(4) Wines made from Grenache

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

This Grenache from Sindoa is an excellent buy. Showing a big nose of cherries and red fruit, El Chaparral greets you as you lift the glass to drink. In the mouth, the wine is big without being flabby. Showing cherry pie with a side of cherry cola, this is definitely a fruit forward wine, but this one maintains its balance and focus throughout. ($12)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This rosé from the south of France is one of my favorite wines of the summer. Sabine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault that shows watermelon, raspberry, dried flowers, and a smooth dry finish. The 13.5% alcohol may show through if you are sensitive to that sort of thing. ($11.75)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This village selection is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah (CGS) produced from 40 year old vines. Like many of the ’07 CGS blends, this one was a fine nose of peaches and strawberries. In the mouth, this rosé is not as elegant as some of the others, but it does provide nice red fruit with a round feel. ($18-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

The Commaderie is produced from grapes selected throughout Provence. Like its big brother, the Chateau de Peyrassol Rosé, the Commaderie is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. The ’07 is a very drinkable wine with a nose of peaches and strawberries. The wine is medium bodied and round in the mouth. This is another of the great rosé wines that are available this summer. ($19–21)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This rosé blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah is the flag ship rosé from Chateau de Peyrassol. The ’07 is an elegant wine with a nose of flowers, peaches, and red fruit. The wine is medium-full bodied with a great mouth feel and a long finish. It would work with lots of summer foods, like grilled fish or roast pork. ($27–30)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: earthy
• Look for at: wine.com

Robert Kacher is one of my favorite importers. He finds wines that exhibit character and sells them at reasonable prices. His 2006 is one of our house wines. It is dark ruby/purple in color. The nose offers up dark fruit, barnyard, earth and burnt paper. With flavors of plums and sweet fruit, this wine paired well with smothered pork chops and the first round of the NCAA Championship. ($9-12)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

What a great value from Rioja. This blend of Tempranillo, Garacha, and Graciano exhibits the rich and opulent side of Rioja. The wine opens with a nose of red fruit and vanilla, the the red fruit follows through on the palate accompanied by velvety tannins. The Crianza is another example of the good things that can come from Spain. ($13-15)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Produced by R Lopez de Heredia Vina Condonias S. A., this blend of Tempanillo, Garnacho, and Graciano is a classic Spanish red wine. Light in color, the wine is showing classic smoke, leather, and cherries in the nose. On the palate, the wine is light-medium bodied with smooth soft tannins, but enough acid to be great dinner companion. ($32-37)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: earthy
• Look for at: wine.com

This Tinto from Herencia Remondo is one of my favorite go-to wines. Made from Tempranillo, Grenache, and Graciano, this medium bodied smooth wine offers a nose of smoke, cherries, and spice. In the mouth, the wine shows rich flavors of cherry, and the silky tannins support a long, pleasant finish. I think this wine would make a perfect Saturday night at home. ($19-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

I like Grenache—it makes very drinkable wine. This 2006 from Borsao is an attractive wine with a big nose of cherries, vanilla, coffee, and licorice. This wine is medium-full bodied, and it offers a mouth full of cherries and licorice balanced by enough acid to make it food friendly. The finish on this wine goes on and on. It is a great buy from Spain. ($13-16.5)