2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Dark fruit flavors of black cherry layered with vanilla. The vineyard’s location gives this Merlot its full body and structure. With a sweet fruity nose, a slightly grippy pallet, and a sharp finish, Grebennikoff Vineyards estate Merlot is a classy standalone wine.
Winemaking Notes
Fermentation: inoculated and aged almost 36 months in French oak
Harvested at 25.5 Brix
Farming: Certified Organic with cover crop and trained as vertical cordon
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Age of Vines: 31 years
Alcohol: 14.08%
Total Acidity: .53/100mL
pH: 3.66
2018 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Dark fruit flavors of black cherry layered with vanilla. The vineyard’s location gives this Merlot its full body and structure. With a sweet fruity nose, a slightly grippy pallet, and a sharp finish, Grebennikoff Vineyards estate Merlot is a classy standalone wine.
Winemaking Notes
Fermentation: inoculated and aged almost 36 months in French oak
Harvested at 25.5 Brix
Farming: Certified Organic with cover crop and trained as vertical cordon
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Age of Vines: 31 years
Alcohol: 14.08%
Total Acidity: .51/100mL
pH: 3.77
2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Fruit notes of black cherry, vegetable notes of green pepper, and spice notes of vanilla. Full bodied with a perfect balance of acidity and tannin that give this Cabernet Sauvignon the perfect mouth feel and finish.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Fermentation: inoculated and aged almost 36 months in French oak
Harvested at 25.5 Brix
Age of Vines: 31 years
Alcohol: 14.94%
Total Acidity: .77/100mL
pH: 3.69
What’s Included
3-bottles:
1x 2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
1x 2018 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
1x 2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Case:
4x 2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
4x 2018 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
4x 2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Grebennikoff Vineyards is a small and limited production winery specializing in 100 percent varietal estate grown Merlot. Although Grebennikoff Vineyards is a relatively new winery in the Sonoma Valley, viticulturist/winemaker Nick Greben planted his small estate vineyard in 1974. The name Grebennikoff is Russian and came from Nick’s father who emigrated here from China early in the last century. Nick’s winemaking endeavors started when he was only four years old at the side of his Italian grandfather in the basement of the family home in Crockett, California.
In addition to grape growing and winemaking, Nick’s other passion was firefighting for the City of Oakland up until his recent retirement. That’s why our labels have a firefighter’s theme. This is also why Nick and his wife Angele contribute a portion of the proceeds of each bottle sold to firefighter-related charities.
And now Nick and Angele have released their new red wine blend, appropriately named “Fire Engine Red”. This collectable bottle has a front label depicting beautiful antique red fire engines created by artist and Santa Rosa fire fighter Don Ricci and a back label written to honor the camaraderie shared by all firefighters. Each year a different fire engine will be featured on the front label.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I was really excited to try this wine and very excited to get to Lab Rat again, but this wine was unfortunately corked. I hope there is another rat who can give their tasting impressions of this wine! The color was a deep ruby and looked very enticing. Unfortunately, that is as far as I got.
@rjquillin@scenicready At least we all understand that a truly corked bottle is not reflective of the winery. Just bad luck. Other microbial spoilage might be a bad sign.
one of the last things a wine maker wants is a bad cork, especially when someone is tasting the wine for the first time. I’d love the chance to make it up to you. Let me offer you a bottle of our 2018 Cab Sauv. You won’t be disappointed… I promise
@rjquillin we are such a boutique winery it’s hard to have a single roll. But for arguments sake I’m the operations manager and wine maker @ Grebennikoff Vineyards. My name is Tom
@gvineyards Again Welcome Tom.
Winemaker engagement goes a long way with this group. Pretty much a unique feature that doesn’t seem to be found elsewhere.
Hope you can return again and jump in a bit earlier. These 24 hour Friday sales seem gone in a blink.
2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Always a joy to be a lab rat, and this looks like a classy bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! Grebennikoff doesn’t roll right off the tongue, so I’m glad it’s labelled GV!
Let’s get to it.
