The 2016 Grenache Blanc shows bright fresh lemon, honeyed apple and a creamy apricot nose that then turn more savory with hints of tarragon, cider, and sage. In the
mouth its initial impression of fruit (spiced apple sauce, quince and green melon) is followed by vibrant acids, then turning sweeter again on the finish, suggesting preserved lemon and anise and leaving a lingering impression of saline minerality. Drink now and for the next two to three years.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc, Mounts Family Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley
Gold Medal, 2017 and 2018 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
We have a singular focus, Grenache Noir. So we make single-vineyard designate Grenache Noir and Grenache Blanc made in painfully small lots, in the classic Rhone style, from the best sites in California. Because thatās how you make the best winesānot from a formula or a recipe but by building it as a craftsman builds. I believe you make great wines by being intimate with the vineyards, the fruit, and then the wine itself. The hands-on approach. So when I finally decided to start my own label after many years making wine for others, I emulated the wines that I love. The wonderful wines of the Rhone Valley in southern France, the wines of Vaucluse, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Chateauneuf du Pape. I am lucky enough to run a wine facilty as my day job and so I am able to be intimate with my wines. And since we do make tiny lots and Iām here all day anyway. I am the only one that touches our wines. So we do it all, my wife and I. From picking grapes, driving the trucks, processing the fruit, all the wine work, all the business and sales end. Itās all done with love by our family. We touch every aspect of our product and I hope it shows. So from our family to yours. Cheers.
Vineyard
The Mounts Family Vineyard is located directly west of Mount St. Helena in the northern reaches of the beautiful Dry Creek Valley. Meticulously farmed for the last 60 years by this father and son team, they truly have a firm grasp on the site and its place. The block of Grenache Blanc sits in a low spot in the vineyard where an old creek used to run. This old creek has stripped the soil, leaving only cobbles and sand. This limits the inherent vigor of the Grenache Blanc vine and allows fantastic concentration of flavors. The orientation of the vineyard allows for plantings of a southern Rhone selection of Grenache Blanc. The fruit is loosely clustered with thick skins that collaborate to create wine with monumental structure and vivid acid.
Vintage
2016 will be noted as one of the earliest vintages in over a decade, but it will also go down as one of the best. Challenged by drought, rain, hail and significant heat, fire and brimstone (alright, I made the last two up) you would think there would be a lot of obstacles to navigate, however the timing of the events paired with some planning allowed us to dodge these curveballs and land another fantastic vintage. Tannins are in check and berries are small, which is translating into great
balance and concentration in the cellar. Yields and quality are above average across all varieties, and I am anticipating a lot of beautiful 2016 wines to come.
Winemaking
The fruit was picked the night of September 14th and arrived at the winery bright and early were it was treaded in bins and allowed to soak on itās skins for several hours. It was then whole cluster pressed into stainless steel tanks where it was cold settled for two days. After the grape solids had fallen out, I racked this wine to used, neutral French oak barrels to barrel ferment with a native yeast in some barrels and a variety of Rhone white commercial yeast strains in other barrels to add complexity. When Fermentation was complete, the barrels where topped up and the wine was aged for 8 months with a bi-monthly stirring of the leeās to add mouth feel and complexity.
This story is not so much about wine, itās more about life and the lessons weāre taught by the people we encounter through it. I was lucky enough to know a man who in my eyes was the epitome of how to live life; love and smile.
His name was Cliff Graybehl and he was my grandfather. His signature adorns every bottle I make as we also share initials. Cliff grew up in Santa Monica, on the beach, on the pier, in the water. He was a water-man through and through. My cousins and I all have very fond memories of summers with grandpa, learning to body surf, swinging on the rings and playing in the sand in Santa Monica and Muscle Beach. He taught us all to swim, he taught how to play gin, shuffle board, and golf. But more importantly he taught us how to live. He taught us all about kindness, laughter, and unconditional love.
