The Rhône / GSM Blend is a colloquial term for red wines based on the blends made in the Côtes du Rhône region of France.. GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre – three important grapes grown in the Côtes du Rhône region of France. James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. The wine can also be up to 10% Canaiolo, a native red grape, and up to 20% of other approved varietals. Growing in popularity, GSM is for the sophisticatedly-curious. You’ll find variations of the GSM Blend produced around the world. It is also a popular red blend to make on California's Central Coast where the climate is similar to that of Southern Rhone. Strawberry wine tends to be yellow or orange in color and can be improved with a small-percentage blend of black raspberry. Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! 2014 Joel Gott Columbia Valley Red ($17) American oak gives this Merlot-driven Washington state … Gérard Bertrand’s 2015 “Art de Vivre” Red Blend from Languedoc is typical of Languedoc — Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, or GSM as it’s known. Here's a rundown of recently reviewed GSM blends with their varietal percentages. For instance, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa may have up to 25% Merlot or Petit Verdot to round out the flavor. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. For instance, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa may have up to 25% Merlot or Petit Verdot to round out the flavor. (By the way, Australian wines list grapes in order of proportion on the label. GSM Rosés, which hail mainly from the … The name refers to a legendary blend out of the Rhône in France, comprised of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. While this blend is quantitatively not as important as varietal Shiraz, it is widely used, particularly in South Australia's Barossa Valley. The Rhône / GSM blend is a versatile food pairing wine that works particularly well with dishes featuring Mediterranean spices including red pepper, sage, rosemary, and olives. In truth, there are at least 19 unique grape varieties used in wines in the Côtes du Rhône, but Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre are arguably the most important. GSM is a red wine produced by blending three grape varieties—Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. This wine is comprised of 68 percent Grenache, 19 percent Shiraz and 13 percent Mourvèdre. Cleanness, the absence of glycerin, and what I believed to be Washington Syrah markers, drove me to guess New World Rhone tribute The interesting thing about blending Syrah is that it adds a lot of up-front flavor and boldness but not a lot of aftertaste. His work provides the backbone of Syrah (44 percent) for this GSM-style blend with equal parts of Grenache and Mourvèdre from Elephant Mountain in the Rattlesnake Hills. Others start much later. Australia is a popular spot for the production of GSM Blends. From beginner to professional, the right wine tools make for the best drinking experience. Think carefully before you blend other berry fruit and stone fruit wines. French GSM’s tend to be more savory and bring less of a fruity aspect than their Australian counterparts. freshness and finesse. Syrah can be very savory tasting, often imparting that classic “bacon fat” aroma that people note on the wines from the Rhône. After long periods on a rolling, ship in equatorial heat, it became deliciously rich and the blend persisted. Wines from this part of Italy’s Tuscany region are all based on the Sangiovese grape – it must make up at least 75% of the blend. This is because winemakers have more control over the taste profile of a wine when they use wine grapes as ingredients. Red raspberry and cherry also are compatible wines for blending. Fortunately, of the 19 varieties, there are really just 3 varieties that define the style. GSM Wine. By far the lightest of the three wines, Grenache adds candied fruit, raspberry, cinnamon spice and Ruby Red grapefruit flavors. Red Wine Blend Alcohol content 14.5% Vintage Notes 2016 was another near perfect growing season with idyllic weather throughout the year. Caution: Too much will affect the strawberry flavor. ), Rhône grapes started to appear more commonly in the United States when, Several 100-point rated Rhône Blends from France are noted to have a higher proportion of Grenache. Unlike much of what goes on in today’s wine industry, blends weren’t the result of a fad, a catchy PR campaign, a TV show, or a Top 40 song. Today, the number is 19. This GSM wine blend is the ultimate discovery with bright fruit, stunning richness and a beautiful soft finish. For the finish, we call upon Mourvèdre…. I use Châteauneuf-du-Pape in this article as it is primarily made from the GSM grapes with the remaining wines used in a very small percentage. Description • The flavor and aroma of this bright, fruit-forward GSM is driven by the fact it is made of 60 percent grenache. In Australia, the grapes are commonly called Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. Discover all the appellations within the Rhône and gain a sense of perspective looking at a map of the entire area. Beyond the allowed varietals, the final alcohol has to be between 12.5 and 16 percent; the wine has to be aged a minimum of one year in barrels, use a “Coro” label and be approved by a five-member selection panel. The acronym “ GSM ” is a short-hand reference for a red wine blended from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. We choose the 50/50 blend because Cabernet and Merlot are such different grapes, with such different flavors, that when you blend them together they complement each other in amazing ways. Buy GSM Wine Blends Online in Australia. The next stop along our wine pairing is the Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre (GSM). GSM blends represent a classic marriage of grape varietals. Some of the best wines in the world are blends of several grape varieties. Our 2012 Dust Kicker GSM contains roughly 50% Grenache, 25% Shiraz and 25% Mataro. The Rhône Blend is one of top wine blends of the world – and it’s well worth exploring! The remaining 10 percent can be, but doesn’t have to be, wine from any varietal(s) not listed. A classic style, it has gained a worldwide popularity and is now commonly known by the acronym GSM wine. The ‘GSM’ red blend is made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre and it’s a classic from the Côtes du Rhône region. GSM blends make a punchy rosé with fragrant floral and white pepper aromas. This is not your standard lightly-seasoned, crisp Provence rosé. The Syrah grapes for this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend (“GSM”for short) comes from the D’Ambrosio vineyard, in Yountville. GSM wines are known for their bright fruit, extroverted aromas of ripe fruit, dried sage and herbs, and a grippy, pepper-and-herb finishes that echoes the wines’ aroma. There are 19 different grapes used in Côtes du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. rich body, fruit and warmth. Let’s learn why this wine blend works and who makes it. James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. The ‘GSM’ red blend is made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre and it’s a classic from the Côtes du Rhône region. what percentage of Rhone wine comes from Southern Rhone? (For example, Château Rayas typically has around 90%! This is a red wine blend that originates from the Rhone region of France, but is also gaining popularity in the Southern part of Australia. A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Cinsault, it’s bold and lively. SuperTuscan. Macmorran typically blends wines 14 months after harvest. Food pairings for Grenache – Syrah – Mourvedre wines include: Steak with bone marrow @WineFolly. Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre come together to make this delicious California blend. Vintners Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, Stoney Vine Vineyard ($35) - 40% Grenache, 57% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre - To be reviewed August 51 percent or more of the wine is made from the named grape variety; and the entire qualifying percentage of the named grape variety was grown in the labeled appellation of origin. The fruit is balanced perfectly against a touch of American Oak which pairs perfectly with BBQ, Lamb, hard cheeses and vegetables. Upon first taste, this medium-bodied wine leaves the palate with a blended synergy of rich flavors like blackberry, dark cherry, and plum with a hint of spice. Enjoy this hearty blend with savory meats like pork or lamb complemented with blends of herbs and peppery spices. We couldn’t talk about GSM wine without discussing rosé wines. Everything you need to learn and taste the world's wines. What makes this blend special is the complexity created when boisterous and fruity Grenache is blended with brooding and peppery Syrah and Mourvèdre. GSM Rosé. In truth, there are at least 19 unique grape varieties used in wines in the Côtes du Rhône, but Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre are arguably the most important. The grape is used somewhat sparingly in Côtes du Rhône to add tannin structure (read: bitterness) and floral aromas. These wines are all under $50, and most below $30, and they really communicate what a GSM is all about. 2018 vintage IS available (Hahn Winery GSM Red Blend 2018) Wine Enthusiast 92 WE TOP 100 2019 Rank 11 Best Buys "Freshly crushed blackberry, leafy herbs, charred meat and a hint of oak show on the nose of this value blend of 65 Grenache, 33 Syrah and 2 Mourvdre. If you click the pictures, it takes you to the specific wine on wine.com – Rhône Blend section. Attractive aromas of red currant, raspberry and strawberry hull are graced by … The timeline for mixing wines varies: Winemakers mix blends in a steel tank. Many wine lovers are unaware most wines are blends of two or more grape varietals. Madeira wine wasn’t always fortified, but in the late 1600’s, to transport the island’s wines on long sea voyages, brandy was added as a stabilizer. ). Today, this blend is produced throughout the world and is loved for its complex red fruit flavors and age-worthy potential. This is actually not a blend, but a 100 percent Sagrantino wine that carries an “Umbria IGT” status because the wine ages in barrel for only nine months, far … The Australian wine industry is one the world's largest exporters of wine, with approximately 800 million out of the 1.2 to 1.3 billion litres produced annually exported to overseas markets. All the Reverse Wine Snob reviews and recommendations of the best GSM (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre) blends! Let’s learn why this wine blend works and who makes it. Typically Grenache accounts for the largest portion of a southern Côtes du Rhône wine. The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export and tourism. This style excels in warmer climates such as in Spain, South Australia, South Africa, parts of the United States, and Southern France. 2014 W.T. In either exception from the 75 percent rule, the statement "contains not less than 51% (name of variety)" must be shown on either the brand label, back label, or separate strip label. Syrah adds the darker fruit flavors of blueberry, plum and even black olive to the Côtes du Rhône blend. Lower cost blends … Although Grenache is light in color it can add high alcohol levels to the blend, giving GSM wines a long tingly finish. The first official Rhône / GSM Blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape were allowed to use up to 13 different grape varieties (and included white grapes). In Australia, GSM blends are widely produced, with a strong focus on the Shiraz variety which makes up a large percentage of the blend. But we don’t work to a recipe, the percentages change each year as Jason aims to make a smooth wine that goes down well while watching the footy with your mates, but is also a great food … And for this reason you occasionally find a restaurant wine list that promotes Australian GSM as ‘Rhone-style blends’. The practice of blending is very common even with single varietal wines. Mourvèdre itself is a deeply rich dark wine, similar to Syrah, but with a more persistent finish. It also contains 37 percent syrah and 3 percent mourvèdre. Syrah is famous as the grape of the northern Rhône region (for the well-known regions of Hermitage and Côte Rotie). what does Grenache add to the GSM blend? These varieties are Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre – they hold the secret to Côtes du Rhône wine. France isn’t the only place making GSM ‘Rhône blend’ wines. @WineFolly, Producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape (“CdP”) developed France’s. Enjoy Madeline's online wine learning courses from the comfort of your kitchen. Talk to a wino long enough and you just may hear the GSM acronym. The GSM blend is also used widely in Australia, where Syrah is known as Shiraz and often makes up the bulk of the wine. If you ever want to try a single variety Mourvèdre (and you should, they’re delicious), look for French Bandol or a Spanish Monastrell. Only in 1996, when we were short on Merlot grapes because of a bad freeze, did we do a blend that was 70 percent Cabernet and 30 percent Merlot. Rob Stein, an orthopedic surgeon in Nashville, has been a wine enthusiast and collector for more than 40 years. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. Harvest was a bit earlier than usual, and yields were balanced. Though from Tuscany, these wines were created to sidestep regulations dictating grape percentages. The Secret to the Côtes du Rhône Blend: ‘GSM’ structure and depth of color. 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