The 2005 Boots Grenache is sourced from 65 year old vines with modest yields of 2 tons per acre. It was aged in seasoned French and American oak. Dark ruby-colored, it offers a lovely perfume of spice box, wild strawberries, and kirsch. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, smooth-textured, tasty Grenache with layers of flavor and excellent length. Drink it over the next 4-6 years. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095

The 1998 Boots Grenache (made from 80-year old Grenache vines that yielded only 1.5 tons of fruit per acre) is a dead-ringer for a top-notch southern Rhone. Medium ruby-colored, with jammy aromas of kirsch, black cherries, and pepper, this spicy, exuberantly fruity, fleshy Grenache tips the scales at 15% alcohol. There is plenty of glycerin as well as a tactile impression of sweetness, even though the wine is totally dry. It is a hedonistic fruit bomb to drink over the next 2-3 years. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283