Very understated packaging (translation: label almost illegible!) but eventually deciphered the microscopic low-contrast text on the back to reveal that they only make ONE barrel of this each year! Not sure I’ve ever had a Sonoma cab with that small a production.
14.94% alcohol so it’s either going to be chewy or a fruit bomb. Let’s see…
Pop and pour. Quite dark garnet color. A bit tight, lovely hint of cocoa powder.
Very chewy, with a long TANNIC finish of at least 30 seconds. Somewhere in there blackberries appear. This wine is going to age well. Good acid, you can feel it on the sides of your tongue for quite some time. Definitely NOT a fruit bomb, just very mouth-filling.
Well, that was a pretty good first sip. Let’s give it 30 minutes and see what develops…
Checked their website while waiting. Zero info other than that it’s $50. Hey guys, you need to at least try some marketing! If you know the alcohol to two decimal places, you must remember the barrel type or how long it was in there! (Edit: Well, I see Casemates managed to find it out, anyway!)
30 minutes later the nose is evolving a little bit, with some mint and herbs. Fairly Bordeaux-like, really. Still monstrously chewy with some berries starting to emerge. Really doesn’t taste that high in alcohol. Definitely still tight. Let’s check back in a few hours…
Some delightful anise notes have appeared in the bouquet, and red licorice (kinda cherry but not exactly) in the finish. Definitely a varietal nose now, and some bramble. When down to the last few drops in the glass a great coffee nose kicks in.
Didn’t really change over 12 hours. Remains tight, but a bundle of potential.
As far as food, this is a classic match for chargrilled steak or hard cheeses. But it’s really assertive enough that it wants to be admired on its own.
I would say $50 is a fair retail price for this wine. I would buy one bottle at the winery for that price, but not a case. If Casemates hits $20 or less I’m interested. Anything more that that and I’ll buy the smaller offering. Pretty sure it will improve with a few years in the cellar.
Update: well, I see that I nailed the per-bottle price. Will wait for word on the merlots that come with it to see if I’m up for those.
@salcorn 24 Hours Later:
Left the bottle uncorked for a full day. No oxidation, more floral and mint in the nose, a fruitier finish. I wish this were available by the case without the merlots.
Initial pop 'n pour aroma was of dark fruits, possibly dried cherries or bramble berries. That quickly dissipated, leaving dusty/minerally slate, with a hint of anise.
Color is a deep garnet red.
Initial entry is licorice and peppery, more black pepper than vegetable pepper. It’s so intense it’s almost tingly in the mouth. The finish lasts for ages.
Leaving it out for a bit to see how much it changes, but if you want fruit, sniff it immediately.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
Grebennikoff Vineyards Mixed Reds - $70 = 29.16%
Although I have waaaaay too much wine, at the case price, these look like wines I would be pleasantly surprised to pull off a bottom shelf ten years from now.
2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
2018 Grebennikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $396/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 6 - Friday, Dec 10
Grebennikoff Vineyards Mixed Reds
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Merlot
2018 Merlot
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Fire Engine Red Merlot
I was really excited to try this wine and very excited to get to Lab Rat again, but this wine was unfortunately corked. I hope there is another rat who can give their tasting impressions of this wine! The color was a deep ruby and looked very enticing. Unfortunately, that is as far as I got.
@scenicready
Getting an off bottle to Rat is just wrong; not a good start, but it does happen occasionally.
@rjquillin @scenicready At least we all understand that a truly corked bottle is not reflective of the winery. Just bad luck. Other microbial spoilage might be a bad sign.
@scenicready That’s a bummer. I’ll put you back in the queue
@klezman @rjquillin
Oh yeah, I don’t blame the winery at all and based on the other rattage, I really missed out!!
@WCCWineGirl Thanks! Love being a rat!
@scenicready
one of the last things a wine maker wants is a bad cork, especially when someone is tasting the wine for the first time. I’d love the chance to make it up to you. Let me offer you a bottle of our 2018 Cab Sauv. You won’t be disappointed… I promise
@gvineyards
badge, but while that is happening, may we ask your affiliation/role?
Welcome to the party.
