Gamay - Made famous by Beaujolais, Gamay’s happy, quaffable appeal is
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due less to fruitiness than just a lower balance of wine’s sourer acidities.
Evening Land ($35 - eveninglandvineyards.com) makes a serious version
from Oregon and Arnot-Roberts of El Dorado County, California ($32
- arnot-roberts.com) reflects its French antecedents more closely, but
both elevate sage-roasted chicken and garlicky green beans without the
slightest presumption.
Grenache - The darling of somms and food-lovers, Grenache (Garnacha in Spain) carries the spicy intensity
of Syrah with the complex drinkability of Pinot Noir. Two of the West Coast’s outstanding examples are
made by Kerloo Snipes Mountain ($32 - kerloocellars.com) and
Elephant Seven “Yellow Bird Vineyard” in Walla Walla ($30 - elephantsevenwine.com) but there are many
good ones to go with that cheese plate, charcuterie board or slow-fired, dry-rubbed pork ribs.
ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE