We had four flights with four bottles in each flight. The results were VERY surprising!!!

The entire evening was a complete BLIND tasting. We knew nothing about vintage or where the wine was produced.

Flight #1
1.) 1998 Byrd Cooper Napa Valley - nose: oak and beef jerky; palette: fuity, strawberry.
2.) 1995 d'Arenberg Custodian - nose: oxidized, port smell; palette tobacco.
3.) 2000 Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf de Pape - nose: huge butterscotch aroma; palette: tight and sharp. Too young.
4.) 2001 Qupe Santa Ynez Valley Purisima Mt. Vineyard - nose: closed; palette: tart, very young.

My choice in this first flight was #3.

Flight #2
1.) 2000 The Fifteen - nose: oaky and a hint of licorice; palette: fruity, with that same hint of licorice.
2.) 1999 d'Arenberg Custodian - nose: wildly complexe nose, lots of stuff happening; palette - very well balanced in the mouth, mild tannins, lots of fruit.
3.) 2001 Dehesa Gago - PLONK!!! Nothing good to say here...
4.) 1999 Philip Staley Russian River Valley - nose: rather flat and unexciting; palette: slight hint of strawberry.

My choice in Flight 2 was #2.

Flight #3
1.) 2000 Vina Borgia - nose: smelled exactly like a port; palette: bland, no connection between the nose and palette. Blah.
2.) 2000 Cedarville Vineyards - nose: fruity, slightly tight; palette: fruity, but still a little tart.
3.) 2000 Oliverhill Winery Bradey Block - nose: cranberry/cherry, then olives; palette: well balanced, smooth, fruity.
4.) 2000 T Vine Napa Valley - nose: soft and fruity; palette: well balanced.

My choice in Flight 3 was #3.

Flight #4
1.) 1996 d'Arenberg Custodian - the only note I have for this is Sweet-Tarts.
2.) 2000 Boeger - nose: sweet, carmel; palette: fruity, well balanced, soft.
3.) 1999 Guigal Chateauneuf de Pape (WS WOTY) - nose: fruity; palette: tight and sharp, little balance, tannins.
4.) 2000 Alban Vineyard Edna Valley - the only note I have for this is BURNED RUBBER!

My choice in Flight 4 was #2.

The 2000 Boeger Grenache was the Wine of the Night at this tasting BEATING OUT by a LARGE margin the WS WOTY!!! I think someone said the Guigal tied for 12th place!!!

I'm still in due to the fact that I brought the Boeger...

That's a lot of wine. Who attended (that we know)?

WineBrat, Zinner, (from the WS board...not sure he is registered here) Stealthman_1 and myself. There were about 16 people there I think. WineBrat could tell you if anyone else there is registered here or not.

[edited for sheer STUPIDITY!]

winebrat hosted, correct? Like we talked about, I prefer the Grenaches in a Blend. Not too crazy about 100%-based Grenache-wines. How about you?

Yes, WB was the host. You know, after having wines that were 100% Grenache, I kind of liked them. Definitely different. Soft and fruity. Actually not a bad wine to start someone new to wine out on. But, I will say this: be choosey about the one you decide to try or recommend. Some of the ones we had last night were quite young and quite tart and loaded with tannin. Sometimes worse than Cabs when opened too young. My advice, have a Grenache tasting to find ones that suit your palette. You should find some...

I only sat right across from you Brent!!! I see where I rate .
I agree with you LCC, I prefer the blends as well, the wine can be pretty austere with out a little syrah or mourvedre to tame it. My notes basically mirrored Brent's, we had the same #1 in 3 of the 4 flights with me liking the Guigal slightly better than the Boeger due to its cigar box notes though I certainly liked the Boeger, my WOTN was Chateau de La Gardine which needs some time, obviously I have a preference for the Chateauneufs. I liked the '99 Custodian quite well also. The '00 T-Vine showed well, just a little much American oak at this time, but that should settle, this was one of the best balanced wines of the setting. The Dehesa Gago (burnt oak and roofing tar) was just nasty (no matter what grape it is) and the Alban was truly horrific, like a tire recylcing center on fire. It's color was more like Petite Syrah than anything else. My other disappointment was the Cedarville which I had as tart and poopy. Great night of good people and interesting wines, thanks Winebrat and Enotria for having us.

We had 1 of our own (here is NJ) a month ago or so. And, it confirmed my earlier thoughts that I can't say that it is my fav, but as a Blend (I like it).

Rayas is 100% Grenache and while that is unusual it definitely works for me.

Stealthman_1: DOH!!! I could SWEAR I added your name to the list, because I sat here remembering sitting right across from you...Sorry! I fixed it.

It is one of the best in the world. I am fan of Greenock Creek as well. Clarendon Hills makes some great all Grenache wines.

Agree on the Clarendon Hills. The local shop had a Clarendon Hills tasting a couple months ago. Their higher-end bottlings (names escape me) were pricey, however.

Clarendon Hills Astralis. Always gets big Parker scores, and not surprisingly costs a bundle. Personally I find it out of balance and have never bought it. Oh yes, and a bizarre label, too.

If I'm not mistaken the Astralis is a Shiraz, not a Grenache...