I have limited experience of Grenache Blanc, I admit. But most of that experience has been good. Here are a couple of Spanish examples that continue that theme. They’re both delicious, and they are not fiercely expensive. What has your experience of Grenache Blanc been like?
La Miranda de Secastilla Garnacha Blanca 2010 Somontano, Spain
Made by Viñas del Vero. High altitude vines, French oak, 14% alcohol. Beautifully expressive: bright, crisp and a bit mineral with some grapefruit freshness as well as lively pear and white peach fruit. There’s subtle, well-judged spicy oak, too. Very fine and expressive. 92/100 (£10.99 Maison don Felipe, Bottleneck, Flagship Wines, Ken Sheather, Thos Peatling, Salisbury Wine, Alfred the Grape, Beaconsfield Wine Cellars, Wattisfield Wines, Oxford Wine Co, Cambridge Wines, Whalley Wine Shop, Amps Fine Wines, Ocado) 04/12
Herencia Altés Benufet Garnaxta Blanca 2010 Terra Alta, Spain
12.5% alcohol. From a vineyard planted in 1915, in Terra Alta in the southeastern corner of Catalonia. Taut, fresh and fine with sweet melon and crisp citrus fruit. Nicely poised and light on its feet, this is precise and rather mineral. Almost Riesling like in its weight and character. 91/100 (UK agent Liberty Wines)
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4 Comments on Grenache Blanc is underrated – two good Spanish examples
Good to read that Viñas del Vero have a white Garnacha to go with the Secastilla red Garnacha.
I went to this great little wine fair in a wine shop in Falset. There were loads of wines containing Garnaxta blanca from across Southern Catalunya. It was a few years ago, but I seem to remember being impressed. As I recall they seemed to have good weight (some a bit too heavy perhaps), good mouthfeel, some mineral notes and a heady perfume, bit like a Viognier. I’ve never seen it outside of this region.
Some good examples up in Emporda, from Vinyes dels Aspres for example.
I lurrrrrve Grenache Blanc.
Had a really good example in (and from) Collioure, just across the border in Mediterranean France. We had it in a good restaurant, and it had some bottle age (2004), and it had the real oiliness of a white Rhone. It was heavy with alcohol (15%), but worked well with the fish based menu