Winemaker Notes
GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, three grapes traditionally grown and blended together in the Rhône region of France. CRU took inspiration from this classic blend to create their own GSM wine that showcases the red fruits and rich flavors.
This complex wine opens with jammy fruit and savory notes of strawberry and hazelnut that develop into juicy flavors of black cherry and raspberry. The finish is long and savory accented by balanced tannins, toasty oak and lingering flavors of coffee and baking spices.
The flavors in this wine makes it ideal for pairing with hearty spaghetti and meatballs, mushroom and sausage pizza or dark chocolate cake.
Blend: 43% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, 2% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a very satisfying blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that's more bright than rich. Aromas of black raspberry and rose petal make for a tart nose. The palate is more rounded with sour cherry and richer rose elements, finished with a warm spice.
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.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.