Always in the running for one of the top Grenache outside of the South of France, the 2017 Grenache God Only Knows reveals a medium ruby/purple hue as well as a gorgeous nose of framboise, wild strawberries, sweet mulch, sappy flowers, ground pepper, and liquid violets. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, Burgundian Grenache that has a great mid-palate, an opulent, powerful yet ethereal mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a solid spine of acidity. It’s the finest vintage I’ve tasted of this cuvée, blending remarkable intensity with a sense of elegance and purity that’s something to behold. Give bottles another year or three and enjoy over the following decade. The 2017s from Christophe Baron show the more elegant, balanced style of the vintage nicely while still showing plenty of depth and concentration. These are singular, gorgeous wines that could come from nowhere else.

The 2017 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard displays a beautiful ruby color and offers up from aromas of wild raspberry and smoked cherry with an underlying savory tone of rosemary and lavender bushes after a dust storm. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is supple and ripe with a polished shine to the mid-palate, showing a balanced structure that is floral and lifted with a high-toned red fruit sensation. Showing fine-grained tannins, aligned with a soft umami character, the long-lingering finish delivers pleasure for more than a minute. The 2017 is showing beautifully now and is approachable in youth but has the propensity to age for a decade or more. Only 554 cases were produced.