Birichino Grenache Old Vines Vignes Centenaires Besson Vineyard 2023 750ml

From vines planted in 1910 and fermented in a combination of puncheon and barrique, the 2023 Grenache Besson Vineyard Old Vines is an unusually high-toned, perfumed and expressive version of the varietal, opening with an enticing mix of red fruits, fresh flowers, curry leaf and bay laurel aromas. The palate is both lithe and lifted yet staining and saturated, transitioning into a glacial, intense finish propelled by grainless yet intensely grippy tannins. This is a fantastic expression of California Grenache that should perform well beyond its first decade.

• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Santa Cruz County
• Sub Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Grenache

The purple skinned grapes of the Grenache varietal have quickly become one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, flourishing in several countries which have the correct conditions in which they can grow to ripeness. They thrive anywhere with a dry, hot climate, such as that found in central Spain and other such arid areas, and produce delightfully light bodied wines full of spicy flavors and notes of dark berries. Their robustness and relative vigor has led them being a favorite grape varietal for wineries all over the world, and whilst it isn’t uncommon to see bottles made from this varietal alone, they are also regularly used as a blending grape due to their high sugar content and ability to produce wines containing a relatively high level of alcohol.