Tag Archives: grenache

Kirkland Brand Côtes du Rhône Villages

cotedurhone
Côtes du Rhône Villages

Cost: $6.99

Where buy now: Costco

Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre

Region: Rhone, France

Vintage: 2012

To be frank, this wine startled me. Really? A seven dollar Costco chuggin’ wine?

 

Pronounced (Coat-duh-Rone Vih-lahzh) it’s tickled with ripe cherry and old fashioned red licorice flavors. Wait, red licorice? No, not that corn syrupy Twizzlers crap- the REAL stuff. Decent tannins and finish. I decree at only $6.99, this is my Skank Wine of the month pick.

 

We paired Kirkland Brand Côtes du Rhône Villages with some grilled lamb chops (which you can also buy for a song at Costco). Our total meal, wine included, cost $20.  Remember: here in Minnesota, you do NOT need to be a Costco member to buy booze. It’s separate from the main warehouse.

 

From what the Farmer’s Almanac has been forecasting, we may be in for one helluva long Winter (again). Therefore, at only $6.99, buy a damn case. Your soul will thank you when you’re ready to fashion a noose because it’s still 100 f’ing below in March.

 

If you’re just a drinker and not a researcher, move your ass going to the store. Want to read more on the differences among the Côtes du Rhône region upon your return? I defer you to my pals at Wine Folly.

Elicio Rosé

Cost: Average price $10

Where buy now: Sorella Wines & Spirits Sale – $5

Grapes: Grenache & Cinsault

Region: France

Vintage: 2011

Elicio Rose

Rosé typically rings in Spring, but with the sub-freezing BS throughout March, Spring seems eons away. I’m grasping for anything to help remind me that better weather will be here. Remember what your patio looked like? Remember the smell of multiple grills burning food stuffs throughout the neighborhood? Remember not cursing to yourself every time you walked outside?

Besides sucking down 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D and gluing my face to my light box, Rosé will be my third little helper. This trifecta will prevent my soul from succumbing to this never-ending weather suckage.

Today, I was right hungover. After seeing my new favorite local band, The Blackberry Brandy Boys, then staying up eating pizza with the hubby, watching Netflix until we passed out on the couch around 4am, I “made my bed”. So I laid in it. Well, on a reformer carriage. I got my sad ass out of bed for my 11:30 Pilates class then laid around watching some March Madness.

Later, we met a friend at Sorella Wines & Spirits for their Spring wine sale. There were tons of wines to sample and I didn’t want a one. I wanted a bed and maybe a doobie to help me slip off into a winter slumber. My husband got a glass and went with- the old “hair of the dog” strategery. He emphatically sang the praises for the Elicio Rosé. That’s right, my husband is a pink wine drinker. Listen up all you men: there’s no shame in this. A lady loves to see a man bury his face in a pink glass to check out the nose, then wrap his eager lips around the glass as he confidently wets them with the pink nectar.

Anyways, *ahem*, his sheer excitement was quite refreshing for these tired eyes so we grabbed a glass to join in. Wow. The nose had a strawberry/watermelony whiff. Not sweet like a jolly rancher but a bright fruit forward flavor, creamy body, balanced by a mineral dryness. We took a sip, then looked at each other. It’s good. Really good. Wait, it’s on sale for $5? It’s stupid good!

Now, we are counting down the days for Solo Vino’s Rosé Tent Tasting May 19th. Perhaps you think our standards for Rosé are low due to anticipation, but I don’t think so. I think this is some damn good French juice, so at this price, I had no choice but to stock up. If you’re at all on the fence about Rosé, pick this bottle up and give it a try, a $5 non-gamble that will have you sucking down bottle after bottle. So, if we can’t have Springtime physically, we can at the very least, have it mentally. This Elicio Rosé will help get you there, at least until the real thing arrives.

Birichino Grenache

Cost: Average price $20

Where buy now: Sunfish Cellars & Zipp’s Liquors

Grapes: Grenache

Region: California

Vintage: 2010

Birichino Grenache

Grenache lovers: unite!

I’ve found my favorite American Grenache in this bottle of Birichino. [biri-kino]

I first had this at Sunfish Cellars by the glass ($4/glass!). It’s a wine that haunts you, though not in a “Poltergeist” sort of way. You can’t get it out of your head. Yes, this is a wine you’re going to love instantly.

When I saw it was from California, I assumed this was going to be very alcoholic, ripe with sweet cherry flavors- indicitive of “New World” wine making. Man, was I taken aback when I tasted it! This wine tastes far more “Old World” to me. “Old World”, “New World”?  What is THAT you’re saying? Is that anything like “Red Fish, Blue Fish”?

I shan’t assume we all know what that means. “Old World” refers to wines made in Europe. “New World” refers to wines made in, well, NOT Europe. North or South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. . .basically, anywhere that is not Europe [who ever said wine making wasn’t Eurocentric?].  Wine Folly does a great job of breaking it down for you: http://winefolly.com/review/new-world-vs-old-world-wine//Old World vs. New World

This Birichino Grenache gives great, bright cherry scents right off the bat. The flavors of that bright cherry and strawberry explode on your tongue along with some herbal hints. This Grenache evokes layers of spice and smoke with a soft tang; not acidic but more in a way that tea evokes layers of flavor. While subtle, it’s well enough to know it’s there.

I’ve seen Birichino Grenache for around $20, maybe a couple bucks less if it’s on sale.  If you are a lover of Grenache, though, don’t even hesitate to plunk down the money for this bottle. Pick it up at Sunfish Cellars or Zipp’s and let me know how much you love me for introducing you to this wine!