If you didn’t realize that Grenache is one of my favorite grapes, you will by the time you’re finished with this month’s shipment. You’ll either agree with me, or cancel your subscription by the time you’re done!  I really didn’t mean to send you this much Grenache this month, but I accidentally put together a really cool comparison of VERY different styles of Grenache for you this week. This is the first of three, from wildly different places. The other two are the Argiolas Costera (Cannonau and Grenache are the same) and the Comerç Garnacha (Garnacha and Grenache are also the same).

Trevor Jones has been making wine in Autralia since 1977, and he makes the Trevor Jones wines at the Kellermeister Winery, where he has been involved in the winemaking since the 1980’s. His specialty is old vine Grenache and Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. This wine comes from 64 year old, head trained Grenache from the Silverfox Vineyard in Barossa Valley.

He calls this a light, easy drinking style of Grenache, yet the vines yield a miniscule two tons per acre, it is aged for 20 months in French & American Oak, and fermented in a submerged cap fermenter to increase extraction. Oh yeah, and it comes in at 14.5% alcohol . . . it’s definitely not Beaujolais, but compared to some of his Barossa compatriots, perhaps it’s a little more restrained!

Drink this with barbecue ribs, or better yet, pulled pork sandwiches. Try it with salmon that has a sweet glaze or sauce. Drink now – 2010.