Heitz Cellars Grignolino 2009

Medium dark, clear red color. Very interesting on the nose--get this citrus, also strawberries. Quite subtle on the palate--still getting the strawberry thing, but it is not overwhelming. The wine is quite light-bodied (for a red) Nice acid, very little tannin. Very mellow finish. $15.99 at Total WInes.

I enjoyed sipping on this at a backyard soiree recently. It's very seductive with a fragrant jasmine aroma in the nose and sun kissed strawberries in the mouth, finishing with a tickle of black pepper.

Bright garnet hue with pink rim, aromas of strawberries, rose petals and cherries, a slight frizzate in the mouth makes me think of grape soda.

90 points. In the glass, this wine is a pure red color with purple edges with a light viscosity. The aroma offers tons of complexity, with a deep floral core, ripe red fruits, and a slightly woodsy undertone. The nose almost reminds me of a Black Muscat, AKA Black Hamburg, which is typically made into a dessert wine, although this wine is totally dry. There is also a strong blood orange tone that seems to foreshadow the citrusy components on the palate. At first sip, this wine just explodes with blood orange, black plum, and really intense, exotic floral components. I pick up on some pomegranate and cranberry, as well as some cardamom and clove on the mid palate, and the finish is completely about flowers. What I really love about this wine, in addition to its complexity, is its awesome acidity. Its fresh and bright, with this really nice, juicy citrus quality. This wine is very well balanced, with powdery, firm tannins. I love this wine. Enough said. It’s totally unique, extremely well made, and selling for a price that is absolutely ridiculous. If you find this in the store, don’t stop, don’t think, just buy and enjoy. Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post#8: Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Grignolino (http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/04/30/ )

My first taste of this rare variety. I loved it! The wine is much darker than the Piedmont standards. There is nice fruity aroma, with a formal, tweedy character, like California Mourvedres. The flavor is volatile, excellent and matches the aromas. There is strawberry, raspberry, cherry, with floral notes. The acidity shows, as the taste is tangy, almost spritzy-feeling. You can feel it in your throat as you swallow. The best thing of all is you know you are tasting a unique, quite different variety. It is nothing like the normal market fare. I definitely intend to reorder. I'm surprised this varietal hasn't become more widely grown in California. It doesn't deserve to be so hard to get.

Balanced acidity. Red color. Good mouthfeel, light brandy flavor.