Martian Ranch Santa Ynez Red (6)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

“So tell me again what you think happened to you that night.”

Well, I was just sitting there in my car off Old Route C, when all of a sudden, there was a flash of blinding light and … I’m sorry, this is really hard.

“It’s fine. Just take your time.”

The next thing I knew, I woke up, and I was strapped down on a table. And the smell. Oh the smell. I’ll never be able to forget it.

“Antiseptic? Formaldehyde?”

Red fruit and spice.

“Huh?”

Like raspberry, herbs, and maybe a touch of mint. It was terrifying.

“OK. I think we’re done here.”

No wait, that’s not all. There was also … OH GOD.

“Go on. Whenever you’re ready.”

There was also … a wisp of pepper and a nose of big, dark fruits. Like something that would be great paired with a slow-cooked stew. It was awful. JUST awful.

“I gotta tell ya, it doesn’t sound awful. It sounds like a really nice glass of wine.”

I haven’t told you about the probing.

“Ahh.”

Total MSRP: $ 167.90

2009 Martian Ranch Grenache 750ml 3-Pack

• Alcohol: 13.7%
• Harvested: October 1st, 2009
• Bottled: March, 2011

2009 Martian Ranch Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley 750ml 3-Pack

• Aging:  French oak barrels (1/3rd new, 2/3rd neutral) 14 months

Grenache is the most polymorphic of grapes, able to be turned into whatever it needs to be. It’s the load bearing grape in Chateauneuf du-Pape and it goes solo in some of the most thrilling monovarietal wines in Australia and Spain.

Woot