So I make these wines in his honor, even though Cliff was never much of a wine drinker. But as my career path has lead me down the wine trail and not the vodka gimlet route, his drink of choice, I think he would approve. He would approve of anything that brings a little more joy to that special occasion or even just an old regular type occasion.
Now my story and the back ground as to why I love Grenache and make Grenache and Grenache Blanc is a story for another time. It involves wines and wineries and what seems like a lifetime of making other peoples wines and working in other peopleās cellars. Now I make what I love. The details, the nitty-gritty, the āI would have gotten away with it, if it wasnāt for those meddling kidsā, well maybe Iāll tell you it someday, or if you see me and have a few hours, I will explain. But to me it is of little importance. Whatās important are the wines, the place and trying to remember all those stupid jokes that my grandfather told. Lucky for me, he only had a few and he told those few often.
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 vareital we love so much. Weāre passionate about Grenache and through the years weāve adjusted and learned and adjusted and learned and we think every vintage we get a little closer. Closer to what you ask? To Grenacheās true expression. And although we love and honor the wonderful wines of Southern Provence, where in our minds, Grenache reigns supreme, we make Californian wines. We are happy to see more and more Greanche and Grenache based wines on the shelf but we are unique in that this is all we do. We are Grenache activists and Noir rebels. And itās literally in the definition of āGrenachistaā to believe in the underdog. So here we are. Iām glad you found us.
We make very small quantities of our wines. It helps make sure that we can pay full attention to all that goes into them.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I see a monkey on a flying carpet, everyone else sees the UPS guy arriving with a single bottle of wine. Lab rat time.
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc.
Color is straw and clear. Nose is primarily green apple with secondary apricot and lemon. Upon pop and pour there is a fleeting flavor of lemon with a grapefruit zest finish lasting only a couple minutes. Afterwards flavors of green apple, honey apple, and lemon, mild acidity and minerality, light body and a nice mouthfeel. Initial finish of green apple, with a long lingering finish of lemon and saline minerality.
This is a very nice wine, interesting enough to be enjoyed as a cocktail wine as we did this evening. It is crisp and acidic, I look forward to a pairing of seafood with a rich sauce or a roasted chicken Greek style.
If you prefer an AlbariƱo, Verdejo or Sauv blanc to an oaked Chardonnay this is right up your alley. No hesitation to split a case with the neighbors.
Honored to serve.
Another lab rat! Iāll edit with the graphic later but I canāt access my email at the moment. I was really excited to see this bottle - I was really bummed to miss their Grenache last time.
On pop and pour this wine is very subdued and subtle. I got vanilla and mild oak on the noseā¦ not much fruit or acidity. My girlfriend thought it smelled like a baking cake!
Got those same notes on the palate. This wine has aged very nicely - it is quite smooth and well composed. Various flavors are popping up as it breathes - I didnāt get the apple or lemon but I felt like there was mild pineapple and some nice bitterness on the end. I think a few years in the bottle have mellowed the fruity flavors out and some secondary characteristics are coming through.
We both liked this one, and I think a diverse range of white wine fans would enjoy it. If you want a mellow, dry white that isnāt a fruit or oak bomb give this one a shot!
As I need to finish getting ready to leave for work in 10 minutes and havenāt even made my coffee yet, need to make this real short.
Always do enjoy Grenache blancs and Grenache roseās, so was pleased to see this one as my labratage.
In the glass it has a light golden color to it. (if I could figure out how to quickly upload a photo from my phone I would, but donāt have time)
Thereās a very refreshing citrus nose with a little bit of mineral to itā¦lemon, apricot, etc.
On the palate, thereās a slight tartness with that crisp stone fruit of tart white peach and nectarine.
I was even able to share it with a fellow former wine-wooter while I was over to pick up a wine fridge that was being transferred to me.
We both highly enjoyed the wine, and a purchase may well happen later today.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc - $30 = 14.99%
And from Wine Enthusiast:
89 Points Waxy apple skin, flint and a subdued palate of jasmine and white flowers mark the soul of this light, steely wine, which is reserved in fruit, revealing mostly lemon peel. VB 8/1/18
Great to be back. And we have power again here in Sonoma, just in the nick of time!
