Andremily Wines Andremily Grenache 2020 750ml

The 2020 Grenache is absolutely brilliant, and unquestionably up with the finest examples of this variety out there. Based on 78% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah raised in 50% new oak, it has a kaleidoscope-like bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ripe strawberries, spring flowers, incense, and ground pepper, to name just a few aromatics. This carries to a full-bodied, multi-dimensional, layered, hedonistic beauty with velvety tannins, a powerful yet somehow still fresh and elegant mouthfeel, and a blockbuster of a finish. It will evolve for two decades. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Tasted out of bottle, the 2021 Grenache is 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre that saw 60% stems and 21 months in 50% new demi-muids and the balance in used barrels. It has a slightly purer and more precise perfume of ripe blackberries, ground pepper, violets, and game. This carries to a full-bodied Grenache offering flawless overall balance, a pure, cool climate, vibrant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and an incredible finish. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will evolve for 15+ years. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Moving to the 2019s from bottle, the 2019 Grenache offers a slightly more floral and perfumed style, with kirsch liqueur, herbes de Provence, sandalwood, and licorice. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Grenache that has a seamless, layered texture, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It’s a more ethereal, perfumed, ultra-fine effort that will drink well for 15 years or more. (Jeb Dunnuck)

The 2020 Grenache is blended with 12% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. It comes predominantly from Andremily’s new Slide Hill estate, plus the Alta Mesa Vineyard and Larner Vineyard in Santa Barbara County and G2 vineyard in Paso Robles. It was vinified using 70% whole clusters, matured for around 21 months in 50% new French barriques and aged an additional year in bottle before release. It has youthfully dense blueberry, baked plum, cherry fruit and slowly opening accents of cardamom, lilac and olive. The full-bodied palate features highly concentrated, enveloping fruit, abundant yet pixelated tannins and just enough freshness to highlight alluring floral and spice tones on the long finish. 400 cases and a few magnums were produced. (Erin Brooks)

The 2021 Grenache is blended with 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Grapes come from the Alta Mesa Vineyard in Santa Barbara County and Andremily's new Slide Hill estate vineyard in the Edna Valley. It was vinified using 45% whole clusters and matured for around 21 months in 50% new French barriques and 600-liter demi-muids. Bottled on August 26 and tasted on October 25, its red and black fruit is densely coiled, and it takes plenty of air to reveal pure notes of black licorice, coffee beans, lilac, graphite and tobacco. The full-bodied palate is plush, ripe and spicy, with chocolate-textured tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity to call you back to the glass. Powerful yet seamless, it will continue to unfold as it matures in bottle over the next 15 years or more. 450 cases were made, which will be sold as part of a three-bottle box set for $330. A few magnums were also made, which will be sold as part of a two-bottle set with the 2021 Andremily Eaba. (Erin Brooks)

The 2019 Grenache is blended with 11% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah and 4% Graciano and was made using 65% whole clusters. Fruit comes from the Slide Hill Vineyard in Edna Valley, and the Alta Mesa Vineyard, Larner Vineyard and Harrison-Clarke Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. It was matured for about 21 months in 50% new French barriques and 600-liter demi-muids and 50% used French barriques. Deep ruby in color, it opens with savory tones of tar and loamy earth that give way to potpourri, cinnamon stick, prosciutto and black cherries. The medium-bodied palate is bright and juicy with fragrant fruits, fine, grainy tannins and bright acidity, and it has a very long, latent, spicy finish hinting at further improvement in bottle. Bottled on August 21, 2021, and tasted May 25, 2022, it will be released to consumers in the summer of 2022. 395 cases and a few magnums are available; it will be packaged and sold as a three-bottle set ($330), while magnums will be offered as a box set with the 2019 Andremily EABA. (Erin Brooks)