Wine

Finding a Reasonable Grenache: It’s a B*tch!

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The "intriguing" B*tch wine packaging photographed next to Travertine's custom Pink Swarovski Resort T

The “intriguing” B*tch wine packaging photographed next to Travertine’s custom Pink Swarovski Resort T

It has been said that its not easy to find a good Grenache wine. Why you ask? Some vintners have written that they find it very difficult to grow the grape. From what I have read of the Grenache grape, its known to resist heat and is only able to tolerate a limited amount of rain. This explains why it can be temperamental. Having said all of that…I recently discovered a very delicious and reasonably priced Grenache that I want to share with my blog readers. Because of the painstaking process of growing this wine, its called…..wait for it:B*tch. Yes, pretty funny huh? I stumbled upon this little gem over the weekend while looking for a good wine to take to my friend Lynn’s dinner party. We all love going over to Lynn’s because the food is simply incredible and she really invests alot of time & love in its preparation. To reciprocate the kindness of the invitation, I wanted to get several bottles of good wine, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune:) This is my recessionista credo, “good wines for less.”

And that’s how I discovered B*tch wine. At first, I thought it was a joke display at the Wineworks for Everyone store. The label looks almost like a novelty bottle, something that is not supposed to be good, but rather a joke. But I was drawn in by the label and the packaging, so I had to ask the store owner about it. She assured me that is was absolutely delicious. I was told it was the most amazing wine in the store for the price….of…$9.97! I was hooked, I had to try it. AND it IS good! The wine has a lovely berry aroma with a spicy finish. It coats the glass nicely. And don’t just take my word for it, B*tch received 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “B*tch Grenache is sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines from the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa. With the price of Cotes du Rhone soaring due to the weak dollar, I am hard pressed to think of a better value in full-flavored Grenache. …. Supple, sweet, and tasty, this wine totally over-delivers for its humble price and is an exceptional value.” I couldn’t agree more. If you’re looking to buy the B*tch, here’s a listing of retailers and prices. B*tch can also be purchased at The Wine House in Los Angeles, CA. B*tch is a product of the Barossa Valley, in South Australia.

If Grenache isn’t to your liking here are a couple of other great wines I tried recently for great prices:

Greg Norman Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, a very robust Pinot reasonably priced at $14.99. This wine has lots of strawberry & berry flavors plus, a hint of chocolate.

Clay Station Old Vine Zinfandel 2004 This one may be the deal of the century. Its currently $5.99 at Trader Joe’s in California, check their website for other states carrying it. This is a great table wine with hints of cranberry, and some even say carmel.

NOTE: After receiving a few comments on the name of the wine, the name has been changed to protect the innocent. Please refer to the label for a name reference 🙂

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Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.

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