The 2007 Chateau Grenache (600 cases) is a blend of all the Grenache cuvees except for the Ebenezer. The lovely aromatics deliver aromas of cedar, spice box, leather, cherry, and strawberry. Forward, succulent, and complex, this friendly effort is all about immediate gratification. Even so, its harmony and elegance will preserve it for another 6-8 years. Chateau Chateau is a label created by importer Dan Philips and marketed under the R Wines umbrella. Its stated purpose is to demonstrate the effects of soil and place on Grenache (and blends) from the best terroirs in Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. The Barossa Reserve wines are limited production cuvees, most of them under 150 cases. Each has its own distinctive label representing its place of origin.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095

The 2006 Chateau Grenache was blended from 6 vineyards, the only regional “terroir” wine in the series. It was sourced from 40- to 50-year-old vines and aged for 14 months in second-use French oak. Light crimson-colored, the nose of earthy, garrigue, sage, and kirsch aromas jumps from the glass. This leads to a velvety, rich, seamless Grenache with impeccable balance and a 45-second finish. It will evolve for 2-3 years and provide pleasure through 2020. The Chateau Chateau series was created to highlight distinct sub regions and vineyards of Barossa Valley Grenache. Each wine features a label inspired by the work of M.C. Escher. Perhaps the superb presentations and more than reasonable prices will move consumers to try Barossa Grenache, some of the best in the world.R Wines is a new company founded by importer and marketing genius, Dan Philips, along with co-owner, renowned winemaker, Chris Ringland. Winemakers for R Wines are Chris Ringland, Lisa Wetherell, Andrew Hercock, and John Hughes. It encompasses four familiar labels, Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle, and Bitch, along with 13 others created especially for R Wines. Needless to say, the packaging of these wines is amazingly creative but, more importantly, what is in the bottle consistently over-delivers from low-end to high-end.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; (805) 278-9095