Jim Freeway Intro | Bitch Grenache 2006

Hi there - Jim here. Not Jerry, obviously. Not long ago I'd noticed that Jerry had gone on hiatus and I offered to help out with Wine Waves. Jerry kindly agreed, so here goes -

As it happens, the wine I was drinking when I made the offer was the latest released of R Wines' Bitch Grenache. You can find Jerry's write up on the 2005 Bitch Grenache here. Having discovered Bitch on a whim last summer when the temperature climbed a little too high for an evening glass of claret and a friend suggested that I try a grenache, I often turn to it on a warm evening.

I was, as you should be, pleased to see that the Bitch is a product of R Wines and imported by the kind folks at The Grateful Palate. This is the same duo that brings you a multitude of other be-screw-topped gems including Boarding Pass Shiraz and the Marquis Phillips Cabernet. (Both of which I have on hand and will be profiling in the near future.) Among those three, Bitch is the lowest priced at my local wine shop at just $10.99. To be honest, there is not a lot of wine at $11 that I enjoy drinking. And looking like a Sex in the City promotional item doesn't help either...but once you crack the top and spin it off, all sins are forgiven.

In the glass it's clearly not a full bodied wine. Really, from across the room you could mistake it for cranberry juice. It's a charmingly light ruby in color. As light as it appears in the glass, however, it is not (as some less expensive Australians are - especially shiraz) watery. In fact, going in to catch the nose you're surprised at the amount of heat. While grenache do not tend to be especially fragrant, a moon shine like alcohol content doesn't exactly help. One thing you notice right away, as well, are the incredible legs.

Anyway, enough swirling, down the hatch I say! I will admit upfront that aside from the Bitch I have had only one other grenache and it would be difficult to say either was completely typical of the varietal. But how important is that in an $11 bottle with a screw top? What you really want to know is - is this a good bottle of wine for the price, should I buy this bottle of wine, would I enjoy this bottle of wine? Well, yes, yes, and that depends on your palate, my friend.

Right off you'll notice that the Bitch is sweet, there are notes of cranberry and strawberry. If higher alcohol wines aren't your thing, steer clear, this is probably not for you, while the alcohol doesn't compromise the taste, it's omnipresent. I quite like the integration, the result is a light, but flavor packed wine that feels almost carbonated on your tongue.

In short, the 2006 Bitch is ...bitchin'?

Price (Out West): $10.99. Closure: Screw top. Alcohol content: 15% (yow!).

Comments

[ANNIE HAILE]

I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A CASE OF THE BITCH BAROSSA GRENACHE CAN YOU HELP ME GET A CASE

[Tameka]

Where can I purchase this wine?

tldialtameka@yahoo.com