This is by far my favorite vintage of our Grenache Blanc and itās also the last of our old label. And itās drinking incredibly well right now and as weāve learned, Grenache Blanc really ages well.
So I hope youāall enjoy it as much as I do and feel free to ask any questions as Iāll be checking my phone here often as we press out 5 tanks today and try and play catch up.
@KingKoopa The first year I made Grenache Blanc for this project was 2014 and those still taste great with no signs of tiring or oxidation. So at least another 2 years, but Iām thinking more like 5.
I live near the Willamette Valley region of Oregon and I know there are some producers of āunusualā whites, such as Pinot Blanc, which I like. I canāt recall if Iāve ever had a Grenache Blanc. Very tempted to try this; Iām sure I wonāt be disappointed.
Also noted ācan share many characteristics with Viognier and Marsanne.ā
The article mentioned something even more interestingā¦ that there is a Grenache Gris as well! Now that is a new quest.
@pmarin Grenache Gris is pretty hard to find around here. Thereās some old vine stuff at the McDowell Vineyard in Mendocino County that I bought in 2006, but the vineyard has since changed hands and I have not been able to chase down who to contact about buying some. Last I heard it was bought by Vintage Wine Estates, so odds of getting fruit out of there are nill. But Iāve thought often about making a Grenache Gris, it would be perfect in our line up.
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Grenache Blanc shows bright fresh lemon, honeyed apple and a creamy apricot nose that then turn more savory with hints of tarragon, cider, and sage. In the
mouth its initial impression of fruit (spiced apple sauce, quince and green melon) is followed by vibrant acids, then turning sweeter again on the finish, suggesting preserved lemon and anise and leaving a lingering impression of saline minerality. Drink now and for the next two to three years.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc, Mounts Family Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley
Gold Medal, 2017 and 2018 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
We have a singular focus, Grenache Noir. So we make single-vineyard designate Grenache Noir and Grenache Blanc made in painfully small lots, in the classic Rhone style, from the best sites in California. Because thatās how you make the best winesānot from a formula or a recipe but by building it as a craftsman builds. I believe you make great wines by being intimate with the vineyards, the fruit, and then the wine itself. The hands-on approach. So when I finally decided to start my own label after many years making wine for others, I emulated the wines that I love. The wonderful wines of the Rhone Valley in southern France, the wines of Vaucluse, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Chateauneuf du Pape. I am lucky enough to run a wine facilty as my day job and so I am able to be intimate with my wines. And since we do make tiny lots and Iām here all day anyway. I am the only one that touches our wines. So we do it all, my wife and I. From picking grapes, driving the trucks, processing the fruit, all the wine work, all the business and sales end. Itās all done with love by our family. We touch every aspect of our product and I hope it shows. So from our family to yours. Cheers.
Vineyard
The Mounts Family Vineyard is located directly west of Mount St. Helena in the northern reaches of the beautiful Dry Creek Valley. Meticulously farmed for the last 60 years by this father and son team, they truly have a firm grasp on the site and its place. The block of Grenache Blanc sits in a low spot in the vineyard where an old creek used to run. This old creek has stripped the soil, leaving only cobbles and sand. This limits the inherent vigor of the Grenache Blanc vine and allows fantastic concentration of flavors. The orientation of the vineyard allows for plantings of a southern Rhone selection of Grenache Blanc. The fruit is loosely clustered with thick skins that collaborate to create wine with monumental structure and vivid acid.
Vintage
2016 will be noted as one of the earliest vintages in over a decade, but it will also go down as one of the best. Challenged by drought, rain, hail and significant heat, fire and brimstone (alright, I made the last two up) you would think there would be a lot of obstacles to navigate, however the timing of the events paired with some planning allowed us to dodge these curveballs and land another fantastic vintage. Tannins are in check and berries are small, which is translating into great
balance and concentration in the cellar. Yields and quality are above average across all varieties, and I am anticipating a lot of beautiful 2016 wines to come.
