Wine
Barry Smith
Grenache with panache
I’ve never really liked Grenache. Wines made from this grape typically combine a sweetly floral aroma with a juicy tartness that is just on the edge for me. Nothing seems to bridge the heady aroma and the crunchy strawberry fruit. But then I discovered what could be done with this variety. After recent tastings in McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, I now believe that it could be Australia’s best grape. There, good winemakers find something in Grenache that just doesn’t seem to show in any other part of the world.