Winemaker Notes
After an early budbreak and moderate summer, we started picking on September 17 at Coastview, then September 23 at Brosseau. We co-fermented the Grenache and Syrah in two lots with another lot of Grenache by itself. The Mourvedre was picked on September 26. We pressed the native yeast fermentations after 19-26 days on the skins. The soils and moderate climate of these sites are no doubt responsible for the vibrant and lively character of this blend. Gentle extraction in small 1.5 ton fermenters followed by a gentle press into French oak barrels (no new) produced a wine with great structure and mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 49% Grenache, 27% Syrah and the rest Mourvedre, the 2013 GSM Gabilan Mountains is a sexy, seamless, gorgeously textured red that offers tons of ripe black cherries, raspberries, blueberries, spice and floral aromas and flavors. Aged 21 months in mostly neutral oak, drink this pure, elegant 2013 over the coming 7-8 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Brooding black currant, blackberry pie aromas meet with clove, sweet tobacco, black tea and hot cola on the nose of this blend of 49% Grenache, 27% Syrah and 24% Mourvèdre from the Coastview, Antle and Brosseau vineyards. There is candied Concord grape fruit to the energetic, light-on-its-feet sip, along with bay leaf, sage, marjoram and thyme.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands. The climate is relatively warm but tempered by cool, coastal winds, allowing the regions in Monterey County an exceptionally long growing season. Bud break often happens two weeks sooner and harvest tends to be two weeks later compared to other surrounding regions.
Monterey’s coastal side, where the cooling ocean fog allows grapes to develop a perfect sugar-acid balance, excels in the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Warmer, inland subzones are home to fleshy, concentrated and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Chardonnay, covering about 40% of vineyard acreage, is the most widely planted grape in all of Monterey County.