Looking to get you your
@rjquillin we are such a boutique winery it’s hard to have a single roll. But for arguments sake I’m the operations manager and wine maker @ Grebennikoff Vineyards. My name is Tom
@gvineyards Again Welcome Tom.
Winemaker engagement goes a long way with this group. Pretty much a unique feature that doesn’t seem to be found elsewhere.
Hope you can return again and jump in a bit earlier. These 24 hour Friday sales seem gone in a blink.
@gvineyards Sounds good to me!
2017 Grebennikoff Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Always a joy to be a lab rat, and this looks like a classy bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! Grebennikoff doesn’t roll right off the tongue, so I’m glad it’s labelled GV!
Let’s get to it.
Very understated packaging (translation: label almost illegible!) but eventually deciphered the microscopic low-contrast text on the back to reveal that they only make ONE barrel of this each year! Not sure I’ve ever had a Sonoma cab with that small a production.
14.94% alcohol so it’s either going to be chewy or a fruit bomb. Let’s see…
Pop and pour. Quite dark garnet color. A bit tight, lovely hint of cocoa powder.
Very chewy, with a long TANNIC finish of at least 30 seconds. Somewhere in there blackberries appear. This wine is going to age well. Good acid, you can feel it on the sides of your tongue for quite some time. Definitely NOT a fruit bomb, just very mouth-filling.
Well, that was a pretty good first sip. Let’s give it 30 minutes and see what develops…
Checked their website while waiting. Zero info other than that it’s $50. Hey guys, you need to at least try some marketing! If you know the alcohol to two decimal places, you must remember the barrel type or how long it was in there! (Edit: Well, I see Casemates managed to find it out, anyway!)
30 minutes later the nose is evolving a little bit, with some mint and herbs. Fairly Bordeaux-like, really. Still monstrously chewy with some berries starting to emerge. Really doesn’t taste that high in alcohol. Definitely still tight. Let’s check back in a few hours…
Some delightful anise notes have appeared in the bouquet, and red licorice (kinda cherry but not exactly) in the finish. Definitely a varietal nose now, and some bramble. When down to the last few drops in the glass a great coffee nose kicks in.
Didn’t really change over 12 hours. Remains tight, but a bundle of potential.
As far as food, this is a classic match for chargrilled steak or hard cheeses. But it’s really assertive enough that it wants to be admired on its own.
I would say $50 is a fair retail price for this wine. I would buy one bottle at the winery for that price, but not a case. If Casemates hits $20 or less I’m interested. Anything more that that and I’ll buy the smaller offering. Pretty sure it will improve with a few years in the cellar.
Update: well, I see that I nailed the per-bottle price. Will wait for word on the merlots that come with it to see if I’m up for those.
@salcorn
I was struggling with images last night but here they are.
@salcorn 24 Hours Later:
Left the bottle uncorked for a full day. No oxidation, more floral and mint in the nose, a fruitier finish. I wish this were available by the case without the merlots.
@salcorn Thank you for the rattage
2017 Fire Engine Red Merlot
Initial pop 'n pour aroma was of dark fruits, possibly dried cherries or bramble berries. That quickly dissipated, leaving dusty/minerally slate, with a hint of anise.
Color is a deep garnet red.
Initial entry is licorice and peppery, more black pepper than vegetable pepper. It’s so intense it’s almost tingly in the mouth. The finish lasts for ages.
Leaving it out for a bit to see how much it changes, but if you want fruit, sniff it immediately.
@JOATMON Uh, I got the 2017, not the 2018. Could someone change that for me, please?
@JOATMON some help perhaps from @rjquillin ?
@JOATMON I’ll admit I thought it a bit strange for two of the 18, but, well, that’s what it said.
All fixed up now.
@JOATMON Thank you for the report
I’m a little less sure about this now:
“Your order number is: raunchy-rousing-troll”.
Is there a Grinch somewhere there in the warehouse?
Will all my bottles arrive corked?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
Grebennikoff Vineyards Mixed Reds - $70 = 29.16%
The bottle looks like something Gary V (of Wine Library) would design!
Although I have waaaaay too much wine, at the case price, these look like wines I would be pleasantly surprised to pull off a bottom shelf ten years from now.