Aussie cult winemaker Chris Ringland has escaped from Australia and he has created a Spanish version of Bitch Grenache. The Bitch has been on a hiatus of sorts for the past few vintages. She (I presume it’s a she) was one of the Australian labels underneath the Grateful Palate umbrella that went into bankruptcy last year.
Well, fans of the Bitch will be pleased to know that she’s back…and she’s switched her Australian accent for a Spanish one!
Chris Ringland’s Notes on the 2009 Bitch Grenache:
"I blended Bitch Grenache Aragon 2009 from a selection of un-oaked Grenache wines from various sub-regions of Aragon and Navarra, around the Southern regions of the Ebro river valley. The climate is typical of inland Northern Spain; continental with very cold winters and hot, dry summers. Grape yields are typically low and this, combined with a historical selection of small-berried, deeply colored clones, produces wines of a more "masculine" expression of the variety. Dark cherry and raspberry aromas are underpinned with spicy, peppery notes with hints of anise. Aragon Grenache displays extraordinary natural acid balance, even at elevated ripeness levels. I have selected wines, which convey vibrant, juicy fruit together with a very soft, sweet-fruited palate structure.”
Availability of this wine is still fairly recent, so it may be a little time before you see it for sale on retailer’s shelves.
