Andrew Murray Vineyards Terra Bella Grenache – A Sold Out Saturday Splurge

97% Grenache Noir and 3% Syrah from Paso Robles, California.

SRP of $30 but the current vintage is sold out. Sample received courtesy Andrew Murray Vineyards for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“The 2009 Grenache is once again exclusively from the Terra Bella Vineyard (TBV) on the west side of the Paso Robles appellation. Grenache ranks at (or very near) the top of my favorite variety to drink and to craft into wine. I love Grenache from all over the world…Spain, Australia, France, and of course, west side Paso Robles, CA. To me, this is just about the best Grenache that we have EVER bottled…yes, even better than the critically acclaimed 2008, if only because the alcohol shows a bit more restraint in this wine. The aromas and flavors are full bodied and lingering with lots of ripe strawberries, kirsch, and floral notes mixed with some great spicy notes of pepper and vanilla from the oak aging. In the mouth the wine is perceived as having a sense of sweetness, but this is due to the rich, glycerol containing mouthfeel that leads to a nearly never-ending finish. Enough with the hyperbole already…I am really proud of this wine and production was down a bit this year. The 2008 Vintage sold out in record time. I guess that Grenache is finally starting to catch on. I suggest you get some before it is all gone!

15.8% Alcohol”

You may be wondering why I would review a wine that is already sold out and the reason is simply that this wine so good that you need to be ready for next year’s vintage! And with only around 150 cases produced, you’ll need to be quick to get in on this one when it is released in December. It also gives you another reason to check out all the amazing wines from Andrew Murray Vineyards, such as:

• The Tous Les Jours Syrah: A Simply Stunning Bulk Buy!
• The Watch Hill Syrah: A Truly Worthy Wine For A Saturday Splurge.
• The Esperance: A Big, Rich and Fruity Saturday Splurge. (Review of the new 2009 vintage coming soon.)
• And next Saturday, a review of the 100% Syrah from this same Terra Bella Vineyard.

The 2009 Andrew Murray Vineyards Terra Bella Grenache begins with a complex and enticing aroma of raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, pepper and vanilla. The wine tastes of delicious dark berry, licorice and my favorite part: lots of dense, tasty spice. Add to that a great mouthfeel and a rich, silky texture and we’ve got a winner. And while it clocks in at 15.8% alcohol, you would never know it when tasting the wine. It ends with a long, dry and delicious finish. Exactly what you want for a…

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.