The Grenachista Grenache Noir

Tasting notes & discussion 31

Packages have been upgraded to 2-day transit for increased protection.
Typically $46/bottle from The Grenachista
Vintage 2021 from Los Carneros (Napa side)
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NE; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About The Grenachista: “We have a singular focus. A focus on the wine grape varietals Grenache Noir and Grenache Blanc. Which allows us to hone in on the subtleties and nuances of the varietal we love so much. We’re passionate about Grenache and through the years we’ve adjusted and learned and adjusted and learned and we think every vintage we get a little closer. Closer to what you ask? To Grenache’s true expression.”

Cottonwood Joe

TASTING NOTES: “A new vineyard source for me in 2021, I give you my first foray into Napa Carneros with this showing from the Cottonwood Vineyard. Situated in southern Napa Valley, a stones throw away from the San Francisco Bay. This vineyard should have Chardonnay planted on it but Mark English decided to plant some Grenache Noir here in 2018 just because he’s crazy. The first crop came off in 2020 but was sold to a large winery that used it in a blend, which Mark wasn’t thrilled about. So a mutual friend connected us in the spring of 2021. This site is cool, probably a little too cold for Grenache, but that makes for an extraordinary expression of the varietal. Savory and dark, with loads of blackberry and bay leaf and the most amazing mid-palate. It’s almost reminds me of a Mourvedre from Bandol in that aspect.” (AbV 14.1%)

VARIETALS: Grenache Noir.

BARRELS: 18 months in neutral oak.

PAIRS WITH: N/A

THAT REMINDS ME OF: Cotton-Eyed Joe.

Who is Cotton-Eyed Joe? Nobody knows. Perhaps it is not someone specific. All we know is that he (not Cotton-Eyed Joe) would have been married long ago if it hadn’t been for that dang Cotton-Eyed Joe.

Cotton-Eyed Joe has existed as a folk song since at least the mid-1800’s, pre-Civil War. The origin seems to be as a field song sung by slaves on plantations in Louisiana and Texas at least. The gist of the song is that the singer loved a woman, and she had sworn that she’d stay with him, but then Cotton-Eyed Joe came along and took her away, despite having a flat nose, crooked teeth, and crossed eyes.

Oh, and the version most people know today, that dance remix one? It’s by a band called Rednex… from Sweden. That’s right. Pretty much everybody’s reference point outside of maybe line dancers to this American plantation folk song is a bunch of Swedes dressed up as rednecks.

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