Eaglepoint Ranch Winery

Alert, Grenache lovers. You probably know by now that Eaglepoint Ranch in Mendocino County produces varietal Grenache annually, and that the wine is generally a good value. You may not know that the guy in charge of the high-elevation vineyard is a partner in the winery of the same name, and that he’s also selling fruit to a bunch of very demanding winemakers such as Sean Thackery, Wells Guthrie, and the guys at Rosenblum Cellars. So he’s getting constant reminders about how good the wine is supposed to be from the vineyard.

This wine shows the influence in a very good way. The Grenache flavors you want are all there: strawberry, rhubarb, red plums, light Dutch milk chocolate and some savory spices. But the oak treatment is getting smoother and the touch of dry earth underneath is just what a country-lovin’ grape like Grenache should have. In your mouth it’s surprisingly sweet and sappy, and there’s plenty of California energy in the toasted wood and chunky texture. I would definitely air it out for current drinking, or let it settle down for a year or two in the bottle.

Reviewed April 20, 2007 by Thom Elkjer.