Shiraz

[Farmalance]

Hi again
I am manfully drinking my way through copious amounts of red wine in an attempt to distinguish on from another. It's a bugger of a task, but I'm sticking to it.
Tonight I had a crack at a bottle of Jacobs Creek Grenache Shiraz 2003. Does the Grenache have a significance? It also had a very light 'fizz' to the tongue - is that the nature of the Shiraz?
I have also figured that the 'heavier' reds are the Burgandys moving through the Cab Sav towards Pinot Noir and onto the lighter Shiraz and Merlot. Am I on the right line or is my mission interfering with my judgement???
Cheers
Lance

[Innkeeper]

Grenache is frequently used to soften other grapes in wine such as shiraz. When the name comes first as in this case, the grenache is primary. Unless they come from special grapes in a special place, which the Jacob's Creek does not, the wine will be quite soft. The fizz could come from secondary fermatation due to sloppy winemaking.

Burgundy is made from pinot noir. Though it can be a huge wine, everyday pinot is much softer than cabernet. Although there are exceptions everywhere I would line them up this way: Cabernet, shiraz/syrah, merlot, pinot noir.

[Farmalance]

Thanks Innkeeper for your response. I guess I am sort of getting my ducks lined up!
Can you explain to me the what the granache is -grape, additive etc?
Cheers
lance

[Innkeeper]

Grenache is a grape grown primarily in Southern France, Spain, California, and Australia.

[Thomas]

...and southern Italy, North Africa, Lebanon, Israel and maybe Greenland for that matter!

[Innkeeper]

But not in the Finger Lakes.

[Farmalance]

Excellent - thanks.... sooo does the winemaker then, knowing how each grape variety tastes and reacts with other varieties, blend to achieve a special affect/taste? Is that the skill?
Cheers
Lance

[wineguruchgo]

You are correct. Most winemakers check each wine before blending so he/she knows what proportions to use to get the wine he/she wants.

[Innkeeper]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In the lower price blends such as the Jacob's Creek, bulk grapes are sourced from many places. The different varieties of grapes are then blended in the same proportions year in year out. Jump up to the next price point ($10-$20), and you find more care in the blending. Last night I posted on an Australian blend that had the proportions change significantly from one year to the next: http://wines.com/ubb2/Forum14/HTML/000084.html