The Auswine Forum

Hello, all. I haven't been here in a while, but I got the following email offering today and was wondering if anyone could give me any insight into this wine -- is it one of those ubiquitous "FOR THE USA" wines, or do they swill this stuff Down Under? When I have questions about unknown Aussie wines, I usually just email TORB, but I thought I might put it to all of you - any input would be appreciated:

"The Bitch" Grenache

We had to wait until after Valentine's Day to offer this one. But as always, we will not be deterred by considerations of decorum from selling good wine. (Could that be our new motto?) And this IS very good wine. (Unlike "Old Fart", "Fat Bastard", "Skinny Bitch" and other such labels.) Moreover, for the genre - like all of Dan Philips' products - it's very cleverly, even amusingly packaged. (Like the "LOVE PORK" tattooed on the guy's knuckles for his Bacon of the Month Club.)

The label is all pink, trimmed in hearts and daggers. On the back label - where wineries normally talk about how great their wine is - it just says "bitch" 75 times, followed by "and bitch some more."

Inside the bottle is a pure, old-vine Barossa Grenache, made by the Barossa master, Chris Ringland. It's soft, rich, silky-smooth and utterly delicious. In fact, this may be the most crowd-pleasing Grenache I've had since the 2004 Borsao "Tres Picos". And it's an even better bargain!

Parker rated the 2004 version (in a 91-point vintage) 90 points. In 2005, a 95-point vintage and the best in his chart, it's even better.

He says of the 2004:

"A spectacular bargain, this 100% Grenache (from 40-year-old vines) has nothing "bitchy" about it. Gorgeous kirsch liqueur intermixed with pepper and soil undertones result in an Australian Grenache that tastes like a Vacqueyras on steroids. Medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, and silky, this is a stunning example of a value-priced Barossa red."

A wine that both you and those you serve it to will love - and for the right reasons.

2005 R Winery "The Bitch" $9.99/ $8.99 case

A USA only wine made for The Grateful Palate I assume.

There is a tendency to trade on the winemaker as if that means it's an automatic winner but at $10 a bottle probably worth a try.

Well, I assume that it is imported by Dan Philips, but I don't know for sure. They are clearly trading on the "Chris Ringland as winemaker" thing, coupled with the 90-point Robert Parker rating (which I automatically subtract 5 points from when he's talking about an Aussie wine).

Wonder where the juice is from? Is this "glut juice," processed by Ringland and then packaged on a container ship to the U.S.? Certainly sounds like it, doesn't it?

By the way, if you buy it by the case, its US$9. That's AUS$$11.45. If the stuff is any good, I'd be losing money not buying it at that price.

Hi Jay,

As Steve says, its made for the GP and is not sold locally.

If I read RP's TN correctly, its going to taste like very sweet cherry liqueur with a bit of pepper thrown in, and as been made in the fruit bomb mode. It will slip down your throat easily but probaly wont have much complexity.

If you like the sound of that, go for it.

torb wrote

It will slip down your throat easily but probaly wont have much complexity.

I think that is what it's all about

Thanks Ric and Steve. I may give it a try.