Grenache Paso Robles Westside 2017 PharaohMoans

Tasting Note Grenache Paso Robles Westside 2017

Sweet red berry aromas sit atop a core of savory, spicy flavors, a hallmark of Grenache grown in warm regions. It possesses both richness and elegance, a combination that is particularly difficult to achieve. In the glass, it displays a medium ruby color and only semi-opaque; with an alcohol content of 15%, the PharaohMoans Grenache Paso Robles Westside 2017 carries its weight well without any burning sensation. Along with subtle tannins, the fruit tastes fresh and vibrant rather than overly ripe.

Grape Varieties

100% Grenache delivers a full-bodied profile, offering sweetness derived more from its high alcohol content and glycerol than from sugar. This variety thrives in hot, dry vineyards and is highly drought-tolerant. It is characterized by raspberry and spicy berry flavors; the grapes from the western Paso Robles vineyards are well-ripened without feeling overripe.

Cellaring Potential

It is the harmony between richness and elegance that creates the enduring appeal of this Grenache; both elements blend perfectly, allowing the wine to remain in excellent condition well over a decade after the vintage. Serve at 16-18°C. At higher temperatures, the alcohol notes begin to overpower the fruit aromas.

About PharaohMoans

PharaohMoans is a small Paso Robles winery with a unique name and a clear business scope; it bottles the two Rhône varieties, Grenache and Syrah, separately rather than blending them, releasing them under the Paso Robles Westside label.

John Schwartz, the founder of Amuse Bouche, established this winery in collaboration with Chef Bryan Ogden, and the winemaking is overseen by Guillaume Fabre, a French winemaker who graduated from Lycée Charlemagne in Carcassonne in 2001 and has been working in Paso Robles since 2006. Fabre applies French winemaking methods to grapes from California. With the Grenache, partial whole-cluster fermentation (approximately 30% of the bunches are fermented with their stems) takes place, and both wines are made with an emphasis on aroma and texture rather than simple extraction. Production volumes are low, so the number of bottles varies from year to year. Very few wineries operate on this scale.

Terroir & Climate

The Paso Robles region tends to be warm, and northern San Luis Obispo County might have been too hot for the aromatic Grenache variety. were it not for the geographical feature known as Templeton Gap, a gap in the coastal mountain range. Cool Pacific air flows through this gap. The daytime heat ripens the fruit, while nighttime temperatures drop sharply; it is precisely this temperature difference that fully preserves the acidity and aroma. PharaohMoans is located in the western region closest to this gap.

Winemaking

Most Paso Robles Grenache is blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre to create GSM. In this blend, the black pepper notes of Syrah tend to stand out. Bottling Grenache straight, as PharaohMoans does with the Grenache Paso Robles Westside, leaves the variety's raspberry perfume and softer frame exposed. While it offers little buffering effect and carries significant risk, it allows for a clearer understanding of the vineyard's characteristics.

Food Pairing

Since the appeal of this wine lies in its spice notes, incorporating these spices into your cooking pairs better than avoiding them altogether. Recommended pairings:

• Grilled lamb chops with rosemary: The fat softens the delicate tannins
• Duck paired with cherries
• Harissa-rubbed pork shoulder
• Mushroom with farro: Its rich earthy notes complement the wine's savory character