Borsao Garnacha

[stevebody]

Ah, Jeez...a man after me own heart! It's one of the minor miracles of modern winemaking that the Pyrenees Mountains not only separate France from Spain but separate an entire nation trying to rein in the warmth, pizazz, and sheer exuberance of Grenache from one in which even cheap bottles of the stuff will absolutely roll your sox down. The Borsao, Vina Alarba, Vina Borgia, the splendid and oddball Alma - all of these offer up the full range of old vine Garnacha (Grenache) in the way God and Mother Nature intended. The closest French bottling I've ever come across was the Domaine de la Janasse "Le Chaupin" Chateauneuf du Pape, 100 %Grenache and almost (gasp!) unrestrained. At $35 a bottle, though, I'd pass it up in a hot minute for any of the aforementioned Spaniards, all of which hover around Ten Bills. There are a few more that I can't recall, here at 1 a.m., but the Spanish seem to have a particular fondness for the grape and a real knack for vinifying it. I can heartily second the Borsao tip and recommend that anyone laboring under the impression that Spain is fixated on Tempranillo (okay, they are a little bit) seek out what they've done with French varietals. As a bargain Cabernet, the Rene Barbier (Yeah, that guy) Special Seleccion Long Maceration Cab, for around $12, is damned near unbeatable. And the Vega Sindoa Table Red (Tempranillo and Merlot) may just be the best cheap wine in the world. Thanks for bringing up the Borsao! God love a man who loves a bargain!