Washington wine.
Lydian GSM is fresh and lively on the palate, with strawberry, red cherry, and hints of savory earth, fresh mint, and lavender. A delicious wine!
• 100% pure Sauvignon Blanc, crafted from grapes grown in the most notable and warmer regions of California’s coastal hills. Each block contributes a distinct element to the blend, resulting in a layered and complex style.
• The harvest dates were determined by physiological maturity, which varied widely in the 2023 vintage due to the wet winter leading to a cool summer. Nevertheless, the extended hang time reduced grapes with low sugar, firm acid, minimal pyrazines, and intense flavor expressions.
• Upon arrival at the winery, the whole clusters underwent a gentle pressing, and the juice underwent a cold settling process for two days. Subsequently, it was racked off the heavy lees into stainless steel tanks, where it underwent a chill fermentation with native yeast – which contributed to the balanced mouthfeel, set against a backdrop of minerality and acidity.
• Following fermentation, the wines remained in tank, with the lees being stirred weekly for nearly four months before the final blend was assembled. No malolactic fermentation was allowed, preserving the vibrant fruit and floral notes, alongside the natural tension characteristics of this blend.
Color:
Medium yellow straw hue.
Aroma:
Asian pear, honeysuckle, passionfruit,
green melon, and a citrus bouquet.
Palate:
Refreshing stone fruit, grapefruit, and tropical flower. This wine has a well-balanced mouthfeel with bright and lively acidity.
Food Pairing:
Oysters on the half shell with mignonette sauce,
niçoise salad, a blue cheese pear tart and crab cakes.
Argot Indigo Syrah is made from 100 percent Syrah.
The color of exaltation, opulence and elusiveness. The Indigo pigment has held sway over the heads and hearts of humans for centuries. Each vintage we honor this legacy by creating a Syrah which captures the might, richness and intrigue of the ‘Indigo’ legend. Profound, captivating and endlessly intriguing. Delicious.
Review:
The single-varietal 2021 Indigo Syrah is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of plum preserves, fruitcake, and licorice jump from the glass, with nuances of rose oil, cardamom, and cumin seed. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and plush, with bright acidity to balance and a long spicy finish.
-Wine Palate 96 Points