2015 Booker Grenache Ones

Coming from a single barrel of 100% Grenache, the 2015 Grenache Ones reminds me of Clos Saint Jean’s Combe des Fous cuvée from Chateauneuf du Pape. Kirsch liqueur, toasted spices, cured meats, herbes de Provence and hints of licorice give way to a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich, textured Grenache that that has a stacked mid-palate, sweet tannin and a great finish. Drink this sensational 2015 over the coming decade. It’s unquestionably one of the wines of this challenging vintage, and one of the few that will compete with the best of the 2014s and 2013s. One of the leaders of the Paso wine scene is undoubtedly Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyard (I’ve affectionately called this group the motley crew before). Jensen and his wife Lisa purchased these 72 acres in 2001, with their wines released in 2005. Since then, the wines have evolved from uber rich and forward, to today where they’re more polished, complete and structured. Looking at his 2015s, which Jensen compared to his 2010 and 2013s, they show the more elegant style of the vintage, yet pack plenty of fruit and texture. His 2016s are certainly bigger wines, yet have plenty of tannin and a focused style on the palate which I suspect will benefit from short term cellaring. In addition to his Rhône variety releases and blends, it’s worth pointing out the quality coming from his Cabernet Sauvignons as well. These are seriously good wines!