Bitch Tongue features varietals of Tempranillo, Grenache, and Pinot Noir, sourced primarily from Sea Shell Vineyards in Paso Robles near Huero Huero Creek. The terroir and climate in this region produce some of the best Rhone style wines in California, and Lido Bay certainly belongs in the mix.
Lido Bay’s 2010 Grenache is a smooth, lively wine, with flavors of tart raspberries, black cherries, a light spicy finish, and ruby red in color. Fruit forward, full bodied, and round, this is perfectly delicious wine for summer months, grilling, and tailgate season.
Like many California grenache varietals, Bitch Tongue is full-bodied, juicy, soft and low in acid. Lightly chilled, it pairs very well with chicken, lamb, lobster mac and cheese, braised veal, or apricot glazed shrimp. Grenache wines love spicy foods, smoke (hello, barbecue grill!), and is a worthy partner for eclectic dining menus. Grenache pairs perfectly with turkey, so grab a couple bottles for that Sunday supper, and prepare to wow your guests.
Our advice: at a value price of $26 a bottle, we would buy a case of this stuff. It will please the pickiest of wine lovers, including that cousin that still thinks that rosé is the same as white zinfandel. (With Armstrong’s knack for combining varietals, we’d love to see Lido Bay create something in ‘pink’ next summer.)
Winemaker notes: The grapes for Lido Bay’s Bitch Tongue Grenache 2010 come from Sea Shell Vineyards, and are picked and cool fermented. Barrel aged in 20% new French oak.
Varietal: 90% Grenache, 10%