The Nittany Epicurean: Aridus Graciano 2016 Wine Review

2016 Aridus Wine Company Grenache

I've been bringing you the delicious wines from Aridus Wine Company in Willcox, Arizona for some time now. The last Aridus wine we enjoyed was a red wine made from a grape most commonly seen in Rioja - the 2016 Graciano produced & bottled by Aridus Wine Company. Today, we'll travel back to Willcox to enjoy another red wine from Aridus Wine Company, perhaps the best I've had from the winery thus far:

2016 Grenache produced & bottled by Aridus Wine Company (Willcox, Arizona).

This wine is nearly all grenache (90%) blended with a small amount of graciano (10%). The fruit was sourced from Alba Vineyards in Cochise County, Arizona. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (100% new). It comes in at 15.2% ABV.

Here it is in the glass:

Another Look

One More

The wine showed a light ruby color. Cherry, raspberry, cranberry, rhubarb, mossy earth and oak on a nose bright with red berry fruit. Cherry, vanilla, raspberry, currant, licorice and oak followed on the delicately balanced palate. The wine was light-bodied and exhibited good length along with soft tannins. You never would have known the wine veered north of 15% ABV unless you read the label. This wine would pair well with smoked beef ribs.

This wine* can be purchased for $37 at one of the winery's tasting rooms or directly from the winery's website.

Stay tuned for more from Aridus Wine Company!

~NE
*Sample provided for review.
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