15 Feb Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Clementine Carter 2020 Grenache West End, Santa Barbara County

Grenache is a versatile wine that can be paired with a variety foods. A wine that is typically characterized as fruity, with moderate acidity and low tannins, Grenache is made in a variety of styles and the flavor profile of Grenache wine will vary depending on where it is grown and how it is made. I love a Grenache with both floral and earthy aromas as I find that it is a food-friendly wine. So, when I grilled some salmon, I opened the Clementine Carter 2020 Grenache West End from Santa Barbara County. The acidity cut through the fat of the salmon, the tannins were moderate enough to match the salmon, and the fruitiness of the wine was accentuated. This is why the Clementine Carter 2020 Grenache West End, Santa Barbara County is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Clementine Carter

Clementine Carter is one of the labels produced by winemaker Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz. Sonja created Casa Dumetz in 2008 and today has three labels: the Casa Dumetz label is for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; the Clementine Carter label is for Rhone varieties; The Feminist Party label is for the GSM blend. The name Clementine Carter is inspired by the movie My Darling Clementine which Sonja watched with her father. While the focus is on Rhone grapes, Grenache takes center stage. Sonja describes it as a “crazy challenging grape to farm” due to its big clusters, big berries, and thick skins. The key is nuance and that is what Sonja has found.

Tasting Notes

Sonja sources grapes from 12 organically farmed vineyards in Santa Barbara County and has worked with almost every Grenache vineyard in Santa Barbara County. For the Clementine Carter 2020 Grenache West End, the head-trained Spanish clone of Garnacha Tinta is sourced from the Christy & Wise Vineyard located on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. The grapes are 100% whole cluster fermented and aged in neutral barrel. This cool-climate Grenache balances both red fruit and earth. Blackberry, raspberry, rose petals, mushroom, and spice aromas on the nose. On the palate, the wine is bright and focused with a play between tartness and juiciness. This wine is a beautiful and pure expression of Grenache.

Food pairing

I loved this Grenache with grilled salmon but it would also pair with lamb, pork, and roasted root vegetables.

Where to purchase

The Clementine Carter 2020 Grenache West End, Santa Barbara County retails for $49 and is available, along with other wines, on the Clementine Carter website.