While Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier are the best known of the white Rhône varietals and steal most of the attention, Grenache Blanc is a hidden gem that is love at first sip. It is the white-skinned form of the Grenache grape and is an important variety in the south of France, especially the Languedoc and Roussillon areas. In California, however, there are only about 300 acres planted. Happily, we are the proud farmers of 1.98 of them, yay us! Grenache Blanc produces a rich wine with tremendous body and crisp acidity. Our 2020 vintage emphasizes the variety’s fruit-infused aromatics — yellow apple, citrus, quince, and pear with hints of green melon. The palate is medium-bodied and structured with a lingering bright fruit finish, thanks to the wine’s natural viscosity and ample, crisp acidity.
Vineyard
The grapes were exclusively handpicked from our San Lucas Vineyard. Grenache Blanc is a large-clustered grape, requiring multiple cluster thinning passes throughout the growing season to ensure optimal ripeness and flavor development. Our 1.98-acre block at our estate San Lucas Vineyard, is a perfect little spot for this variety, with warm days to ripen and bring out the rich fruit flavors and cool nights to maintain acid levels.
Vintage
The 2020 growing season unfolded with a gentle winter followed by spring rains and moderate temperatures. Lovely 85°F days and cool 55°F evenings allowed for even ripening of the grapes. Warmer late-season temperatures had our grapes ready to pick slightly earlier than normal, with our first grapes being harvested in mid-August. This proved to be a blessing because in late August, electrical storms sparked numerous fires that burned throughout Monterey County. Fortunately, fruit from our vineyards closest to the fires had already been picked and the strong winds off Monterey Bay dispersed the smoke and kept it from settling over our vines. In a year marked by challenge and change, we believe our 2020 vintage wines are a bright spot.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested in the early morning hours. A small percentage of the fruit was crushed and fermented on the skins for increased aromatics and mouthfeel. The rest of the grapes were pressed, and the juice was cold settled, then racked and slowly fermented cool in stainless steel tanks to enhance the varietal character of this wine. After aging in stainless steel for three months, the final blend was put together, then heat and cold stabilized just prior to bottling.
At Scheid Family Wines, our mission is bringing people together to enjoy and savor life. We produce a beverage that has been around since before the written word, a product that ends up on dinner tables, enjoyed with family and friends, an enhancement to life’s best moments.
A family-owned and operated wine company for over 50 years, is ranked among the top 25 largest wine producers in the United States. Based in Monterey County, California, Scheid is vertically integrated to bring high-quality estate-grown wines to the marketplace from its sustainably and organically certified vineyards, and grower partners throughout the Central Coast.
Pleasantly aromatic. Stone fruit and something tropical and musky, with a vaguely smokey note rounding it out (like sweet wood chips on a smoker from afar, not like smoke taint!). Slightly effervescent. Round middle. Decently long finish. I did not find it as crisp as indicated, though it was fairly balanced. I got a pH reading of 3.42.
It’s holding up very well for a 2020, I wouldn’t have pegged it as having that long in the bottle. It is full of deep fruit that outlived the yeast esters and gives it some heft.
Would pair very well with a meal. I had mine with chicken catalan, but I think it cries out for a fish of some kind.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2020 Scheid Vineyards Grenache Blanc - $40 = 24.23%
@kainc@rjquillin I don’t know if this is still the case, but wines above and below 14% alcohol were different categories for the government, so even though there’s leeway of 1.5% below 14% and 1% above it, you’re not allowed to cross that 14% boundary. That’s why many table wines are labelled at 12.5% or some even just say 11-14% alcohol.
@klezman@rjquillin if I knew there was a tiering to the allowance, I certainly forgot. In any case, given the limited occurrences I see Grenache Blanc, I pulled the trigger. Rumors are that summer is comIng.
This just came this afternoon for me so bear with me folks.
Scheid 2020 Grenache Blanc
Stelvin closure, no cork.
Color- light yellow, no legs
Nose- floral/melon
Sip-bright, light, crisp, Pleasant tingling on finish, can get harsh the closer you get to 60 degrees. ABV on the bottle says 12.5%. Serve it at least 55 or under.
Not getting any brioche or vanilla notes in this one, it’s more citrus/green apple.
Nice summer sipper. Would probably do well with fatty foods as the acid will shine through. Didn’t have time to cook as the wine just showed up a few hours ago. Vintage is 2020, I would guess this is ‘drink now’ territory, but it’s still plenty lively.
@luseruser If you’re referring to PA not being on the ship-to state list, it’s a licensing issue. The producer needs a license for each state. If they don’t have a license, they can’t sell it there. It has nothing to do with the grapes being used.
2020 Scheid Vineyards Grenache Blanc
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $336/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 28 - Tuesday, Apr 29
2020 Scheid Vineyards Grenache Blanc
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $124.99 $10.42/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Wait, they actually sell wine under their own name??
@klezman I was going to ask if this was another Scheid label…
Pleasantly aromatic. Stone fruit and something tropical and musky, with a vaguely smokey note rounding it out (like sweet wood chips on a smoker from afar, not like smoke taint!). Slightly effervescent. Round middle. Decently long finish. I did not find it as crisp as indicated, though it was fairly balanced. I got a pH reading of 3.42.
It’s holding up very well for a 2020, I wouldn’t have pegged it as having that long in the bottle. It is full of deep fruit that outlived the yeast esters and gives it some heft.
Would pair very well with a meal. I had mine with chicken catalan, but I think it cries out for a fish of some kind.
@novium *esters I thought I fixed it after autocorrect got it but apparently not
@novium [fixed]
and here I just thought you were talking about the yeast eating the sugar.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2020 Scheid Vineyards Grenache Blanc - $40 = 24.23%
What I’d love to hear about this? From someone from the old site, “This reminds me of Stillman Brown’s Grenache Blanc.”
@kainc
Has Swilly ever made a 12.5% AbV bottle of anything?
@kainc @rjquillin Maybe, but then he’d just spike it with everclear, right?
@kainc @klezman
@klezman @rjquillin good point, 13.4% per cellar tracker, 2011 vintage. +/- 1% leeway right? So, maybe? 14.4% more likely.
@kainc @rjquillin I don’t know if this is still the case, but wines above and below 14% alcohol were different categories for the government, so even though there’s leeway of 1.5% below 14% and 1% above it, you’re not allowed to cross that 14% boundary. That’s why many table wines are labelled at 12.5% or some even just say 11-14% alcohol.
@klezman @rjquillin if I knew there was a tiering to the allowance, I certainly forgot. In any case, given the limited occurrences I see Grenache Blanc, I pulled the trigger. Rumors are that summer is comIng.
This just came this afternoon for me so bear with me folks.
Scheid 2020 Grenache Blanc
Stelvin closure, no cork.
Color- light yellow, no legs
Nose- floral/melon
Sip-bright, light, crisp, Pleasant tingling on finish, can get harsh the closer you get to 60 degrees. ABV on the bottle says 12.5%. Serve it at least 55 or under.
Not getting any brioche or vanilla notes in this one, it’s more citrus/green apple.
Nice summer sipper. Would probably do well with fatty foods as the acid will shine through. Didn’t have time to cook as the wine just showed up a few hours ago. Vintage is 2020, I would guess this is ‘drink now’ territory, but it’s still plenty lively.
That’s pretty good QPR for case price.
Whats with white wines banned in PA? Is it a sweet wine?
@luseruser If you’re referring to PA not being on the ship-to state list, it’s a licensing issue. The producer needs a license for each state. If they don’t have a license, they can’t sell it there. It has nothing to do with the grapes being used.
@luseruser don’t know about the PA question, but this wine is not sweet at all.