Winemaker Notes
45% Grenache, 44% Shiraz and Mourvedre from estate vineyards that range from 20-45 years in aged. The wine is matured for 12 months in seasoned French oak.
Entry displays mulberries, blackberries and plum fruit characters with fine tannin and tasty acidity. As the wine moves through the palate, the mouth feel widens and becomes quite savory. The palate is rich and smooth with good length. The aftertaste is very Mourvedre with a strong flavor of dark chocolate. Grenache contributes soft aromatics and flavors. Shiraz adds structure and a bit of spice, and the Mourvedre provides breadth and depth.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Stonehorse GSM is composed of 45% Grenache, 44% Shiraz, and 11% Mourvedre and was aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak. Dark ruby-colored, it has an attractive nose of cedar, spice box, earth notes, and black cherry. This leads to a forward, easygoing wine with savory red and blue fruit flavors, plenty of spice, and a silky finish. Drink this outstanding value over the next eight years.
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Wine Spectator
Smooth and velvety, with dusky tobacco nuances to the ripe blackberry and spice flavors, gliding nicely on a sleek frame. Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2016. 10,000 cases made
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.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.