Cirillo The Vincent Grenache 2020

Over time, I have developed a serious appreciation for grenache. How little I knew 10 years ago when I laughed after a winegrower told me that it will come back in fashion. Nowadays, it is a trendy variety and I find myself seeking every single grenache in the market with joy.

Cirillo wines are the custodians of what is believed to be the oldest grenache vineyard in the world and “The Vincent” comes from centenarian vines. This wine is the introduction to their range. I selected chicken pesto pasta to match — a rather simple dish that is so easy to make. Simplicity can be so rewarding and I love that feeling. 

This wine is enticing from the moment it swirls in the glass. Notes of kirsch, dark cherry and powdery chocolate emerge as it opens up. It has an extremely inviting fragrance that sparked my appetite. With a soft, gentle and layered texture, the wine married nicely with the dish. The juicy baby tomatoes and crunchy pine-nuts blended with the pasta resulting in a wonderful combination. The wine’s acidity synced in a beautiful harmony. The Vincent Grenache cuddled my taste buds with a graceful finish.

Each mouthful was pure pleasure when combining the wine and the dish. The chicken coated in pesto sauce increased the depth of flavour of the wine and also enhanced its structured finish. Beautifully perfumed, this grenache left my palate with a sense of eating a dark cherry dipped in melted chocolate. It is such a detailed wine for the price. A definite crowd pleaser with its generous, rounded and charming personality.