Winemaking
The fruit was picked the night of September 14th and arrived at the winery bright and early were it was treaded in bins and allowed to soak on itās skins for several hours. It was then whole cluster pressed into stainless steel tanks where it was cold settled for two days. After the grape solids had fallen out, I racked this wine to used, neutral French oak barrels to barrel ferment with a native yeast in some barrels and a variety of Rhone white commercial yeast strains in other barrels to add complexity. When Fermentation was complete, the barrels where topped up and the wine was aged for 8 months with a bi-monthly stirring of the leeās to add mouth feel and complexity.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$420.69/case at CR Graybehl Wine Company (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: CR Graybehl Wine Company
Owner: Casey Graybehl
This story is not so much about wine, itās more about life and the lessons weāre taught by the people we encounter through it. I was lucky enough to know a man who in my eyes was the epitome of how to live life; love and smile.
His name was Cliff Graybehl and he was my grandfather. His signature adorns every bottle I make as we also share initials. Cliff grew up in Santa Monica, on the beach, on the pier, in the water. He was a water-man through and through. My cousins and I all have very fond memories of summers with grandpa, learning to body surf, swinging on the rings and playing in the sand in Santa Monica and Muscle Beach. He taught us all to swim, he taught how to play gin, shuffle board, and golf. But more importantly he taught us how to live. He taught us all about kindness, laughter, and unconditional love.
So I make these wines in his honor, even though Cliff was never much of a wine drinker. But as my career path has lead me down the wine trail and not the vodka gimlet route, his drink of choice, I think he would approve. He would approve of anything that brings a little more joy to that special occasion or even just an old regular type occasion.
Now my story and the back ground as to why I love Grenache and make Grenache and Grenache Blanc is a story for another time. It involves wines and wineries and what seems like a lifetime of making other peoples wines and working in other peopleās cellars. Now I make what I love. The details, the nitty-gritty, the āI would have gotten away with it, if it wasnāt for those meddling kidsā, well maybe Iāll tell you it someday, or if you see me and have a few hours, I will explain. But to me it is of little importance. Whatās important are the wines, the place and trying to remember all those stupid jokes that my grandfather told. Lucky for me, he only had a few and he told those few often.
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 vareital we love so much. Weāre passionate about Grenache and through the years weāve adjusted and learned and adjusted and learned and we think every vintage we get a little closer. Closer to what you ask? To Grenacheās true expression. And although we love and honor the wonderful wines of Southern Provence, where in our minds, Grenache reigns supreme, we make Californian wines. We are happy to see more and more Greanche and Grenache based wines on the shelf but we are unique in that this is all we do. We are Grenache activists and Noir rebels. And itās literally in the definition of āGrenachistaā to believe in the underdog. So here we are. Iām glad you found us.
We make very small quantities of our wines. It helps make sure that we can pay full attention to all that goes into them.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, November 7th - Monday, November 11th
CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc
I see a monkey on a flying carpet, everyone else sees the UPS guy arriving with a single bottle of wine. Lab rat time.
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc.
Color is straw and clear. Nose is primarily green apple with secondary apricot and lemon. Upon pop and pour there is a fleeting flavor of lemon with a grapefruit zest finish lasting only a couple minutes. Afterwards flavors of green apple, honey apple, and lemon, mild acidity and minerality, light body and a nice mouthfeel. Initial finish of green apple, with a long lingering finish of lemon and saline minerality.
This is a very nice wine, interesting enough to be enjoyed as a cocktail wine as we did this evening. It is crisp and acidic, I look forward to a pairing of seafood with a rich sauce or a roasted chicken Greek style.
If you prefer an AlbariƱo, Verdejo or Sauv blanc to an oaked Chardonnay this is right up your alley. No hesitation to split a case with the neighbors.
