If I had to pick a favorite wine varietal, it would have to be Grenache... the workhorse of the Rhône, it's the base for the blends everywhere from Châteauneuf du Pape through the Rhône valley to the sea. This versatile, very food friendly wine found a second home in Australia where they make a richer version that I think pairs well with anything from a pork roast to grilled salmon. This super-smooth bottle from Simon Hackett has the soft round fruit and light tannins it takes to pair a heavy wine with delicate food. We even liked it with grilled salmon....

Simon Hackett Old Vine Grenache 2005 McLaren Vale, Australia
We Bought a Bunch $13.99
What the Wine Critics Thought: Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
A top-notch offering for current consumption, this wine boasts a complex bouquet of black cherries, cinnamon, clove, coffee, vanilla, herbal notes and hints of green peppercorns—it’s a wine you can sit and sniff almost endlessly. The flavors are more straightforward—black cherry and spice—while the texture is delicate, almost soft. Drink now. — J.C.

What We Thought: This begins with a nose of black raspberry, plums and peppery spice and moves to a ripe, full-bodied palate filled with big, brambly dark fruit that's as smooth as velvet from start to finish.

February 20, 2007