Tasting Note

                 Sydney Time

           Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008

d'Arenberg 2006 Custodian Grenache SASep2007 is sealed under screwcap and is due for release in December 2007. The nose is tight; it's not showing much except mineral characters with white pepper emerging. It needs time in the glass to open up. Now this is a serious Grenache. The juicy fruit on the uptake is off-set with clean, crisp acid and a respectable length is provided by the persistent tannins. Red cherry, milk chocolate and blue berry flavours move into a ripe, sappy finish. The complexity is both harmonious and agreeable, and the consistency is supple. A sensational wine for the price and a great food wine to boot, this is one of the best Grenache buys available and it's rated as Recommended with **** for value, but the rating is bound to increase as the wine matures around 2010 and beyond.