Honored to serve.
@msten bought on the strength of the imagery in this review. Really great job.
Another lab rat! Iāll edit with the graphic later but I canāt access my email at the moment. I was really excited to see this bottle - I was really bummed to miss their Grenache last time.
On pop and pour this wine is very subdued and subtle. I got vanilla and mild oak on the noseā¦ not much fruit or acidity. My girlfriend thought it smelled like a baking cake!
Got those same notes on the palate. This wine has aged very nicely - it is quite smooth and well composed. Various flavors are popping up as it breathes - I didnāt get the apple or lemon but I felt like there was mild pineapple and some nice bitterness on the end. I think a few years in the bottle have mellowed the fruity flavors out and some secondary characteristics are coming through.
We both liked this one, and I think a diverse range of white wine fans would enjoy it. If you want a mellow, dry white that isnāt a fruit or oak bomb give this one a shot!
@CruelMelody fantastic review
I really like the Grenache (noir) from Greybehl that was offered here on Casemates earlier this year. Based on that alone, Iām tempted to buy this!
Hereās a link to the 2015 Grenache noir of which I speak: https://casemates.com/forum/topics/cr-graybehl-dry-creek-valley-grenache
As I need to finish getting ready to leave for work in 10 minutes and havenāt even made my coffee yet, need to make this real short.
Always do enjoy Grenache blancs and Grenache roseās, so was pleased to see this one as my labratage.
In the glass it has a light golden color to it. (if I could figure out how to quickly upload a photo from my phone I would, but donāt have time)
Thereās a very refreshing citrus nose with a little bit of mineral to itā¦lemon, apricot, etc.
On the palate, thereās a slight tartness with that crisp stone fruit of tart white peach and nectarine.
I was even able to share it with a fellow former wine-wooter while I was over to pick up a wine fridge that was being transferred to me.
We both highly enjoyed the wine, and a purchase may well happen later today.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 CR Graybehl Grenache Blanc - $30 = 14.99%
And from Wine Enthusiast:
89 Points Waxy apple skin, flint and a subdued palate of jasmine and white flowers mark the soul of this light, steely wine, which is reserved in fruit, revealing mostly lemon peel. VB 8/1/18
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/c-r-graybehl-2016-mounts-family-vineyard-grenache-blanc-dry-creek-valley-291209/
fwiw
Great to be back. And we have power again here in Sonoma, just in the nick of time!
This is by far my favorite vintage of our Grenache Blanc and itās also the last of our old label. And itās drinking incredibly well right now and as weāve learned, Grenache Blanc really ages well.
So I hope youāall enjoy it as much as I do and feel free to ask any questions as Iāll be checking my phone here often as we press out 5 tanks today and try and play catch up.
@The_Grenachista how long do you think this would hold up?
@KingKoopa The first year I made Grenache Blanc for this project was 2014 and those still taste great with no signs of tiring or oxidation. So at least another 2 years, but Iām thinking more like 5.
Here is a good article I found explaining Grenache Blanc:
https://wineparadigm.com/grenache-blanc/
I live near the Willamette Valley region of Oregon and I know there are some producers of āunusualā whites, such as Pinot Blanc, which I like. I canāt recall if Iāve ever had a Grenache Blanc. Very tempted to try this; Iām sure I wonāt be disappointed.
Also noted ācan share many characteristics with Viognier and Marsanne.ā
The article mentioned something even more interestingā¦ that there is a Grenache Gris as well! Now that is a new quest.
@pmarin Grenache Gris is pretty hard to find around here. Thereās some old vine stuff at the McDowell Vineyard in Mendocino County that I bought in 2006, but the vineyard has since changed hands and I have not been able to chase down who to contact about buying some. Last I heard it was bought by Vintage Wine Estates, so odds of getting fruit out of there are nill. But Iāve thought often about making a Grenache Gris, it would be perfect in our line up.
/giphy picturesque-tampered-mink
More please.