WineBuddGrenache and Garnacha tasting notes: a worked example
See what a structured Grenache or Garnacha tasting note looks like, line by line, then fill in the blank sheet for the bottle in your glass. Grenache and Garnacha are the same grape.
A Grenache / Garnacha tasting note, line by line
This is a worked example of how a note can read for the typical style of the grape. It is not a review of one bottle. Your wine will differ, so write what you find.
| Line of the note | What a typical Grenache / Garnacha note says |
|---|---|
| Appearance Colour and depth | Write what you see. Neither guide gives a colour for red Grenache, so this line is yours. |
| Nose Fruit | Stewed strawberry, grilled plum and raspberry. Wine Folly also lists blood orange. |
| Nose Other | Dried herbs and leather. |
| Palate Sweetness | Dry. |
| Palate Acidity | Medium. |
| Palate Tannin | Medium. |
| Palate Body | Medium-full. Decanter calls the wines powerful and warming. |
| Palate Alcohol | Often over 15% ABV. Check the label. |
| Conclusions Where it is from | Its roots are in north-eastern Spain, where it is Garnacha. The Southern Rhône Valley in France is its best-known champion, and Decanter says its greatest wines come from Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France and from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in Australia. |
The same note in two sentences
Medium acidity and tannin, with a medium-full body and high alcohol. Stewed strawberry and raspberry on the nose, with dried herbs. Warm and generous.
What to look for
- Check the alcohol on the label. Wine Folly puts Grenache at over 15% ABV, and that warmth shows in the glass.
- Grenache and Garnacha are the same grape. Garnacha is the Spanish name, and the label may use either.
- Look for ripe, stewed red fruit first, then the leather and dried herbs.
Now write your own
Fill this in for the bottle in front of you. It saves on your device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Questions
What does Grenache taste like?
Typically stewed strawberry, raspberry and grilled plum, with leather and dried herbs. Wine Folly describes a medium-full body with medium tannin and acidity.
Are Grenache and Garnacha the same grape?
Yes. Wine Folly and Decanter both treat them as one grape. It is called Garnacha in Spain and Grenache in France.
How do I write a Grenache or Garnacha tasting note?
Work in the same order every time: look, nose, palate, then your conclusions. Name the red fruit and the savoury notes, then rate tannin, acidity, body and alcohol. The blank sheet on this page follows that order.
Sources
The typical aromas, structure and regions above come from these grape guides.