Today’s offering is the big, bold, balanced and deeeeeelicious Laughinghouse 2014 Monterey County Grenache.

Once again, winemaker Claire Silver has crafted a truly exceptional wine. This very food-friendly Grenache shows tremendous finesse and elegance but also highlights the varietals strengths and characteristics.

Bring it with you to your next dinner party and be the hit of the party. This wine pairs with most anything.

This wine is wonderfully balanced on the nose with fresh cherry, young blackberry, wild strawberry, and red plum, balanced against limestone, mixed spice, dried leaves, subtle tobacco leaf and a hint of fresh herbs.

Bold but balanced on the palate, with big flavors of black cherry, smoked cherry, ripe blackberry, cassis, black plum, braised mission fig, clay, tobacco, freshly cracked black pepper and dark spice.

Grape Fact: Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties on the planet. The grape is a late ripener that thrives in hot, dry conditions such as those found in California, Australia, France and Spain.

Grenache is usually spicy yet soft on the palate, with darker fruit flavors and a wonderful acidity that makes the varietal a fabulous food companion.